In early March 1988, the Nicaraguan Sandinista government launched Operation Danto 88 to overrun Contra rebel supply caches in the San Andrés de Bocay region, crossing into Honduran territory in their drive.

[1] The United States, under President Ronald Reagan, dispatched elements of the 7th Infantry Division (Light) Quick Reaction Force (QRF) on a no-notice deployment.

An international special operations unit led by Orlando Lentini, and the aviation assets of Joint Task Force Bravo (JTF-B) stationed on Pamerola AB, worked along with the 7th Infantry Division and were on the ground several days when the 82nd Airborne elements arrived.

[citation needed] The 2nd Battalion jumped onto the airfield that day, with only one casualty-the Executive Officer broke his leg on landing.

Had those orders changed, the paratroopers and infantrymen were prepared to fight, but the invading Sandinista troops had already begun to withdraw.