I was one of those Marines in Beirut, Lebanon. We got hit with the suicide truck bomb at our battalion headquarters (everyone mistakenly calls it barracks) the day before the landings on Grenada. After the Soviets shot down the Korea airliner in September, we were attacked on October 23rd with mass casualties, and Grenada was invaded on October 24th, it sure felt like WWIII was pending. The Marines who hit Grenada went on to sail to Lebanon and relieve us in November and become targets in that shooting gallery. Despite the success of the Grenada operation those were dark days for the Marine Corps.
@@yigolaski08 My unit suffered 248 KIA, and for the entire operation in Beirut the total was 268 KIA and 3 killed in accidents. There were 151 wounded. In the suicide attack on our headquarters on October 23, 1983 there were 241 killed including 220 Marines, it was the highest single day death toll for the Marine Corps since Iwo Jima. All because the politicians wanted us to play nice instead of playing war. I don't blame Hezbollah so much as I blame our own politicians. Hezbollah saw a weakness and attacked, it was an act of war. Our politicians were all lined up trying to chop President Reagan off at the knees which prevented him from playing hardball the way I think he wanted to. That political infighting rendered us nothing more than caged tigers and we paid for it in blood.
I will never forget that day. I was in the army. There is now a memorial wall traveling the country trying to visit every home town of each marine killed in the Beirut bombing. “We came in peace!”
@@noelrobinson3254 I have not heard that. Only organization that I can think of that would do that would be Beirut Veteran's Association but I don't recall getting any emails to that effect. I will have to look into it further. Thanks.
@@zoober8158 actually quite a bit. I was the Squadron chaplain assistant and one of the few NCOs that deployed with the Headquarters Troop so I had a lot of leadership duties besides my job as a chaplain assistant to include being Sergeant of the guard and convoy Commander among others. I even assisted the Barbados detachment with security.
I started ROTC in 1988 and one of my instructors was a veteran of Genada and Vietnam. He was actually in Ranger Bn for Grenada. He was one of the best instructors I ever had all through my 33 year career. MSG James Gillespie.
One of my best friends in the Army was on that blown up Jeep, Randy Cline A Co, 1/75, he was KIA in Grenada. We went through Basic, Jump School and RIP together.
Sorry man. I was stationed in Panama from Dec 85 - May of 88 at Ft Kobbe (AATW). I knew several guys who were with the big deuce in Grenada and a couple Rangers. My sincere condolences for your loss.
Same here, knew Russell Robinson from day one of basic. I don't know for sure that he was on that jeep, but I heard from another Ranger that he was on one that got hit by an RPG.
this entire video makes it seem like it was a cake walk. I wasn't there, but my dad was and he told me timings were off on everything, maps were shit, and a bunch of other things that the short time constraint didn't allow. Essentially, he told me it was a shit show.
I was curious about casualties on our side and was surprised ot see they were so low and about on par with the Cubans. Nearly 8,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines had participated in Operation Urgent Fury, along with 353 Caribbean allies from the Caribbean Peace Forces. American forces sustained 19 killed and 116 wounded; Cuban forces sustained 25 killed, 59 wounded, and 638 combatants captured. 19/8000 = 0.002375 so it couldn't have been a "sh*tshow" per se. Imagine how snafu it would have been without NCOs. Sure there was probably sh*tty sergeant here and there and he might have been under one, but the structure allows for pockets of temporary chaos without destabilizing the entire operator. Let's hope Russia never learns that lesson
Your dad was right. This video failed to mention many of the total failures of the operation. Including the disastrous insertion of the SEALS. And the poor intel that caused most of the casualties. This was a complete BS video.
Indeed. I am a Grenadian and had the opportunity to speak with a Trinidad born soldier who was part of the US invasion force. He recalled it was chaos at one point because their our troops were firing at each other because of bad intel.
I was an Army Counterintelligence Agent (MOS 35L) stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado when I got emergency orders to go to Grenada for the "Invasion". As a trained interrogator, I was supposed to go there and interrogate the many Cuban POWs that were anticipated to be captured. I arrived on October 25, 1983 and met with several other Agents who I knew from previous assignments who had also been pulled off their regular jobs. We all were either Vietnam veterans or had done time in Europe during the Cold War. We spent our time in Grenada working on our tans, swimming in the ocean and playing a lot of beach volleyball. We never saw any Cuban Army POWs or heard a shot fired in anger during the entire time we were there. We were flown back to our various bases on November 1, 1983, the day after the majority of the troops had left. A final "joke" - we were all awarded Army Commendation Medals for our swimming and volleyball playing.
You didn't hear a shot. I don't know where you landed or jumped in. Did you get there o'dark 30 hours. Did you get there 10/25/1983. I don't think so. You are trolling.
Thanks for the video! I deployed there with the 82nd Abn 307th Airborne Engineers as a 12B and company CO's RTO. A corporal from our company jumped in with the Rangers as a heavy eqipment operator to move bulldozers and other vehicles off the airfield. We air landed after the 75th Rangers had captured the airport at Point Salines. We captured tons of communist supplied weapons, ammo and supplies stored in wharehouses as well as clearing the airfield of Cuban and communist equipment on the airfield. That was my CO in the picture wit the captured Grenada flag.We also constructed barbed wire enclosures for Cuban and Grenadian prisoners. It was hot as fu*K is what I mostly remember besides taking fire from the hills, there were some snipers still fighting. Our air support was awesome, we happily called in air strikes and Cobra gunships on the Cubans who fired at us. Also had a run in with some Cuban armored cars BTRs. They didnt last long under fire from LAWs and 90mm recoiless rifles. We came home back to Ft Bragg just to be deployed to Panama.
My dad was also deployed with the 82nd. He passed last year at age 59 from pneumonia and Hepatitis C. I have lots of photos of his time with the 82nd and am wondering if you might know him, his last name was Fenelon. I was estranged from him for many years, and would be so grateful to hear any stories or thoughts from this era.
When that happens I was stationed on a destroyer on 32nd Street Naval Station, San Diego. We got the call to stand by for possible deployment but that was canceled the next day. That was a day of an emotional roller coaster for me and many more aboard. Thanks for the men who actually went through that mess. 👍❤️🇺🇸
One of our DS was a Grenada veteran . He was an Infantryman but he didn’t have as many medals as PFC Smoot who was in our cycle , who had been a Vietnam Veteran and a radioman .
I was with the 22nd MAU BLT 2/8 Hotel Btry we did the right thing going.The Cubans and Courd were brutalizing the Grenadians .If that wasn't enough they were building a military airstrip that would be detrimental to the security of much of tbe Caribbean.And til this day Grenadas Thanksgiving Day is 25 OCT .And any Grenadian I have met still thanks us
A friend of mine was one of those medical students. He said the hours were tense as they awaited the outcome. And my brother-in-law was an intelligence officer in the Navy during this operation, stationed on the USS Independence, one of the carriers supporting the operation.
I was a Marine E4 on the Indy and went to St. Georges. I was just waiting to get some chow and some students were loading up on a truck and someone called my name. I turned to look and it was one of the students, She was a classmate of mine in HS. She said "fancy meeting you here"......
I severed with several 82nd Airborne Troopers as well as some Vietnam Veterans who fought in Grenada. What I never understood was why those who saw their first combat in Grenada where awarded Combat Infantry Badges while those who had earned a CIB in Vietnam were not awarded a second CIB for their having fought in Grenada.
2/325 Bravo company. We lost our company commander in this action. Captain Michael Francis Ritz. For those that has never been to Ft. Bragg the fitness center was named after him along with SSGT Gary Epps. I feel so old can’t believe it’s been 40 years.
Because our government are facist and not fighting the good fight. The United States government is now the terrorist friend. Remember Asked my father (vietnam veteran),why does everyone hate us if we're on the good side? Because we're not friend.
Action Jackson: The Army never ended the Campaign which covered VietNam until after Grenada which made current holders of the CIB for the 2nd Award ineligible. I am going from memory so I could be a little hazy; the same situation happened in Panama; I don't remember guys receiving the award in Grenada being awarded the 2nd CIB award; again I could be wrong but maybe someone has the current regulation handy and can look it up. It would be interesting to know the answer.
@@joesphmurphy4013 that’s a pretty good theory on why no second CIB, and similar to they were handled for a few other skirmishes lumped under the big GWOT umbrella.
