Battle of Grenada
...to protect and rescue American medical student and U.S. citizens; restore the lawful government, and preclusion of Cuban interference. To accomplish the mission the U.S. specified a military operation that should be a coup de main, that is a surprise attack. The Plan was to secure key objective in Grenada and to facilitate operations. The islands were operationally spit in half, with Marines covering the northern half while Army Rangers covered the southern half. The invasion in the north focused on securing the airport at Pearls and key objectives around the airport. While the south focused on securing the runway at Point Salines, and the safety of American medical students. Preceding the operations of the Marines and Army Rangers, Navy Seal teams would airdrop into the north and south. Their mission was to proceed to ST. Georges to secure the Grenadian- General, who was being held under house arrest and capture the government radio station. In the early morning of the 25TH of October 1983, Army special- forces commandos Parachuted onto the island to secure the runway to allow C-130s carrying 700 army rangers to land. After the rangers secured the runway, 800 more troops would land, freeing the rangers to press north. Allowing them to secure the safety of the American medical students and bring under control the capital of Grenada, St, Georges. At the same time in the north, 400 Marines would land secure the airport at Pearls and key objectives in the surrounding area. Over the next three days U.S. military forces would rescue and secure the safety of the Governor- General and U.S. medical stu...