My Story – by Noel Mendez
06/21/2005
One of the stories I will never forget is the night of Operation
Just Cause. My wife had just had our son just a few days before
the invasion. I remember it being difficult to find a place to
stay on base because my wife was not an American national – that
was just the policy of the time – this was difficult.
Well, we could all smell it in the air – something was up. The PML
conditions were jumping like crazy and we all knew it was just a
matter of time. A couple of days before my wife had the baby the
doctor decided to keep her for observation at Gorgas Army
Hospital because her sugar was a bit elevated. Well, what would
normally be something for us to worry about became a blessing.
It got her into a safer environment, a U.S. Army Hospital.
The doctor soon decided to induce Nelly’s labor pains and she was
in labor for numerous hours. The doctor’s name was “Dr. Malo,” a
Panamanian Doctor – I remember finding it funny that this doctor
was cross-eyed and he was so focused on the center point of
attraction – “The head coming out.” “Empuja mi hija, Empuja!”
(push girl, push!) He yelled – but it just wasn’t in her any
more. The doctor said that they would have to perform a
C-Section. Christian was born just fine – I remember Alves and a
number of others that came by to visit. It was a happy time.
Chief Spruill agreed to take us in considering everything that was
going on – he opened his home to us, and his wife was so kind –
she gave us a Moses crib to place our new born son, Christian.
Later on after the invasion Martha Baez opened her home to us.
Chief Spruill, Martha Baez, I will forever be grateful.
We went to bed that night around 10pm. I had a nightmare and jumped
out of bed – dreaming that I was in a Buhio crouched down in the
middle of a jungle and men in green fatigues were shooting. I
felt a bullet go into my back – it was one of the scariest
dreams I had ever had. Nelly woke up and said don’t worry it’s
just a dream. I dozed back off again and not even ten minutes
later we heard .45 Caliber shots off to the distance. It was the
first shots of the U.S. Forces killing the Panamanian guards at
the front gate of Ft. Amador. Suddenly, Helicopters flew over
head and all hell broke lose.
We were pinned down, unable to move – Armed vehicles were placed
between the Navy Housing homes – shooting and shelling Noriega’s
barracks just across the playground field. The women were crying
and dust was falling from the ceiling.
Nelly and I had not even had the chance to buy Milk Formula for the
baby or Pampers. Somehow the bus that was evacuating the Navy
Housing homes missed our building.
My baby son, Christian Noel, got an eye infection from dust and it
was getting bad – especially considering that he was a new born.
An Army Sergeant – Corpsman came by and took a look – he said
that Christian would need medication as soon as possible. He
soon left in his jeep – knowing that it was still dangerous
getting to Gorgas Army Hospital and soon returned with the
ointment, boxes of Formula, Pampers, Towels, etc. He left so
fast that we didn’t get the chance to get his name. Not fifteen
minutes later, another U.S. Army truck showed up – another crew,
with more milk, pampers, etc. I learned that day that the
competitive bull of Army against Navy, or Navy against Marines,
etc. was just crap. I learned to love and appreciate the other
Armed Forces that day.
Sergeant, where ever you are, Thank you.
Noel Mendez,
Navet RM2 and a member of the IANTN Family.
Thank you Noel, VR/Ron