Because a CIB means you were fired upon and returned fire with the enemy you dont get a CIB for every batte or deployment or war . Once you earned it you can always wear it and then your combat patch can show what units you went to war with. I served as a Infantryman during Iraq and Afghanistan and we didn't get 2 CIB one for Iraq one for Afghanistan. At least I didn't think ya did ? I served with a dude that served in Iraq and Afghanistan a total of 5 times and he didn't have 5 CIBs but he def fought the enemy every deployment
Excellent video. Very informative. We are on a cruise and about to visit Grenada. I wanted to know all the facts before engaging in conversation on the island.
I took care of Harry when he was evac to San Antonio. I have often thought of him and his wife. His life was so tragic. The 82nd was a blessing for him til he got shot up by the A6.
Met an old Vet in Ft. Klamath, Oregon, who was with the engineers that followed the paratroopers in. He had some amazing stories playing OpFor in training ops. He even got to meet General Omar Bradley.
Wow! That would’ve been a conversation I’d never forgot! There was a lot of Marine and Army Vets that settled in the Klamath Falls area because they had a recovery facility for wounded Service Members due to the dry climate. The facility was then turned over to the County and used as the first Oregon Institute of Technology which had an excellent gun smith program, but not now of course.
@@echohunter4199 The guy worked at the Fort Klamath Museum. Had a giant mustache. He drove one of the CEV tractor/tank/recovery vehicles, and even managed to shoot down an Apache in a training exercise with the stubby main gun.
I was in the Marine Corps stationed at Camp Lejeune when this took place, but wasn't part of this operation. However, I knew many who were. My utmost respect for all U.S. Military personnel involved.
I was stationed at a base which was developing weapons, and after the invasion we were told not to go to the airfield over a particular weekend. We did, obviously, and saw Soviet vehicles airlifted there from this incident.
I was with 1st BN 320th field artillery unit during this operation, and yes there were army rangers, but also half the 82nd airborne paratroopers deployed there. Army SSG retired 16yrs 6months.
Thank you for your service! It's good hearing about the people who still are greatful, and appreciate the U,S for fighting for their freedom! All American All the way!
I was born in 83..my 1st job when I was 16 I worked with a guy who parachuted in. He said some were shot before they hit the ground. He said he played dead in the rain for 3 days..said bad bad guys were walking right past him. Some might call bullshit, but if you knew him I don't think you'd think so. I shamefully at the time didn't even know about this.
Grenada and Panama. Urgent Fury and Just Cause... Sandwiched between the shadows of Vietnam, and the fall of the Soviet Union. Major events that lead to these two operations being all but forgotten about.
Who's your brother? My dad's MSG Reynaldo Ramos. 82nd Airborne also. Not sure of his rank during this time though 🤔 Sorry to say I can't ask him anymore😢
I was visiting friends on the island who took me the farmer's union. There I saw the 22 orange Belarus tractors from Russia. The Marines shot bullets into the engine blocks removing any threat that the tractors may have presented to freedom and democracy.
Little was known about this footnote until years after the Grenada, "Urgent Fury" Operation. The U.S. Army and Marines confronted a large contingent of Cuban military advisors. The Cubans put up fierce resistance, much to the surprise of the Americans. The local Grenadian military folded quickly but the Cubans fought on like cornered tigers. There is a likely explanation. Cuban dictator, generalissimo Fidel Castro united the Cuban People and promoted Cuban nationalism based on disdain and hatred of the United States. Hatred of Uncle Sam's Yanquis remained a powerful tool of the communist totalitarian Cuban regime's propaganda campaign to keep the Cuban People united in support of the Fidel regime and to follow its communist programs. In 1983 the Cuban communist takeover was only 24 years old. Hatred of the United States was still going strong among the Cubans. This is likely what encouraged the Cuban military contingent to put up a fierce struggle against the American G.I.s and Marines. The U.S. military actually had to plan and initiate a real military campaign to overwhelm the Cubans. Analysts later believe that had the Cubans stationed a sizeable Cuban army on Grenada, things would have gone far more difficult for the U.S. As it was, the battalion-size Cuban contingent put up a fight that was out of proportion to their size. They were motivated to hate America and to kill Americans. In 2023, according to many news reporters from the U.S. and elsewhere, you don't find that same hatred of the U.S. anymore in Cuba, except among the lingering, old-age Cuban revolutionary diehards. Most of the Cuban population was born after the 1959 Cuban communist takeover. For most of today's Cubans, the U.S. is now thought of as the place to escape to rather than endure the prolonged economic privations of Cuba.
Not true. The Cubans bitced out like wussies after we killed a lot of them and the Grenadians hated them and turned them in at every opportunity. The Cubans fought as hard as terrified pussies. (Without) love. A co 3/325 IRC (Initial Reaction Company/82nd) You need to shut the fuck up and know jack shit pansie.
We discussed both in school, Grenada was a liberation of the people from an oppressive radical government who were using foreign troops to quell the population into submission. Panama was worse as it was to stop the persecution of Americans and foreign citizens from the racial attacks by the thugs of Noriega’s “Dignity Battalions” not to mention the Panamanian Defense Force had killed several US officers at checkpoints prior to the escalation. Both were completely deserved and should be talked about, not from the false standpoint of “imperialism” but from the standpoint of crushing violent radical leftist ideology that has killed 100s of millions
@@loganbaileysfunwithtrains606 What a colorful bowl of bollocks they served you at school, but still you still ate it all up. About Grenada, the United Nations General Assembly condemned it as "a flagrant violation of international law" on 2 November 1983 by a vote of 108 to 9, enough said. In Panama, the US intervened to remove Noriega, who was btw a longtime American ally and collaborator of the CIA in the fight against the Sandinistas in Nicaragua, after possible indictments for corruption and cooperation with drug cartels from Colombia, which the US could no longer turn a blind eye to. Fearing a possible arrest, Noriega turns to Cuba and the Soviet Union, and at that moment, before he receives any military aid and after an unsuccessful attempt at a military coup instigated by the CIA, the US decides to remove him with direct military action. Stories about military interventions to spread democracy and protect civilians in the countries where they intervene are stories for small children, because civilians are the ones who suffer the most in such interventions, and democracy has not taken root in any country where the US tried to "impose" it by force (Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya). Did they mention to you at school that protecting the Vietnamese from themselves, the US and its allies killed more than a million of them? Ever heard about the village of Mỹ Lai or did the teacher skip it??
A New York fashion photographer was doing a swimsuit shoot there. When the invasion began he and his models retreated to their motel. One of the models grabbed a big purse and filled it with Hasselblad cameras, lenses, and film. The girls then pushed the protesting photographer out the door with orders to photograph the Marines. He got some great photos.
Grenada was important for two reasons, one strategic and one tactical. On the strategic side, up until the Grenada operation, communism had been on the march in Central America and the Caribbean. Nicaragua had fallen to the communists and a civil war was raging in El Salvador between the government and Marxist guerrillas. In the Caribbean, Grenada was being transformed into an arms transshipment point for communist-supported insurgencies in Latin America and Africa, with the lengthening of Point Salines airfield to 10,000 feet and the building of multiple arms warehouses nearby. Jamaica was in the midst of a bloody election battle, with one side fully supported by Cuba, and there were similar things taking place in Guyana. Once the Grenada operation occurred, a "line in the sand" had been drawn, making it clear to the Soviets that there were limits to their expansion efforts in the region. After October 1983, these efforts stalled, then declined, coming to an end after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Tactically-speaking, Grenada validated the 82nd Airborne's stated ability to achieve "wheels-up" in 18 hours or less. I was in the 82nd at the time, and we did not go on alert until Monday evening on October 24th. By Tuesday afternoon, the first infantry battalion from the 82nd was landing in Grenada. I challenge any other country to match that capability. When I was in the 82nd, the mantra was, "you're a phone call away from going to war," and they lived up to that standard.
In ‘83 during this short conflict, we were at a rodeo that weekend at Roosevelt Roads Naval Air Station in Puerto Rico. All day long saw planes landing and taking off from the base taking part in the operation. We knew what was going on, actually missed the base entrance since it was bulldozed to conceal it, finally found it and got into the base, security was very tight. I was 17 at the time, it was impressive.
I was a young woman in Jamaica at the time. I remember the phone call from the Barbadian Prime Minister to the Jamaican Prime Minster advising what happened and asking for help.
