Caribbean Peace Force

The military intervention by the United States of America in coalition with six Caribbean nations was in response to the illegal deposition and execution of Grenadan Prime Minister Maurice Bishop on Oct. 19, 1983.

[1] The U.S-led invasion was spearheaded at dawn by Army Rangers, Navy SEALs, Marines and other elite units.

The vanguard force, led by Brigadier Rudyard Lewis of Barbados, landed on a Ranger-seized runway without any defined military role being assigned to them by the Pentagon.

[2] An ad hoc plan was developed for them to guard Cuban and Grenadan prisoners who were being captured in mounting numbers by U.S. combat troops, Later, the Caribbean troops took over police duties in St. George's, the island's capital, and guard duties at Richmond Hill Prison.

[4] The remaining members were police or paramilitary constabulary from Barbados, Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and St. Kitts and Nevis.