Operation Golden Pheasant

Last updated
Operation Golden Pheasant
Part of the Nicaraguan Revolution
Date1988
Location
Result

US/Honduran strategic victory

  • Withdrawal of Nicaraguan forces from Honduran territory
Belligerents
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg  Honduras
Flag of Nicaragua.svg  Nicaragua
Commanders and leaders
Flag of the United States.svg President Ronald Reagan
Flag of the United States.svg George Fisher
Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg José Azcona del Hoyo
Flag of Nicaragua.svg Humberto Ortega
Flag of Nicaragua.svg Daniel Ortega
Units involved
Flag of the United States.svg 7th Infantry Division (Light)
Flag of the United States.svg 82nd Airborne Division
Flag of the United States.svg 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, A company, C company, HHC company Scout Platoon 3rd Battalion 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment
Flag of the United States.svg 27th Infantry Regiment
Flag of the United States.svg 9th Infantry Regiment
Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg Honduran Army
Flag of Nicaragua.svg Sandinista Popular Army
Strength
Flag of the United States.svg 5,000
Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg 12,000
Flag of Nicaragua.svg 9,000
Casualties and losses
Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg 21 or less were killed Flag of Nicaragua.svg 29 or more were killed

Operation Golden Pheasant was an emergency deployment of U.S. troops to Honduras in 1988, in response to Nicaraguan attacks on Contra logistics in Honduras.

Contents

History

In early March, 1988, the Nicaraguan Sandinista government launched Operation Danto 88 to overrun Contra rebel supply caches in the San Andrés de Bocay region, crossing into Honduran territory in their drive. [1]

Members of the U.S. Army 1st and 2nd Battalions, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division jump from USAF Lockheed C-141B Starlifter aircraft on 1 March 1988 82nd Airborne troops jump from C-141Bs in 1988.JPEG
Members of the U.S. Army 1st and 2nd Battalions, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division jump from USAF Lockheed C-141B Starlifter aircraft on 1 March 1988

The United States, under President Ronald Reagan, dispatched elements of the 7th Infantry Division (Light) Quick Reaction Force (QRF) on a no-notice deployment. This small force quickly landed at Palmerola Air Base (now known as Soto Cano Air Base) and were moved quickly into position at a Honduran military base to facilitate the guarding of a local general. An international special operations unit led by Orlando Lentini, and the aviation assets of Joint Task Force Bravo (JTF-B) stationed on Pamerola AB, worked along with the 7th Infantry Division and were on the ground several days when the 82nd Airborne elements arrived. The deployment evolved into a live-fire exercise, the light infantry soldiers, paratroopers and special operations unit deployed ready to fight, causing the Sandinistas to rapidly withdraw back across their border. [2]

The 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment and Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment 82nd Airborne Division, were joined by soldiers from the 2nd Battalion 9th Infantry Regiment, 2d and 3d Battalions of the 27th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division (Light) QRF from Fort Ord, California.

On 17 March, 1st Battalion landed at Palmerola Air Base.[ citation needed ] The 2nd Battalion jumped onto the airfield that day, with only one casualty-the Executive Officer broke his leg on landing. Soldiers of the 27th Infantry Regiment (the "Wolfhounds") rappelled onto the airbase on 17 March 1988 and were moved quickly up to the Nicaraguan border. 2/27th Infantry trained with the Honduran 11th Infantry Battalion at San Lorenzo, 3/27 Infantry trained with the Honduran 9th Infantry Battalion in Jamastran, 2/504 Airborne trained with the Honduran 2nd Infantry Battalion Airborne in Tamara, and 1/504 trained with the Honduran 16th Infantry Battalion in Juticalpa. [3]

Prior to the deployment of combat forces the U.S. had deployed an Engineer Task Force (20th Engineer Brigade, from Fort Bragg, NC) of about 1100 soldiers for Ahuas Tara 88, an annual exercise providing assistance to Honduras. [4] The Engineers were tasked with building roads, bridges, ports and buildings to build confidence with allied forces and to gain real world experience deploying and operating in an austere environment. The Engineer Task Force augmented and supported deploying combat forces with engineering, logistical, and communications troops. When combat forces redeployed the Engineers continued their mission.

The units from the 82nd Airborne, the 504th, began rigorous training exercises with orders to avoid the fighting on the border. Had those orders changed, the paratroopers and infantrymen were prepared to fight, but the invading Sandinista troops had already begun to withdraw. Within days, the Sandinista government negotiated a truce with Contra leaders, and by the end of March the 7th Infantry had returned to Fort Ord, California and the paratroopers of the 82nd had returned to Fort Bragg.

Participating units

United States Army units

United States Marine Corps units

United States Air Force units

437th military airlift wing Charleston AFB 0306th Air Refueling Squadron Altus AFB, OK

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References

  1. Kagan, Robert (March 1, 1996). Twilight Struggle: American Power and Nicaragua, 1977–1990 (1st ed.). Free Press. p.  585. ISBN   978-0028740577.
  2. Miller, Marjorie (21 March 1988). "1,000 Troops Ferried Close to Nicaragua : U.S. and Honduran Soldiers Deployed in Show of Muscle". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 2016-05-30.
  3. GAO Report to Congress Honduran Deployment, GAO/NSIAD-88-220, September 1988
  4. GAO Report to Congress, Honduran Deployment, GAO/NSIAD-88-220, September 1988

14°23′31″N87°37′16″W / 14.392°N 87.621°W / 14.392; -87.621