I know a few guys from NYC that was part of the revolutionary, they told me alot of stories that seem to be missing from this video. I think the fighting was a little bit more intense than what is being illustrated
He called the 82nd Army Airborne Rangers . The 82nd Airborne is one unit the Rangers are a different unit .There are no ranger units at Ft Bragg NC,.The 82nd is at FT Bragg along with the US Army Special Forces ( Green Berets ). Both 82nd and Rangers did serve in Grenada along with other units.
I went to Grenada on holiday a few years back. One of the locals took us on a tour round the Island. He took us to Pearl Airport . You could still see the bullet holes in the old buildings . Thank god America took back Grenada before it became a mini Cuba.
I had just started Army basic training when both the Marine HQ's and the Grenada war began. My first thought was, "I just started training and we're already going to war!" Later when I was at permanent station of Ft Ord, CA the division was put on alert and deployment began when operations to Beirut began. Infantry units went first and headed towards the final destination of the Middle East flying out of the Air Force base, Sacramento.
Was at home watching this on the news. Months later I was in 1st Batt. B co. 1st Plt. 1st Sqd. About 85% of the Plt. had Mustard stains. My last Squad Leader was the first Ranger to hit the ground in Urgent Fury. His Uniform is in the Ft. Benning Hall of Fame. man how time fly's. RLTW (The Beav)
I went in with the 82nd, C- 2-505th, spent all my time in the mountains, took sniper fire mostly, had a M-16 and an old WW2 era 1911. I couldnt hit the side of a barn with my nose pressed against it with that old 45. definitely shot out and in need of a new barrel but none available at the time. Cut a piece of paracord, tied one end to the lanyard and the other end to my bdu belt loop and belt, kept it tucked under my belt with the spare mag in my pocket. There was an FO that I knew and worked with, he had transferred to a Ranger battalion at some point and went in with a Ranger unit on the beach in an air assault op. blackhawk landed on top of him and broke his back, paralyzed him. Another Ranger buddy took an AK round to the shoulder. I Was on patrol one night and m-60 gunner took a sniper round to the head. We had guys going back and forth to and from the Ranger units. Problem was, if you got in trouble and got arrested, got a criminal record of any kind, you couldnt stay in the ranger units, you were kicked back to the 82nd. You could not be a Ranger if you had any kind of an arrest/criminal record, at least that is how it use to be, dont know if that has changed or not. 82nd was not as strict.
The 1s/75th from Hunter Army Airfield and the 2/75th from Ft. Lewis are the two Ranger Battalions that jumped in, the 82nd had, if I recall, a couple of engineers that jumped with the Rangers.
At my AFB in NC, one day a couple C-130 did those crazy assault landings and a ton of Army guys got out. Seemed strange. They left later and next day surprise. They was on their way there.
So much of the narrative of this video is wrong: 1. The Rangers took the airfield not the Marines. 2. The Marines rescued the St. Georges students, not the Army. 3. The Army flies Apache attack helicopters, not Cobras 4. The Marines fly Cobras attack helicopters, not Apaches 5. Rangers don't use amphibious vehicles, the Marines do Probably more wrong info too
I took part in the Grenada operation with the 82nd. The Rangers rescued the students at both the True Blue and the Grand Anse campuses. There was a shot-down Army CH-47 in the water adjacent to the Grand Anse campus. I know that because I spent a week at the campus and could see it from my room. The Marines use CH-46s. Both the Army and the Marines flew Cobras in Grenada. Apaches weren't adopted by the Army until 1986.
Like the belief they were actually facing Cubans all over and not Grenadian regulars and Militia......FACTUALLY wrong...but then again they can't tell us apart.......
I was a kid watching this intently. Looking back now, it was forever ago. I see M60's MG, M60 tanks, gama goats, recoilless rifles, willies jeeps, the old pot helmet and I think the old Vietnam era Flak Jacket opposed to ballistic protection. Then the aircraft, F14, Corsairs and A6. Probably the last combat drop we will ever see.
My Highschool buddy, ROTC, fresh out of Highschool, still wet behind the ears, and a North Ga Grad; jumped into Grenada with the 82nd Airborne during Operation Urgent Freedom; last summer General Townsend retired after 40 yrs Active Duty; My Most Sincere Gratitude to all of you Dedicated Veterans who were always there, no matter what the cost to preserve a goal of Freedom no matter where you were ordered to go. God Bless our Remarkable American Veterans always!!
No such thing as "Operation Urgent Freedom". The 82d didn't jump into Grenada, unless you count some one jumping off an Air Force ramp onto the pavement instead of stepping off.
Wow, they did not do their homework on this video. The Rangers are NOT part of the 82nd Airborne and never have been. There are many other mistakes in this video.
i was told it was all about the airfield being able to support the Tu-95, the Soviets had planned to station 3 there. then they would have one at all times flying along the east coast with nuclear cruise missiles. they wanted the airfield captured before it could be completed.
There is no indication the Soviets actually had plans to station Tu-95s in Grenada even if they theoretically could have. Cuba was already a much better location for stationing bombers to strike the US anyway. It was just planned as a regular civilian airport, originally proposed by the British in 1954.
Not a single mention of how the different services had trouble communicating with each other resulting in losses and casualties. Great to see the footage, but not a serious discussion of the operation.
@@plexisgaming Not only there but Rangers kicked the door in with a daylight parachute drop. Why daylight when they train to go in darkness? The Marines asked them to wait until first light because they had no night vision but the Rangers did. Go figure.
Maybe I am naive. We are talking 39 years ago. Americans were so much more advanced than Grenada. Yet the reporter is making it sound that the Grenada’s army was so dangerous. To back it up the Cubans were teaming with The late PM. Is it me? I guess Trinidad and Tobago was too far South to be standby for the Americans.
It was. As a former student at the med school at the time, I can tell you that when flying into Grenada, we always transferred from airliners into a small puddle jumper in Barbados for transport to Grenada's small Pearls airport. The long airstrip at Point Salines wasn't ready for jumbo jet traffic yet so Barbados was the logical location. It was closer to Grenada than Trinidad/Tobago.
Also remember that the Prime Minister of Barbados along with the PM of Dominica were very instrumental in the operation. The Trinidad government was very much against the invasion so they would not have assisted the troops.
Grenada was such an interesting operation. It saw a mix of Vietnam era and modern gear. The classic woodland uniform, the green jungle uniform, Kevlar and steel helmets, huey's and blackhawks... It was the US' first war after Nam, and was what shook us out of that phase of military uncertainty that followed Nam.
No mention of the Seals who drowned and were never recovered. Hard to believe the army issued the CIB to the Infantry units. My understanding is that 30 days of combat operations is needed to qualify. This was over and secured in a week. I was home before Thanksgiving.
My DS Baskerville fought in this operation. He always said it was what prompted him to become a DS. He was an excellent DS, Fort Sill Oklahoma 1985-1986
Thanks for posting this informative and interesting video, I was a kid when the invasion took place, but I remember it and those times well. Grenada, Lebanon, the 1981 US Navy dogfight with Libyan warplanes, (first US air combat since Vietnam) the Falklands, Afghanistan, the Soviets downing the Korean airliner, the brutal Iran-Iraq War, Nicaragua and El Salvador, Israel in Lebanon, etc. Conflict was raging everywhere within the wider framework of the Cold War. I had found the following info in an article a while back regarding some of the arms and military hardware captured by US forces in Grenada in the wake of Urgent Fury: "This is not an unusual move by a socialist government that employ's large numbers of Cuban 'advisers.' Back in the early '80s, the Marxist New Jewel movement that seized power in the tiny Caribbean nation of Grenada (population about 100,000) likewise established a "People's Revolutionary Army" (trained by hundreds of Cubans and North Koreans) as well as a party militia. When an even more radical faction of the party overthrew and murdered the previous leadership the U.S. intervened, with the ostensible purpose of protecting the hundreds of U.S. medical students studying at universities on the island. After the Marxist forces were defeated the U.S. troops captured the following quantities of weapons: 180 PPS 43 Submachineguns in 7.62x25mm Tokarev 1,120 Czech Vz 52 Rifles in 7.62x39mm 4,074 SKS-45 rifles in 7.62x39mm 2,432 Mosin Nagant Rifles 7.62x54Rmm 1,626 AKMS 7.62x39mm 9 PKM Machineguns 7.62x39mm 8 SPG-9 Kopye (Spear) 73mm Recoilless Rifles plus 78 RPG-2 and RPG7 antitank grenade launchers. 10 82mm Mortars 12 ZU-23-2 Anti-Aircraft guns as well as an undetermined number of DShK 12.7mm heavy machine guns 4 Ex-Cuban ZiS-3 76.2mm Field guns 10 BTR-60/BRDM-2 armored vehicles. (No other Caribbean island nation had armored vehicles) Over 5.5 million rounds of 7.62 ammunition were found in warehouses on the island."
