Simulcast on KGRA Digital Broadcasting, YouTube, Facebook, & Rumble | Tuesday, May 07, 2024 @ 7:00 PM EDT (-4GMT)
JONATHAN’S 2001 INTERVIEW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdEVUum8Nag&t=24s
Operation Laser Strike was a counter narcotics operation headed up by Southern Command in Panama. Commanded by Major Bob Cole and Master Sergeant Chris Diggons, units from 2d Marine Division (2d SRIG & 7th Comm Bn.) and 2d Marine Aircraft Wing (MACG-28, MACS-6, MWCS-28, 2d LAAD, MASS-2, & MTACS-28) were ordered to Pacullpa, Peru in April, 1996. The GO/NO GO games lasted until August before we finally went. We headed to Howard AFB in Panama to stage out of (directly attached to the Air Force’s 612th Tactical Aircraft Group) and flew to Peru in a combination of Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, and Southern Air Transport (?) C-130s during the first week. Once we got there we all got busy setting up equipment and building fighting positions. We were assisted by host nation air control liaison and our security was augmented by Peruvian Air Force (FAP), all under the command of Comandante Oviedo. Our mission was to integrate into an air, land, and sea radar surveillance command and control system to identify airborne narco traffickers.



