U.S. paratroopers leave island

Press, 14 December 1983, Page 10

U.S. paratroopers leave island

NZPA-Reuter St George’s

The United States completed the withdrawal of its last combat troops from Grenada yesterday, their commander expressing confidence that the security of the small Caribbean island would be preserved. “My guidance all along has been, ‘don’t leave and have to come back.’ And I don’t intend to do that,” Major-General Jack Ferris said 'as he watched an estimated 1000 paratroopers board six Star Lifter trans-

ports at the half-built Point Salines airport.

The six Star Lifters with the paratroopers aboard took off one after the other for the four-hour flight back to Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina.

Yesterday's pull-out of units of the 82nd Airborne Division 11 days ahead of the deadline set by President Ronald Reagan leaves about 1200 United States military and support troops on the island. General Ferris said that that num-

ber would be reduced to 300 by Friday. The troops that left yesterday had arrived on Grenada two days after the United States led invasion in October. General Ferris said that his counterpart in the Caribbean peace-keeping force had agreed that there would be sufficient remaining forces to maintain the island’s security.

Grenada’s Governor-Gen-eral, Sir Paul Scoon, said last week that the interim

civilian Government had taken steps to ensure security after the departure of United States combat troops and would crack down on any trouble-maker. Mr Reagan had ordered the intervention to rescue some 1000 Americans on the island and to restore order to a country he described as being run by “Leftist thugs” afer a bloody military coup in which the Prime Minister, Maurice Bishop, was killed.

The troops left amid

shouts of jubilation. “It feels great to be going back home to see the family,” Lieutenant John Ragsdale said. “The thing I remember most was the warm reception we got down here from the people, it was just tremendous.” Lieutenant David Boya promised to return to the sunny, mountainous island. “I like it here. It was a good time. Nice island. The whole thing. It made my whole four years in the Army worth while.”