Marine combat vet ramadi government center 2006-2008, much respect watching the history of my brothers before me , remember the fallen, they are all that matter!
If I remember correctly we were in blue week during basic training when this occurred. Our drill instructor Staff Sergeant Guy, came into our barracks flipped on the light banging on a trash can telling us to wake up. I questioned him directly, I asked him why would they send untrained recruits to war? I did lots of push-ups
When the US infantry got to the north of the island a few days after the invasion, I looked out the window and spotted them across the street and thought," Wow! That's little boys, younger than me(19), their uniforms(Fatigues) looked so new".
I was stationed at Guantanamo Bay during this, we was put on alert and spouses where instructed to stand-by for evacuation incase of invasion of the base. Days before US ships not on our list of training, where coming in and out taking on personnel, fuel and ammo, as a instructor there, we was ready incase of invasion!
Ronald Regan the best president we ever had. When he was in office when I was watching TV a comercial would come on it was the American flag waving and the national anthem would play. After he left office that comercial never came on again. Marines rushing in to save the seals. You never hear that.
I had just left Beirut when this went down. We heard about the deployment and foolishly thought they were coming to our aid. Get a little payback. Not gonna lie, some of us felt betrayed, left out in the cold, hung out to dry. Not happy campers at all.
I worked with a labor doing construction in Contra Costa back the early 90s building refineries and worked with a cat who claimed he took the first bullets in the back and shoulder since fire back policy in Granada after the Vietnam combat war, we gave him all the slack he deserved.🪖 Happy Memorial day to all the veterans who served for your your courage and commitment 🪖
Wow, I know a black woman in Brandon, Mississippi who was an officer that got very bad effects from agent orange while in the Army fighting in Grenada. Never got adequate support or coverage afterwards.
uh, yeah, don't buy a used car from that woman. There was no Agent Orange in Grenada, that was a Viet Nam thing, and women weren't allowed in the combat arms until 2013. Act like a fan and ask to see her DD214 so you can be awed, see what she says.
I went to jump school in the summer of 1996 as an ROTC cadidiot (cadet idiot). Our company commander was an NCO with the rangers who jumped into Grenada. He was a badass.
Hoof; all I can tell you is my best friend in Highschool ROTC; 1978 jumped into Grenada with the 82nd Airborne; General Townsend and I were both trained in Highschool by CSGM Horace Pearl 82nd AIRBORNE, WWII, and 187th RCT Korea; one of the most serious Bad Azzz's I ever crossed paths with in my Lifetime. Those guys were REAL! God Bless our Veteran WARRIORS
People may not believe this but I don't care. My high school sociology teacher was Special Forces in Grenada as he claims which I believe. He got out after that got a law degree working with a big law firm in Chicago and made enough money to retire and take care of his girls Took up teaching and he was so cool. He would show Martial Arts stuff and Ju Jujitsu.
I think it's time to create something like NATO of Latin American or Caribbean countries. All this dirty work had to be done by Great Britain🇬🇧😃, because this is its dominion, its territory
Thanks for this I was looking for a good video on the conflict in Grenada since there isn’t a ton and this was really educational
I was one of those Marines in Beirut, Lebanon. We got hit with the suicide truck bomb at our battalion headquarters (everyone mistakenly calls it barracks) the day before the landings on Grenada. After the Soviets shot down the Korea airliner in September, we were attacked on October 23rd with mass casualties, and Grenada was invaded on October 24th, it sure felt like WWIII was pending. The Marines who hit Grenada went on to sail to Lebanon and relieve us in November and become targets in that shooting gallery. Despite the success of the Grenada operation those were dark days for the Marine Corps.
How many casualities we are talking about ?
@@yigolaski08 My unit suffered 248 KIA, and for the entire operation in Beirut the total was 268 KIA and 3 killed in accidents. There were 151 wounded. In the suicide attack on our headquarters on October 23, 1983 there were 241 killed including 220 Marines, it was the highest single day death toll for the Marine Corps since Iwo Jima. All because the politicians wanted us to play nice instead of playing war. I don't blame Hezbollah so much as I blame our own politicians. Hezbollah saw a weakness and attacked, it was an act of war. Our politicians were all lined up trying to chop President Reagan off at the knees which prevented him from playing hardball the way I think he wanted to. That political infighting rendered us nothing more than caged tigers and we paid for it in blood.
I will never forget that day. I was in the army. There is now a memorial wall traveling the country trying to visit every home town of each marine killed in the Beirut bombing. “We came in peace!”
@@noelrobinson3254 I have not heard that. Only organization that I can think of that would do that would be Beirut Veteran's Association but I don't recall getting any emails to that effect. I will have to look into it further. Thanks.
We had Engineman 2nd Class Duplanty from the Beachmaster Team Alpha Two survive the blast one of a few. They were in sick bay on bottom floor.
I was with the HHT, 1-17th Air Cavalry Squadron, 82d Airborne Division and deployed to Grenada. Appreciate the video and footage.
thankyou for your service. what did your experience in Grenada teach you?
@@zoober8158 actually quite a bit. I was the Squadron chaplain assistant and one of the few NCOs that deployed with the Headquarters Troop so I had a lot of leadership duties besides my job as a chaplain assistant to include being Sergeant of the guard and convoy Commander among others. I even assisted the Barbados detachment with security.
@@stephenstott9690 wow interesting!
If you want secret details of the Calvigny Barracks raid disaster message me
Thank you for your service, and have a good veterans day this weekend
I started ROTC in 1988 and one of my instructors was a veteran of Genada and Vietnam. He was actually in Ranger Bn for Grenada. He was one of the best instructors I ever had all through my 33 year career. MSG James Gillespie.
A YIDDISH PRUSSIAN PROVERB LARRY CHESTER ANIEL INDUCED BY AMERICAN MEDIA 😡$18600$3600$1800😡$1210😡😡$850
One of my best friends in the Army was on that blown up Jeep, Randy Cline A Co, 1/75, he was KIA in Grenada. We went through Basic, Jump School and RIP together.
Sorry man. I was stationed in Panama from Dec 85 - May of 88 at Ft Kobbe (AATW). I knew several guys who were with the big deuce in Grenada and a couple Rangers. My sincere condolences for your loss.
With Maynard?
That's rough, man. At least he went out like a solider.
@@tony55752 Randy was the Team Leader and commanding the Gun Jeep.
Same here, knew Russell Robinson from day one of basic. I don't know for sure that he was on that jeep, but I heard from another Ranger that he was on one that got hit by an RPG.
this entire video makes it seem like it was a cake walk. I wasn't there, but my dad was and he told me timings were off on everything, maps were shit, and a bunch of other things that the short time constraint didn't allow. Essentially, he told me it was a shit show.
a lot of the political stuff is accurate from what I've heard though
I was curious about casualties on our side and was surprised ot see they were so low and about on par with the Cubans.
Nearly 8,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines had participated in Operation Urgent Fury, along with 353 Caribbean allies from the Caribbean Peace Forces. American forces sustained 19 killed and 116 wounded; Cuban forces sustained 25 killed, 59 wounded, and 638 combatants captured.
19/8000 = 0.002375 so it couldn't have been a "sh*tshow" per se. Imagine how snafu it would have been without NCOs. Sure there was probably sh*tty sergeant here and there and he might have been under one, but the structure allows for pockets of temporary chaos without destabilizing the entire operator. Let's hope Russia never learns that lesson
Your dad was right. This video failed to mention many of the total failures of the operation. Including the disastrous insertion of the SEALS. And the poor intel that caused most of the casualties. This was a complete BS video.
@TerranCrusader Agreed
Indeed. I am a Grenadian and had the opportunity to speak with a Trinidad born soldier who was part of the US invasion force. He recalled it was chaos at one point because their our troops were firing at each other because of bad intel.
