Grenada
OPERATION URGENT FURY, Grenada - 1983: The invasion of the Island of
Grenada was a response to Deputy Prime Minister Bernard Coard and a coup d'
etat on October 24, 1983. Members of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean
States, led by the United States of America, parachuted and landed ships on
Grenada, defeating Cuban and Grenadian resistance. The Island of Grenada
now celebrates October 25 as a holiday, Thanksgiving Day, to commemorate
their liberation from Coard's forces and coup attempt. Sergeant Randy E. Cline,
Private First Class Markin R. Maynard, Sergeant Mark A. Rademacher, Private
First Class Russell L. Robinson, Specialist Four Mark O. Yamane were killed
during this combat operation.
Panama
OPERATION JUST CAUSE, Panama - 1989: Continued strained relations and
failure at diplomacy, forced the United States to invade Panama on December
20, 1989. Panamanian military leader, Manuel Noriega, was tried and sentenced
to prison under the presidency of George Herbert Walker Bush. Private First
Class James W. Markwell was killed in action during this combat operation.
Saudi Arabia
OPERATION DESERT STORM, Saudi Arabia - 1990: In 1990, 30 nations
(mandated by the United Nations) and led by the United States, engaged in
combat operations in order to liberate an invaded Kuwait.
Iraq
OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, Iraq - 2003: In 2003, the United States,
Australia, Denmark, Britain and Poland invaded Iraq to rid the country of
suspected weapons of mass destruction and to end Saddam Hussein's reign of
terror and murder of hundreds of thousands of people.