Just Cause: Marine Operations in Panama 1988-1990

The history of Marines in Panama from 1988 to 1990, the years bracketing Operation Just Cause, does not involve a great many Marines, and Marines made up only a small percentage of the forces that went into battle during the operation itself in December 1989. But for a period of more than two years, the Marines in Panama were literally in foxholes on the front lines. For the individual Marine, going to Panama meant going in harm's way. Although most planners thought of Panama in terms of low intensity conflict, the personal experience for many Marines was very intense, and tested their courage, endurance, and professionalism. One measure of the intensity of Just Cause lies in the fact that the contribution to the success of the operation by Marine Forces Panama was Out of proportion to its size—that is, greater by far than for most other units of comparable size, measured in terms of prisoners captured or objectives seized. At the same time, the experience in Panama yielded some interesting lessons about low intensity conflict, including lessons in mobility and patrolling that an earlier generation of Marines who served in Central America would have understood. To research and preserve the story of Marines in Panama, the History and Museums Division deployed Benis M. Frank in the spring of 1991. Mr. Frank, who was then head of the Oral History Section and is now Chief Historian in the division, walked the ground and interviewed Marines who participated in the operation. After his return to the United States, he conducted further interviews and supervised the collection of Marine Forces Panama records. Once Mr. Frank had fulfilled the collection phase, a member of Mobilization Training Unit (Historical) DC-7, which supports the History and Museums Division, Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas E. Reynolds, USMCR, assumed responsibility for the project, and completed the history. Lieutenant Colonel Reynolds joined the Marine Corps in 1975 after receiving a doctorate in history from Oxford University, where he wrote a book on the German Army. Following active duty with 3d Battalion, 2d Marines, he held a variety of reserve billets, including that of company commander at the Basic School during and after the Persian Gulf War. In the pursuit of accuracy and objectivity, the History and Museums Division welcomes comments on this publication from interested individuals and activities.