I was an Army Counterintelligence Agent (MOS 35L) stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado when I got emergency orders to go to Grenada for the "Invasion". As a trained interrogator, I was supposed to go there and interrogate the many Cuban POWs that were anticipated to be captured.
I arrived on October 25, 1983 and met with several other Agents who I knew from previous assignments who had also been pulled off their regular jobs. We all were either Vietnam veterans or had done time in Europe during the Cold War.
We spent our time in Grenada working on our tans, swimming in the ocean and playing a lot of beach volleyball. We never saw any Cuban Army POWs or heard a shot fired in anger during the entire time we were there. We were flown back to our various bases on November 1, 1983, the day after the majority of the troops had left.
A final "joke" - we were all awarded Army Commendation Medals for our swimming and volleyball playing.
So are you saying that none of this ever happened?
@@oldtruthteller2512 No, he went. He just didn't get to do his job.
Regardless of what you did, you were willing to go. TYFYS.
You didn't hear a shot. I don't know where you landed or jumped in. Did you get there o'dark 30 hours. Did you get there 10/25/1983. I don't think so. You are trolling.
BS
Thanks for the video! I deployed there with the 82nd Abn 307th Airborne Engineers as a 12B and company CO's RTO. A corporal from our company jumped in with the Rangers as a heavy eqipment operator to move bulldozers and other vehicles off the airfield. We air landed after the 75th Rangers had captured the airport at Point Salines. We captured tons of communist supplied weapons, ammo and supplies stored in wharehouses as well as clearing the airfield of Cuban and communist equipment on the airfield. That was my CO in the picture wit the captured Grenada flag.We also constructed barbed wire enclosures for Cuban and Grenadian prisoners. It was hot as fu*K is what I mostly remember besides taking fire from the hills, there were some snipers still fighting. Our air support was awesome, we happily called in air strikes and Cobra gunships on the Cubans who fired at us. Also had a run in with some Cuban armored cars BTRs. They didnt last long under fire from LAWs and 90mm recoiless rifles. We came home back to Ft Bragg just to be deployed to Panama.
My dad was also deployed with the 82nd. He passed last year at age 59 from pneumonia and Hepatitis C. I have lots of photos of his time with the 82nd and am wondering if you might know him, his last name was Fenelon. I was estranged from him for many years, and would be so grateful to hear any stories or thoughts from this era.
Essayons
I truly appreciate all of you guys !!! I've Lost Ranger Buddies & I truly Miss all of THEM.
Do you know Trey Jolly? I work with him
God bless rangers they led the way !!!! Someone I once met was a ranger lrrp as you know long range recon patrol !!!!!!!!
When that happens I was stationed on a destroyer on 32nd Street Naval Station, San Diego. We got the call to stand by for possible deployment but that was canceled the next day.
That was a day of an emotional roller coaster for me and many more aboard.
Thanks for the men who actually went through that mess. 👍❤️🇺🇸
was a Corpsman at the on-shore clinic 32nd street....glad I got to miss all the shenanigan's =P
Thanks for what though? It was an unjust invasion build on a covert cia operation…
One of our DS was a Grenada veteran .
He was an Infantryman but he didn’t have as many medals as PFC Smoot who was in our cycle , who had been a Vietnam Veteran and a radioman .
@H Drill Sergeant
@H You are replying to the wrong person.
I was with the 22nd MAU BLT 2/8 Hotel Btry we did the right thing going.The Cubans and Courd were brutalizing the Grenadians .If that wasn't enough they were building a military airstrip that would be detrimental to the security of much of tbe Caribbean.And til this day Grenadas Thanksgiving Day is 25 OCT .And any Grenadian I have met still thanks us
The US always sticking it’s nose in a foreign countries internal business
I was there with 60 SPS from Travis AFB. We had security of the airstrips in Grenada and Barbados.
Wonderful to know & thank you for your service sir!! 🇺🇸
I was a medical student in Grenada back then. Thank you....!
I was with the 82nd there. Man that was along time ago. I’m 62 now and if needed I’d fight today.
A friend of mine was one of those medical students. He said the hours were tense as they awaited the outcome. And my brother-in-law was an intelligence officer in the Navy during this operation, stationed on the USS Independence, one of the carriers supporting the operation.
My brother was one of the students ❤️🙏
I was a Marine E4 on the Indy and went to St. Georges. I was just waiting to get some chow and some students were loading up on a truck and someone called my name. I turned to look and it was one of the students, She was a classmate of mine in HS. She said "fancy meeting you here"......
My father was one of them
I severed with several 82nd Airborne Troopers as well as some Vietnam Veterans who fought in Grenada. What I never understood was why those who saw their first combat in Grenada where awarded Combat Infantry Badges while those who had earned a CIB in Vietnam were not awarded a second CIB for their having fought in Grenada.
2/325 Bravo company. We lost our company commander in this action. Captain Michael Francis Ritz. For those that has never been to Ft. Bragg the fitness center was named after him along with SSGT Gary Epps. I feel so old can’t believe it’s been 40 years.
Because our government are facist and not fighting the good fight.
The United States government is now the terrorist friend.
Remember Asked my father (vietnam veteran),why does everyone hate us if we're on the good side? Because we're not friend.
Action Jackson: The Army never ended the Campaign which covered VietNam until after Grenada which made current holders of the CIB for the 2nd Award ineligible. I am going from memory so I could be a little hazy; the same situation happened in Panama; I don't remember guys receiving the award in Grenada being awarded the 2nd CIB award; again I could be wrong but maybe someone has the current regulation handy and can look it up. It would be interesting to know the answer.
@@joesphmurphy4013 that’s a pretty good theory on why no second CIB, and similar to they were handled for a few other skirmishes lumped under the big GWOT umbrella.
Because a CIB means you were fired upon and returned fire with the enemy you dont get a CIB for every batte or deployment or war . Once you earned it you can always wear it and then your combat patch can show what units you went to war with. I served as a Infantryman during Iraq and Afghanistan and we didn't get 2 CIB one for Iraq one for Afghanistan. At least I didn't think ya did ? I served with a dude that served in Iraq and Afghanistan a total of 5 times and he didn't have 5 CIBs but he def fought the enemy every deployment
Excellent video. Very informative. We are on a cruise and about to visit Grenada. I wanted to know all the facts before engaging in conversation on the island.
Shout out to paratrooper, Harry Shaw. He was seriously injured by friendly fire. Passed away last year.
I took care of Harry when he was evac to San Antonio. I have often thought of him and his wife. His life was so tragic. The 82nd was a blessing for him til he got shot up by the A6.
I knew harry, I believe he was with Charlie battery 1st320th during that mission.
I saw it happen. The fighting was so close
lmao what a loser
How is Harry doing now? How is his wife?@@noelrobinson3254
Met an old Vet in Ft. Klamath, Oregon, who was with the engineers that followed the paratroopers in. He had some amazing stories playing OpFor in training ops. He even got to meet General Omar Bradley.
Wow! That would’ve been a conversation I’d never forgot! There was a lot of Marine and Army Vets that settled in the Klamath Falls area because they had a recovery facility for wounded Service Members due to the dry climate. The facility was then turned over to the County and used as the first Oregon Institute of Technology which had an excellent gun smith program, but not now of course.
@@echohunter4199 The guy worked at the Fort Klamath Museum. Had a giant mustache.
He drove one of the CEV tractor/tank/recovery vehicles, and even managed to shoot down an Apache in a training exercise with the stubby main gun.
I was in the Marine Corps stationed at Camp Lejeune when this took place, but wasn't part of this operation. However, I knew many who were. My utmost respect for all U.S. Military personnel involved.
@TerranCrusader That was more recent I think. I doubt the water there has been bad the whole 100 years the camp has been there.
@@huntclanhunt9697 It was from 1953 to 1987 so he is covered. I am a DAV volunteer benefits officer and a veteran.
@@2000ViperGTSsubscribe Ah ok. Just checking.
I was stationed at a base which was developing weapons, and after the invasion we were told not to go to the airfield over a particular weekend. We did, obviously, and saw Soviet vehicles airlifted there from this incident.
We did…..obviously.
CLASSIC!
I was with 1st BN 320th field artillery unit during this operation, and yes there were army rangers, but also half the 82nd airborne paratroopers deployed there. Army SSG retired 16yrs 6months.
