Combat· Grenada Invasion (Op URGENT FURY)
Grenada 1983 (Operation URGENT FURY)
Operation URGENT FURY was the United States intervention on the Caribbean island of Grenada, launched after a hard-line Marxist faction murdered the prime minister and seized power, endangering some thousand American citizens, many of them medical students, and raising fears of a Cuban-aligned foothold in the region. The 22d Marine Amphibious Unit conducted the Marine portion of the joint operation, while Army Rangers and paratroopers assaulted the southern end of the island. After a planned beach landing proved impractical, the Marines made a helicopter assault to seize the airfield and town of Grenville on the east coast, then carried out further landings, including the dramatic rescue of students, and pressed toward the capital at St. George's. The Marines met scattered resistance and accomplished their objectives swiftly. Grenada showcased the rapid-response capability of an amphibious unit, though the hastily mounted joint operation also exposed serious problems in inter-service coordination.
Record no. 659