I was fortunate enough to be in Panama during "Operation Just Cause:
The Invasion of Panama" in December of 1989. I lived in Panama from 1971
to 1986, and I was visiting my parents on Christmas break from college
during the incident. In an interesting bit of video game trivia, these and
other photos of the Panama invasion were used as inspiration for many of
the 3D models featured in the Just Cause scenario of the Electronic Arts
game "Jane's AH-64D Longbow", which was a neat helicopter simulation that
came out in 1996.
Click on any of the thumbnails below to see a full-size version of the
picture. Most photos were taken by my parents.
 A
truck full of American soldiers rumbles through the usually peaceful
streets of Balboa.
 This
is a shot of the roof of the DENI police station near our house. The
police station had been run by the United States for years before turning
it over to Panamanian law enforcement. It was completely destroyed by some
sort of rocket.
 Another
view of the police station, with an American armored personnel carrier
standing guard.
 After
the invasion, US forces removed the last traces of the former police
station by knocking down the last bullet-riddled wall with a wrecking
ball.
 One
last view of the police station rubble.
 An
armored personnel carrier filled with heavily armed soldiers whizzes right
by our house.
 This
was the Cain Brothers warehouse next to Albrook Air Force Station. It was
damaged extensively by a spectacular fire, which we observed from a nearby
hill.
 Here's
a poignant shot of the poor Abou Saad Temple mascot, shot through the leg
with his head knocked over. I don't think that's just a flesh wound.
 My
mom standing outside a building that had been raked by machine gun fire.
 My
dad with a bus seized from the Panama Defense Force.
 This
is me in downtown Balboa with the Panama Canal Administration Building and
the Goethals Memorial in the background.
 US
forces used the parking lot of the Balboa Youth Center as a temporary
staging area for armored vehicles.
 A
group of Panamanian refugees assembles in Balboa ready to be moved in to
temporary shelter at Balboa High School.
 Here's
another angle of the group of refugees in Balboa.
 This
is Balboa High School, with United States Army personnel carriers parked
on the grounds, bringing soldiers to prepare the school's stadium for the
influx of refugees.
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