Thank you for your service Staff Sergeant.
Thank you for your service! It's good hearing about the people who still are greatful, and appreciate the U,S for fighting for their freedom! All American All the way!
Did the 82nd also para jump into grenada?
One of my drill sgts in basic training was in Grenada with the 82nd airborne.
Hell of a birthday gift. 10/25/1983. Can never forget. My first deployment.
Mr. President/ Comander in Chief you will never be forgotten.
I was born in 83..my 1st job when I was 16 I worked with a guy who parachuted in. He said some were shot before they hit the ground. He said he played dead in the rain for 3 days..said bad bad guys were walking right past him. Some might call bullshit, but if you knew him I don't think you'd think so. I shamefully at the time didn't even know about this.
Last name was Johnson? I new someone in battalion that happened to.
Grenada and Panama. Urgent Fury and Just Cause...
Sandwiched between the shadows of Vietnam, and the fall of the Soviet Union. Major events that lead to these two operations being all but forgotten about.
@a
LoLz. Your frozen pizza is ready. Hurry to the kitchen before it gets cold and your Mom gets pissed off.
And don't forget the Contras and CIA-backed death squads in Central America
My brother was there, he was in the 82nd Airborne Division.
Who's your brother? My dad's MSG Reynaldo Ramos. 82nd Airborne also. Not sure of his rank during this time though 🤔 Sorry to say I can't ask him anymore😢
@ Leslie Pegram
I was visiting friends on the island who took me the farmer's union. There I saw the 22 orange Belarus tractors from Russia. The Marines shot bullets into the engine blocks removing any threat that the tractors may have presented to freedom and democracy.
Excellent Job!
It would be nice one on the Invasion of Panama by the 7the Light Infantry División
One of my best friends was one of the Rangers that took part in this operation. Sgt Perry if you're reading this love you brother.
Little was known about this footnote until years after the Grenada, "Urgent Fury" Operation. The U.S. Army and Marines confronted a large contingent of Cuban military advisors. The Cubans put up fierce resistance, much to the surprise of the Americans. The local Grenadian military folded quickly but the Cubans fought on like cornered tigers.
There is a likely explanation. Cuban dictator, generalissimo Fidel Castro united the Cuban People and promoted Cuban nationalism based on disdain and hatred of the United States. Hatred of Uncle Sam's Yanquis remained a powerful tool of the communist totalitarian Cuban regime's propaganda campaign to keep the Cuban People united in support of the Fidel regime and to follow its communist programs.
In 1983 the Cuban communist takeover was only 24 years old. Hatred of the United States was still going strong among the Cubans. This is likely what encouraged the Cuban military contingent to put up a fierce struggle against the American G.I.s and Marines. The U.S. military actually had to plan and initiate a real military campaign to overwhelm the Cubans. Analysts later believe that had the Cubans stationed a sizeable Cuban army on Grenada, things would have gone far more difficult for the U.S. As it was, the battalion-size Cuban contingent put up a fight that was out of proportion to their size. They were motivated to hate America and to kill Americans.
In 2023, according to many news reporters from the U.S. and elsewhere, you don't find that same hatred of the U.S. anymore in Cuba, except among the lingering, old-age Cuban revolutionary diehards. Most of the Cuban population was born after the 1959 Cuban communist takeover. For most of today's Cubans, the U.S. is now thought of as the place to escape to rather than endure the prolonged economic privations of Cuba.
Not true. The Cubans bitced out like wussies after we killed a lot of them and the Grenadians hated them and turned them in at every opportunity. The Cubans fought as hard as terrified pussies. (Without) love. A co 3/325 IRC (Initial Reaction Company/82nd) You need to shut the fuck up and know jack shit pansie.
Fidel was no a General
Today the hatred against USA, is most in the USA itself .
@@Gab-jo6jg Just a winner.
@@reddeserted13 he won every single election ....oh wait...never mind.
This Grenada episode was longer than I thought. Clint Eastwood had clocked it in as a three hour war.
I was there with the 2/508th Abn Inf from the 82nd. Fun times...thanks for the memories!
Tanks! Where's the video of the Marine M60 tanks? My brother was a tanker in the Grenada operation; his picture got in Time magazine.
I like that he actually said, "Marines rushed in to rescue to Navy Seals".
This and Panama will regrettably never be talked about in schools regrettably
Anti left so... Yeah...
Todd Welsh They should be.
We discussed both in school, Grenada was a liberation of the people from an oppressive radical government who were using foreign troops to quell the population into submission. Panama was worse as it was to stop the persecution of Americans and foreign citizens from the racial attacks by the thugs of Noriega’s “Dignity Battalions” not to mention the Panamanian Defense Force had killed several US officers at checkpoints prior to the escalation. Both were completely deserved and should be talked about, not from the false standpoint of “imperialism” but from the standpoint of crushing violent radical leftist ideology that has killed 100s of millions
Regrettably.
@@loganbaileysfunwithtrains606 What a colorful bowl of bollocks they served you at school, but still you still ate it all up. About Grenada, the United Nations General Assembly condemned it as "a flagrant violation of international law" on 2 November 1983 by a vote of 108 to 9, enough said. In Panama, the US intervened to remove Noriega, who was btw a longtime American ally and collaborator of the CIA in the fight against the Sandinistas in Nicaragua, after possible indictments for corruption and cooperation with drug cartels from Colombia, which the US could no longer turn a blind eye to. Fearing a possible arrest, Noriega turns to Cuba and the Soviet Union, and at that moment, before he receives any military aid and after an unsuccessful attempt at a military coup instigated by the CIA, the US decides to remove him with direct military action. Stories about military interventions to spread democracy and protect civilians in the countries where they intervene are stories for small children, because civilians are the ones who suffer the most in such interventions, and democracy has not taken root in any country where the US tried to "impose" it by force (Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya). Did they mention to you at school that protecting the Vietnamese from themselves, the US and its allies killed more than a million of them? Ever heard about the village of Mỹ Lai or did the teacher skip it??
A New York fashion photographer was doing a swimsuit shoot there. When the invasion began he and his models retreated to their motel. One of the models grabbed a big purse and filled it with Hasselblad cameras, lenses, and film. The girls then pushed the protesting photographer out the door with orders to photograph the Marines. He got some great photos.
Grenada was important for two reasons, one strategic and one tactical. On the strategic side, up until the Grenada operation, communism had been on the march in Central America and the Caribbean. Nicaragua had fallen to the communists and a civil war was raging in El Salvador between the government and Marxist guerrillas. In the Caribbean, Grenada was being transformed into an arms transshipment point for communist-supported insurgencies in Latin America and Africa, with the lengthening of Point Salines airfield to 10,000 feet and the building of multiple arms warehouses nearby. Jamaica was in the midst of a bloody election battle, with one side fully supported by Cuba, and there were similar things taking place in Guyana.
Once the Grenada operation occurred, a "line in the sand" had been drawn, making it clear to the Soviets that there were limits to their expansion efforts in the region. After October 1983, these efforts stalled, then declined, coming to an end after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Tactically-speaking, Grenada validated the 82nd Airborne's stated ability to achieve "wheels-up" in 18 hours or less. I was in the 82nd at the time, and we did not go on alert until Monday evening on October 24th. By Tuesday afternoon, the first infantry battalion from the 82nd was landing in Grenada. I challenge any other country to match that capability. When I was in the 82nd, the mantra was, "you're a phone call away from going to war," and they lived up to that standard.
We sure did
In ‘83 during this short conflict, we were at a rodeo that weekend at Roosevelt Roads Naval Air Station in Puerto Rico. All day long saw planes landing and taking off from the base taking part in the operation.
We knew what was going on, actually missed the base entrance since it was bulldozed to conceal it, finally found it and got into the base, security was very tight.
I was 17 at the time, it was impressive.
I was a young woman in Jamaica at the time. I remember the phone call from the Barbadian Prime Minister to the Jamaican Prime Minster advising what happened and asking for help.
I was in 2/8 Comm plt attached to 81mm mortor plt. 2 tours in Beirut and 1 in Grenada
Friend and neighbor Lcpl David Gay was in your unit I believe. He was killed in the bombing of the BLT.
Semper fi
@@calvinballew5411 that was 1/8, we were in Grenada when that happened
@L.D yeah I know that. He was already in Beirut as we were headed there. Bad days
Semper Fi Brother. Never ate another mango again
19:03 As I recall none of the troops on Grenada had blank adapters on their weapons.
