Bloomsbury USA Grenada 1983: American Resurgence Toward the End of the Cold War

A detailed look at the 1983 American invasion of Grenada, the largest and most significant US military operation since the end of the Vietnam War.Following independence from the UK in 1974 and internal power struggles, Grenada was under communist rule in the early 1980s. When a hardline Marxist faction overthrew the existing regime and executed the prime minister in October 1983, the US was asked to intervene by several Caribbean states. With many American students on the island, President Reagan and US military leaders were forced to plan the operation with minimal warning and poor intelligence. The US invaded Grenada on October 25, as Operation Urgent Fury. Despite international criticism and UN disapproval, the US maintained that the American citizens trapped in Grenada were reason enough to engage. The main combat of the invasion lasted three days, with the evacuation of the US medical students a priority, as well as capturing the airports. This was the first major deployment of the post-Vietnam all-volunteer force and involved the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Special Forces. This book examines the tricky political situation Reagan faced, the battle against Grenadian and Cuban forces, and how this operation led to reforms that shaped the US military for future conflicts. With detailed maps, diagrams, and stunning artwork, this book explores the legacy of this small but crucial military campaign in US history.