To some Americans, the U.S. invasion of Panama is a distant memory, a small conflict that came between the Vietnam War and the Persian Gulf War. For Army veteran Kurt Muse, it was a conflict that he was directly involved in, from the beginnings of the struggle to the very first night of Operation Just Cause.
Muse was living in Panama when General Manuel Noriega was indicted by the Drug Enforcement Agency on drug trafficking charges. After he was relieved of duty by President Eric Arturo Delvalle, Noriega instead forced Delvalle out of power and took control of the country.
Muse helped operate "the Voice of Liberty," a pirate radio station that encouraged Panamanians to vote Noriega out of office.
"You know the many tools that the oppressors have to keep us from the polling places. We beseech you to be brave, to persevere. We beseech you to vote. Together we can bury General Noriega's dictatorship under a mountain of ballots," one message said, which was broadcast over one of Noriega's speeches.
He was arrested in March 1989 and sent to a Panamanian prison. While in prison, other prisoners were beat and killed before him, and he was questioned for days on end without sleep. When given the chance to have his wife make an appeal to Noriega for his freedom, Muse refused.
Muse was imprisoned for nine months, with a guard always next to him, a guard who was under orders to kill him immediately if American forces attempted to rescue him.
On the first night of Operation Just Cause, Dec. 20, 1989, Soldiers from Delta Force rescued him from his prison by landing on the roof. They handed him a bulletproof vest and rushed him to a waiting helicopter.
"My most vivid memory is when the two [Delta Force] operators stormed into the room, blew off the door, and one of them put a heavy, gloved hand on my shoulder and said 'we're taking you home,'" Muse said.
As the helicopter took off, it was attacked, and nearly crashed into the prison. The pilot regained
control, and tried to take off again, but it came under fire again and crashed into a city street. No one was killed in the crash, and soon an M113 Armored Personnel Carrier from the 5th Infantry Division came to their rescue.
Freedom Team Salute, an Army organization dedicated to recognizing Soldiers and civilians who represent the Army's highest values, honored Muse and his wife Anne in a ceremony at Human Resource Command's Hoffman building.
Both were given commendations from FTS by Lt. Col. Steven Kinnear. The commendations were signed by Gen. George W. Casey Jr., Army Chief of Staff and Secretary of the Army John McHugh, and read, "You are being recognized for your patriotism and continued support of the Army Family. Your legacy is today's Army and the values Soldiers exhibit as they stand in defense of our country around the world."
Muse spoke brienfly after he was awarded the commendation, thanking his wife, calling her "my rock" and praising her for supporting their Family during his nine months of captivity.
Muse said he has made it a habit to call each one of his rescuers every Dec. 20, to make sure they know how much he appreciates their efforts even today.
Each one of those anniversaries was given to me by them, Muse said.
To date, Freedom Team Salute has honored more than 2.3 million members of the Army community with commendations. For more information Freedom Team Salute, and how to honor someone who has served the Army community, visit www.freedomteamsalute.com.
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