Blank adapters on their weapons? You truly don't know what you are talking about do you?
@@paratrooperlane7022
If you review the footage at 19:03 you'll see a guy with a blank adapter on his weapon.
Good eye. I missed the BFA the first time watching. Probably footage from some CONUS training exercise.
Was in a bar in Grenada 20 years ago that had pieces of a US helicopter that was shot down hanging on the walls.
I know a few guys from NYC that was part of the revolutionary, they told me alot of stories that seem to be missing from this video. I think the fighting was a little bit more intense than what is being illustrated
Interesting to see the U.S. still using solid OD Green uniforms as late as 1983.
Probably was the Rangers, army issued me 12 sets of OD fatigues in 84 (3rd Ranger Bat).
I went through boot camp and AIT in early 1983. We were issued a mix of OD fatigues and the new woodland camo BDUs.
The BDUs had only just been introduced in 1981 so it makes sense that many soldiers would still be issued ODs a mere two years later
Clint Eastwood's Heartbreak Ridge
Good documentary. However you left out the Green Beret guys contributions to the fight.
He called the 82nd Army Airborne Rangers . The 82nd Airborne is one unit the Rangers are a different unit .There are no ranger units at Ft Bragg NC,.The 82nd is at FT Bragg along with the US Army Special Forces ( Green Berets ). Both 82nd and Rangers did serve in Grenada along with other units.
I went to Grenada on holiday a few years back. One of the locals took us on a tour round the Island. He took us to Pearl Airport . You could still see the bullet holes in the old buildings . Thank god America took back Grenada before it became a mini Cuba.
What do you mean took it back? It wasn't American territory.
@@Withnail1969 It was originally part of the English commonwealth . The Island belongs to the Grenadian people.
He means took it back from the communists, but China has purchased most of the island now
@@garycook6717 If you believed that you wouldn't have invaded it.
@@Withnail1969 Yes, the military coup was totally the will of the people. What a joke.
I had just started Army basic training when both the Marine HQ's and the Grenada war began. My first thought was, "I just started training and we're already going to war!" Later when I was at permanent station of Ft Ord, CA the division was put on alert and deployment began when operations to Beirut began. Infantry units went first and headed towards the final destination of the Middle East flying out of the Air Force base, Sacramento.
Was at home watching this on the news. Months later I was in 1st Batt. B co. 1st Plt. 1st Sqd. About 85% of the Plt. had Mustard stains. My last Squad Leader was the first Ranger to hit the ground in Urgent Fury. His Uniform is in the Ft. Benning Hall of Fame. man how time fly's. RLTW (The Beav)
I went in with the 82nd, C- 2-505th, spent all my time in the mountains, took sniper fire mostly, had a M-16 and an old WW2 era 1911.
I couldnt hit the side of a barn with my nose pressed against it with that old 45. definitely shot out and in need of a new barrel but none available at the time. Cut a piece of paracord, tied one end to the lanyard and the other end to my bdu belt loop and belt, kept it tucked under my belt with the spare mag in my pocket.
There was an FO that I knew and worked with, he had transferred to a Ranger battalion at some point and went in with a Ranger unit on the beach in an air assault op. blackhawk landed on top of him and broke his back, paralyzed him.
Another Ranger buddy took an AK round to the shoulder.
I Was on patrol one night and m-60 gunner took a sniper round to the head.
We had guys going back and forth to and from the Ranger units.
Problem was, if you got in trouble and got arrested, got a criminal record of any kind, you couldnt stay in the ranger units, you were kicked back to the 82nd.
You could not be a Ranger if you had any kind of an arrest/criminal record, at least that is how it use to be, dont know if that has changed or not.
82nd was not as strict.
I had just EOS 1 MONTH before from the 82nd 2/505th when the operation began! I'm proud of my unit and what they accomplished!!!!! AIRBORNE!
If you want secret details of the Calvigny Barracks raid disaster message me
Never heard of the 82nd Army Airborne Rangers from Ft Bragg LOL
The 1s/75th from Hunter Army Airfield and the 2/75th from Ft. Lewis are the two Ranger Battalions that jumped in, the 82nd had, if I recall, a couple of engineers that jumped with the Rangers.
At my AFB in NC, one day a couple C-130 did those crazy assault landings and a ton of Army guys got out. Seemed strange. They left later and next day surprise. They was on their way there.
I was proud to pass out the Beans and Bullets, at Green Ramp. I was waiting to Medical out, so I was not going. Love you , all. AATW
So much of the narrative of this video is wrong:
1. The Rangers took the airfield not the Marines.
2. The Marines rescued the St. Georges students, not the Army.
3. The Army flies Apache attack helicopters, not Cobras
4. The Marines fly Cobras attack helicopters, not Apaches
5. Rangers don't use amphibious vehicles, the Marines do
Probably more wrong info too
Gunny rescued the students.
I took part in the Grenada operation with the 82nd. The Rangers rescued the students at both the True Blue and the Grand Anse campuses. There was a shot-down Army CH-47 in the water adjacent to the Grand Anse campus. I know that because I spent a week at the campus and could see it from my room. The Marines use CH-46s. Both the Army and the Marines flew Cobras in Grenada. Apaches weren't adopted by the Army until 1986.
There is so much factually wrong with this. But it is interesting none the less.
Like the belief they were actually facing Cubans all over and not Grenadian regulars and Militia......FACTUALLY wrong...but then again they can't tell us apart.......
Well what do you expect from literal US military propaganda lol
Tough to watch. Thank you to all. One of my neighbors was in that retrieval mission. Fort Bragg Men. Multi force attack. Welcome home Protectors.
I was a kid watching this intently. Looking back now, it was forever ago. I see M60's MG, M60 tanks, gama goats, recoilless rifles, willies jeeps, the old pot helmet and I think the old Vietnam era Flak Jacket opposed to ballistic protection. Then the aircraft, F14, Corsairs and A6. Probably the last combat drop we will ever see.
To all who served in grenada, thank you for all you did during this time for these people.
My retired US Army brother have been in this operation..
One more thing. Thank you to all the brave soldiers who risked their lives and God bless the souls of those who didn't make it.
My Highschool buddy, ROTC, fresh out of Highschool, still wet behind the ears, and a North Ga Grad; jumped into Grenada with the 82nd Airborne during Operation Urgent Freedom; last summer General Townsend retired after 40 yrs Active Duty;
My Most Sincere Gratitude to all of you Dedicated Veterans who were always there, no matter what the cost to preserve a goal of Freedom no matter where you were ordered to go. God Bless our Remarkable American Veterans always!!
No such thing as "Operation Urgent Freedom". The 82d didn't jump into Grenada, unless you count some one jumping off an Air Force ramp onto the pavement instead of stepping off.
Wow, they did not do their homework on this video. The Rangers are NOT part of the 82nd Airborne and never have been. There are many other mistakes in this video.
Grenada was the most momentous military clash in history.
LMAOOO
May not have been the that "monumentous"but we saved the Grenadians from a very brutal Marxist regime.
Well, if you had been shot there, or had been a citizen it would have been.
It was arguably the biggest flex of the “modern” American peacetime military. Followed up by Panama and then the Gulf War.
@@loganbaileysfunwithtrains606 and people say we lost all our modern wars 😂
My thanks to all veterans & active duty who posted comments to this video.
Salute! 👍🏻👍🏻❤️
i was told it was all about the airfield being able to support the Tu-95, the Soviets had planned to station 3 there. then they would have one at all times flying along the east coast with nuclear cruise missiles. they wanted the airfield captured before it could be completed.
There is no indication the Soviets actually had plans to station Tu-95s in Grenada even if they theoretically could have. Cuba was already a much better location for stationing bombers to strike the US anyway. It was just planned as a regular civilian airport, originally proposed by the British in 1954.
@bomba1905 nope that was definitely a dual purpose airstrip.
I joined the Army in September 83 and went to basic training in Ft DixN.J. during this conflict.
This turned into a fantastic Operation Flashpoint mission.
Not a single mention of how the different services had trouble communicating with each other resulting in losses and casualties. Great to see the footage, but not a serious discussion of the operation.
82nd. Army Airborne Rangers? Huh?
Yep caught that one. Media needs to research and check..
Yup, they were there.
