Delta Force Operator Remembers Navy SEALs Killed In Panama

Former Delta Force operator Bob Porras (callsign Ninja) speaks with David Hookstead about the Navy SEALs who died during the invasion of Panama.

You can follow David Hookstead at the following:
Instagram: @david_hookstead
Twitter: @dhookstead

[CoolestDudeNC]

One of the four SEALs killed was a really young guy from SEAL TEAM 4. He was technically not a SEAL when he boarded the plane with his SEAL teammates. He had graduated from BUD/S and finished STT (SEAL Tactical Training). But had not been awarded his Trident yet. He was awarded his Trident and given the Navy classification code for SEAL while literally in flight to Panama. Died on his first mission. Another of the SEALs killed was a SEAL Officer and had been training at the French Foreign Legion jungle training center in South America (French Guianna) I believe it was. He caught a severe tropical disease there (leptospirosis if I remember right) and spent time in a hospital recovering and almost died from that tropical disease.

[randallvickers]

I flew into that airfield 2 years later when I was stationed at Panama

[blessingmila]

This attitude of comparing servicemen isn't fine. Everyone is important, doesn't matter what kind of unit they operate from

[timothylewis]

I was there with the 82nd. What an amazing experience to say the least. That was a different military and I'm so glad that I served when I did! Gods camouflage wink wink!

[philiplewis]

Nobody drowned during the Panama operations.
4 guys drowned in the Grenada actions in 1983's "Urgent Fury"

[adamellington]

I was there in '85 and from a distance you could sometimes see U2s being rolled out onto the tarmac at Howard with plain clothes operators sitting on the ends of the wings to protect them. Back before widespread access to satellite images. Not sure why they ever sent the SEALs to take the airport. Seemed like a textbook Ranger mission.

[robroy]

Don't recall any SEALs drowning during Just Cause. Possibly confusing that with Grenada?
The plane should have been tasked to 5/87th. Roll up with overwhelming force and make a show of it (5/87) so the PDF Lt. knows it is a gunfight he can't win or let the SEALs do it their way and not give him a chance to think about it.

[BxRell]

Your channel is literally all just talking down on SEALs, downplaying them and glorifying solely DELTA as if SEALS/DEVGRU are less. Perhaps be more like Shawn Ryan and just let all types of service members talk. Both CAG and DEVGRU are equally great.

[michaelmancini]

Ya just stop the story midpoint, WTF?

[Golgotha]

SEALs were FUBAR in OJC across the board.