HQ$History - United States Special Operations Command

The invasion of Panama, known as
Operation JUST CAUSE, was an unusually delicate,
violent, and complex operation. Its key
objectives were the capture of Manuel Noriega
and the establishment of a democratic government.
America applied overwhelming combat
power during the invasion, seeking to minimize
loss of life and destruction of property, and to
speed the transition to friendly relations. The
U.S. had bases in Panama, and U.S. troops had
a long-standing relationship with the Panama
Defense Forces (PDF). American SOF personnel,
having been based in Panama, were acutely
aware of the delicate nature of the mission and
were instrumental in achieving U.S. objectives.
During Operation JUST CAUSE, the special
operations component of Joint Task Force South
(the overall invasion force) was the Joint Special
Operations Task Force (JSOTF).
The JSOTF, commanded by
Major General Wayne A.
Downing, was organized into
smaller task forces: TF RED (the
Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment),
TF BLACK (Army Special
Forces), and TF WHITE (SEALs
and Special Boat Unit assets).
These task forces were supported
by Psychological Operations
(PSYOP) and CA units, Army
Special Operations helicopters,
and USAF air commando units.
The Opening Mission
Panama
Operation JUST CAUSE
1989-1990
36
The JSOTF’s principal H-hour
missions were the capture of Noriega and the
destruction of the PDF’s ability to fight. As it
turned out, the U.S. forces did not know
Noriega’s location at H-hour; accordingly, the
JSOTF focused on the H-hour missions against
the PDF. The attack on the Comandancia (the
PDF’s headquarters in Panama City) and the
rescue of an American citizen from the adjoining
prison (the Carcel Modelo) were the responsibility
of a joint task force (JTF) that included SF
ground elements, SOF helicopters and AC-130
gunships, and TF GATOR [M-113 armored personnel
carriers and soldiers from the 4th BN,
6th Infantry (Mechanized)]. Because of indications
that H-hour had been compromised, the
attack on the Comandancia began 15 minutes
early, at 0045 on 20 December 1989.
TF GATOR was responsible for moving M-
113s to blocking positions around the
Comandancia and the prison, and then, in conjunction
with the AC-130 and AH-6 gunships,
attacking and leveling the PDF headquarters.
Maneuvering to the blocking positions, they
came under increasingly heavy sniper fire from
PDF soldiers in buildings (including a 16-story
high rise) on the west side of the Comandancia
and prison complex. TF GATOR suffered some
wounded and one killed while moving to its
blocking positions. Near the target, TF GATOR
encountered roadblocks; the M-113s squashed
M-113 armored personnel carriers supported SOF’s attack on the
Comandancia and Carcel Modelo.
some roadblocks and went around others. The
heavy enemy fire, coming from various directions,
continued as the armored personnel carriers
began the assault on the Comandancia.
At 0045, the revised H-hour, AC-130s and
AH-6s started firing upon the Comandancia
area. The PDF shot down the lead AH-6, but its
crew managed a controlled crash in the
Comandancia courtyard. They were in the
wrong place at the wrong time as the AC-130s
were pounding the Comandancia. By keeping
their wits about them, they evaded both enemy