@@plexisgaming Not only there but Rangers kicked the door in with a daylight parachute drop. Why daylight when they train to go in darkness? The Marines asked them to wait until first light because they had no night vision but the Rangers did. Go figure.
@@pfdrtom “the army gets satellites and we get stuck with this shit” every marine ever
Maybe I am naive. We are talking 39 years ago. Americans were so much more advanced than Grenada. Yet the reporter is making it sound that the Grenada’s army was so dangerous. To back it up the Cubans were teaming with The late PM. Is it me? I guess Trinidad and Tobago was too far South to be standby for the Americans.
It was. As a former student at the med school at the time, I can tell you that when flying into Grenada, we always transferred from airliners into a small puddle jumper in Barbados for transport to Grenada's small Pearls airport. The long airstrip at Point Salines wasn't ready for jumbo jet traffic yet so Barbados was the logical location. It was closer to Grenada than Trinidad/Tobago.
It was the cuban army and you can bet your ass they were dangerous
Also remember that the Prime Minister of Barbados along with the PM of Dominica were very instrumental in the operation. The Trinidad government was very much against the invasion so they would not have assisted the troops.
@@isuzucrewcab Oh Yes! Many are aware.
To sum it up we just didn't want another Cuba, a.k.a. Soviet base in the hood.
Grenada was such an interesting operation.
It saw a mix of Vietnam era and modern gear.
The classic woodland uniform, the green jungle uniform, Kevlar and steel helmets, huey's and blackhawks...
It was the US' first war after Nam, and was what shook us out of that phase of military uncertainty that followed Nam.
No mention of the Seals who drowned and were never recovered. Hard to believe the army issued the CIB to the Infantry units. My understanding is that 30 days of combat operations is needed to qualify. This was over and secured in a week. I was home before Thanksgiving.
My DS Baskerville fought in this operation. He always said it was what prompted him to become a DS. He was an excellent DS, Fort Sill Oklahoma 1985-1986
Thanks for posting this informative and interesting video, I was a kid when the invasion took place, but I remember it and those times well. Grenada, Lebanon, the 1981 US Navy dogfight with Libyan warplanes, (first US air combat since Vietnam) the Falklands, Afghanistan, the Soviets downing the Korean airliner, the brutal Iran-Iraq War, Nicaragua and El Salvador, Israel in Lebanon, etc. Conflict was raging everywhere within the wider framework of the Cold War. I had found the following info in an article a while back regarding some of the arms and military hardware captured by US forces in Grenada in the wake of Urgent Fury:
"This is not an unusual move by a socialist government that employ's large numbers of Cuban 'advisers.' Back in the early '80s, the Marxist New Jewel movement that seized power in the tiny Caribbean nation of Grenada (population about 100,000) likewise established a "People's Revolutionary Army" (trained by hundreds of Cubans and North Koreans) as well as a party militia. When an even more radical faction of the party overthrew and murdered the previous leadership the U.S. intervened, with the ostensible purpose of protecting the hundreds of U.S. medical students studying at universities on the island. After the Marxist forces were defeated the U.S. troops captured the following quantities of weapons:
180 PPS 43 Submachineguns in 7.62x25mm Tokarev
1,120 Czech Vz 52 Rifles in 7.62x39mm
4,074 SKS-45 rifles in 7.62x39mm
2,432 Mosin Nagant Rifles 7.62x54Rmm
1,626 AKMS 7.62x39mm
9 PKM Machineguns 7.62x39mm
8 SPG-9 Kopye (Spear) 73mm Recoilless Rifles plus 78 RPG-2 and RPG7 antitank grenade launchers.
10 82mm Mortars
12 ZU-23-2 Anti-Aircraft guns as well as an undetermined number of DShK 12.7mm heavy machine guns
4 Ex-Cuban ZiS-3 76.2mm Field guns
10 BTR-60/BRDM-2 armored vehicles. (No other Caribbean island nation had armored vehicles)
Over 5.5 million rounds of 7.62 ammunition were found in warehouses on the island."
Marine combat vet ramadi government center 2006-2008, much respect watching the history of my brothers before me , remember the fallen, they are all that matter!
Where was Gunny Highway?
If I remember correctly we were in blue week during basic training when this occurred.
Our drill instructor Staff Sergeant Guy, came into our barracks flipped on the light banging on a trash can telling us to wake up.
I questioned him directly, I asked him why would they send untrained recruits to war?
I did lots of push-ups
Punk. If what you say is true your DI should have killed you.
When the US infantry got to the north of the island a few days after the invasion, I looked out the window and spotted them across the street and thought," Wow! That's little boys, younger than me(19), their uniforms(Fatigues) looked so new".
A mixture of modern Kevlar helmets and old steel M1s.
I was stationed at Guantanamo Bay during this, we was put on alert and spouses where instructed to stand-by for evacuation incase of invasion of the base. Days before US ships not on our list of training, where coming in and out taking on personnel, fuel and ammo, as a instructor there, we was ready incase of invasion!
Always someone trying to step on nice people.... Crimes against humanity is easier to do than one may think.
Ronald Regan the best president we ever had.
When he was in office when I was watching TV a comercial would come on it was the American flag waving and the national anthem would play.
After he left office that comercial never came on again.
Marines rushing in to save the seals. You never hear that.
I had just left Beirut when this went down. We heard about the deployment and foolishly thought they were coming to our aid. Get a little payback.
Not gonna lie, some of us felt betrayed, left out in the cold, hung out to dry. Not happy campers at all.
Stopped off to bail out the Army on the way back to Beirut
The marines that went to Grenada were originally intended for Beirut but were shifted last minute
31 trillion in debt now. We cannot go on much longer.
Watch Micheal Parenti on the national debt
I worked with a labor doing construction in Contra Costa back the early 90s building refineries and worked with a cat who claimed he took the first bullets in the back and shoulder since fire back policy in Granada after the Vietnam combat war, we gave him all the slack he deserved.🪖 Happy Memorial day to all the veterans who served for your your courage and commitment 🪖
Arma Reforger done got realistic asf😮
EXCELLENT👌 3👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 Up for USA Intervention To SAVE The Innocent People!!!🤗🤗🤗
Wow, I know a black woman in Brandon, Mississippi who was an officer that got very bad effects from agent orange while in the Army fighting in Grenada. Never got adequate support or coverage afterwards.
uh, yeah, don't buy a used car from that woman. There was no Agent Orange in Grenada, that was a Viet Nam thing, and women weren't allowed in the combat arms until 2013. Act like a fan and ask to see her DD214 so you can be awed, see what she says.
Not a single shot of gunny Highway on the whole video. Shame
Gunny Highway won this war
Where's gunny Highway?
In movie anger management one of the character was a guy who played PTSD
And said things like " I have seen things man I have seen things🤣".
The narrator said Jamaica is a neighboring island. Not.
I went to jump school in the summer of 1996 as an ROTC cadidiot (cadet idiot). Our company commander was an NCO with the rangers who jumped into Grenada. He was a badass.
I was there with you as a cadet in airborne school summer of 1996 Delta company, I remember that Company Commander. He was badass.
Hoof; all I can tell you is my best friend in Highschool ROTC; 1978 jumped into Grenada with the 82nd Airborne; General Townsend and I were both trained in Highschool by CSGM Horace Pearl 82nd AIRBORNE, WWII, and 187th RCT Korea; one of the most serious Bad Azzz's I ever crossed paths with in my Lifetime. Those guys were REAL! God Bless our Veteran WARRIORS
@@RootzRockBand Holy shit!! Yes!!!! You remember.
It was such an exciting conflict it only got one hollywood-movie Heartbreak Ridge
People may not believe this but I don't care. My high school sociology teacher was Special Forces in Grenada as he claims which I believe. He got out after that got a law degree working with a big law firm in Chicago and made enough money to retire and take care of his girls Took up teaching and he was so cool. He would show Martial Arts stuff and Ju Jujitsu.
The British SAS should’ve been looking for the Queen’s man that was hostage. 🙄
I think it's time to create something like NATO of Latin American or Caribbean countries. All this dirty work had to be done by Great Britain🇬🇧😃, because this is its dominion, its territory
The only important thing is that "democracy" has won.
Would you have them ruled by a puppet govt controlled by Cuba and the Castros?
This and Panama were the high tide of US Military war fighting, everything else before and after is stalemate or retreat.