Just Cause Remembered--35 years ago

Hard to believe that 35 years ago today, when the sun rose over Panama's Pan American Highway I was at a roadblock as part of Marine Corps Security Force Company Panama, blocking the road and looking for members of Noriega'a Panamanian Defense Force (PDF).

Our unit had crossed the Line of Departure at 0100 that morning, dropped off an element to secure the African Tank Farm and then moved west to a road intersection just east of the town of Arrijan.

The only Marine killed in the operation, a Corporal Issac, had been KIA while we were enroute to our blocking position, so the reality of what we were doing was clear in our minds.

For all of our unit, myself included, it was our first real "action" in a combat zone. But we did our job. The fight against the PDF was short-lived as they did not want to take us on nor did they support their leadership. But it was great experience and the Marines in our unit and the soldiers we later partnered with did a great job.

There are many more stories to be told about that night the days that followed, but on this day just wanted folks to remember and to thank the Marines for MCSF Company Panama for doing what they did.

Merry Christmas to all.