Show of force brings peace to South America Published March 19, 2007 By Staff Sgt. Jessica Tope 43rd Airlift Wing Historian POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- In March 1988, the Sandinistas threatened the borders of Honduras. The Nicaraguan government had launched Operation Danto to overrun Contra rebel supply caches and during the operation the Sandinistas crossed over into Honduran territory. To stop this threat, President Reagan dispatched elements of the 82nd Airborne Division and 7th Infantry Division (Light) to Honduras on a no-notice deployment. March 17, 1988, C-130s assigned to the 317th Tactical Airlift Wing at Pope moved the units forward to complete their objective. The objective of Operation Golden Pheasant was to provide a "show of force" to convince the Sandinistas to go back to their side of the Nicaragua/Honduras border. This show of force amounted to a joint training exercise, and it successfully met the operational objective. When the 82nd Airborne Division first landed, they conducted air and sea assaults in northern and central Panama to seize the dam that controlled the water in the Panama Canal, a prison, several police stations and several key bridges. The Sandinistas started to leave the area immediately following these events. Had the Sandinistas not withdrawn, the 82nd Airborne Division's orders directed them to forcefully remove them. Within days of the 82nd Airborne Division's arrival there was a truce negotiated between the Contra and Honduran leaders. Central America has enjoyed relative political stability since the early 1990s. When the conflicts in El Salvador and Nicaragua ceased, it also slowed down the main threat of communism in the region. There is, however, still a requirement to deploy an infantry task force on a rotational basis to Honduras to assist in security and protect operations. These troops additionally ensure rebels from Nicaragua don't cross the border and attempt to take over Honduras again. Please wear your blues Tuesday in honor of this event.