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December 20, 1989 – January 31, 1990 · Somalia 1993

United States invasion of Panama

2 Medals of Honor were earned at the United States invasion of Panama (December 20, 1989 – January 31, 1990). Result: American victory.

2Medals of Honor
2posthumous
American victoryresult
Date
December 20, 1989 – January 31, 1990
Location
Panama
Result
American victory
Part of
Cold War

About the battle

The United States invasion of Panama began in mid-December 1989 during the presidency of George H. W. Bush. The purpose of the invasion was to depose the de facto ruler of Panama, General Manuel Noriega, who was wanted by U.S. authorities for racketeering and drug trafficking. The operation, codenamed Operation Just Cause, concluded in late January 1990 with the surrender of Noriega. The Panama Defense Forces (PDF) were dissolved, and president-elect Guillermo Endara was sworn into office. Noriega, who had longstanding ties to United States intelligence agencies, consolidated power to become Panama's de facto dictator in the early 1980s. In the mid-1980s, relations between Noriega and the U.S. began to deteriorate due to fallout from the murder of Hugo Spadafora and the resignation of President Nicolas Ardito Barletta.

From the Wikipedia article “United States invasion of Panama”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Result, date and location from the article’s infobox and Wikidata.

Medal of Honor recipients (2)