GRENADA/COUP

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01070R000200920011-5
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 25, 2008
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: October 27, 1983
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Approved- For Release 2008/07/25: CIA-RDP88-0107OR000200920011-5
NBC NIGHTLY NEWS
27 October 1983
GRENADA/COUP BROKAW: Good evening. American forces on the island of Grenada
are mopping up tonight after a day of active fighting in the
capital city. There are still some pockets of resistance, but
the last two strongholds of the Grenada army fell this
afternoon. And as of tonight, the Pentagon says that eight
Americans have been killed, eight are missing, 39 have been
wounded thus far. General Hudson Austin, the Marxist extremist
who's been running Grenada's ruling military council, is said to
be holding hostages on the southern end of the island
tonight--the identification and the nationalities of the
hostages unknown at this time. The sleepy little Grenadian
capital of St. George's was a firing range today as American
troops had a shootout with the Grenadian troops who were holed
up at their quarters, Port Frederick, and at the prison at
Richmond Hill. Jack Reynolds tonight from the Pentagon with
details.
REYNOLDS: The U.S. invasion force met more Cubans and more
resistance than they'd expected, and they uncovered what was
described as a staggering amount of weapons. In this case, near
the airport, three warehouses full containing grenade launchers,
anti-aircraft weapons, mortars, rifles, and small arms. Some of
the cases had Russian markings; some were from Cuba. In another
development, Hudson Austin, the leader of the coup that
overthrew and later killed Prime Minister Bishop, was reported
cornered in the southern part of the island, holding hostages
and asking for a boat and safe passage out of Grenada. But by
and large, the operation is almost over. This afternoon the
last major strong points, the prison at Richmond Hill and nearby
Port Frederick, were taken by U.S. troops. There are still-
reports of scattered fighting in the southern part of the island
near Calivigny Point. Fresh Army units are coming in to replace
those that took part in the initial assault and subsequent
fighting. Some of the wounded from those actions are already
back in the United States. One of the Ranger battalions from
Ft. Stewart, Ga., is expected to return very shortly. The
Pentagon has imposed tight controls on information about the
invasion of Grenada. There are no updated casualty figures,
very little specific details about any of the actions, no
information about additional units after the first assaults were
made. It's expected that none of that information will be
released until after the operation is over. Jack Reynolds, NBC
News, at the Pentagon.
.BROKAW: Wounded members of the 82nd Airborne who took part in
the invasion returned to Ft. Bragg, N.C., this afternoon, and
two of them met with reporters. David Hazinski tonight from Ft.
Bragg.
Approved For Release 2008/07/25: CIA-RDP88-0107OR000200920011-5
 Approved For Release 2008/07/25: CIA-RDP88-01070R000200920011-5
HAZINSKI: The first group of wounded from Grenada arrived at
Ft. Bragg's *Womack Army Hospital last night--23 soldiers and
two Marines. All are now listed in stable condition. This
afternoon, two of the wounded soldiers gave the first combatant:
description of the fighting for the Caribbean island. First Lt.
Michael Menu, injured by a grenade, and Sgt. Gerald Bannon, who
was shot in the left arm.
HAZINSKI: Did you, uh, encounter, uh, more serious resistance
than you had anticipated going in? LT. MICHAEL MENU (Portland,
Maine): Yes sir, they were waiting for us, and there was heavy
firing and fighting 3-400 meters off-the airstrip. A lot of
smoke; a lot of action.
HAZINSKI: Both soldiers felt what they saw showed them the,
invasion was necessary. SGT. GERALD BANNON (Fayetteville,
N.C.): I really can't say whether the students were in danger.
I could go as far as to say that the. resistance we encountered,
it, it was definite, a definite hindrance in, in what we were
doing down there. MENU: I'll tell you quite frankly and
truthfully, the men felt it was absolutely necessary, and there
was at no time, any time that we were down there, was there any,
any change of mind. The civilians and the soldiers all
realized, and everyone should understand this, that this was
necessary. ,
HAZINSKI: David Hazinski, NBC News.
BROKAW: And just to make sure that things stay under control in
Grenada, the Army today sent in more reinforcements. Hundreds
of troops from the 82nd Airborne Division were dispatched from
Ft. Bragg. The Army would not say exactly how many hundreds.
The troops included military police units armed with M-16's,
night scopes, and gas masks. Infantrymen were seen carrying
tube-launched missiles. An Army captain said that the soldiers
had been leaving all day long.
Approved For Release 2008/07/25: CIA-RDP88-01070R000200920011-5