Grenada, invasion of (1983). Following a bloody 19 October coup d'état against the repressive pro-Cuban government of Maurice Bishop by a harder line cabal, the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States requested US military intervention. URGENT FURY was launched on 25 October, using the pretext of rescuing American students. It has been alleged that the operation was mounted to distract popular attention from the contemporary destruction of the US Marine camp in Beirut by a suicide bomber, but in fact the invasion was ordered at least a week previously.
In the absence of good operational intelligence, the decision to move fast in overwhelming force involved a high degree of improvisation, but when measured against the domestic and international problems inherent in a less precipitate approach, it was certainly correct. Strong resistance was expected from Cuban military advisers and construction workers, but in the event, given orders by Castro to fight only if attacked, their performance was perfunctory. Nonetheless, they suffered 24 dead and 59 wounded, against about 50 dead and 150 wounded in the Grenadian army/ militia. Civilian casualties were at least as great. US casualties were 19 killed and 152 wounded.
Pres Reagan stated that URGENT FURY redeemed the military from post- Vietnam demoralization, but the operation revealed continuing problems in the system. None escaped the attention of Schwarzkopf, an acerbic observer, who was to be an unforgiving staff taskmaster during his conduct of DESERT STORM.
— Hugh Bicheno
