Italian American Veterans Museum
is proud to present
“Toppling a Dictator: Boots on the Ground in Panama”
Presented by former Army Ranger Salvatore “Sammy” DiTusa
3 p.m. • Sunday, June 5, 2022
Italian American Veterans Museum
Third Floor • Office Center • Casa Italia
3800 Division St. • Stone Park
On Dec. 17, 1989, President George H. W. Bush gave “Operation Just Cause” the
green light, setting the invasion of Panama in motion. The goal was to capture
Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega and restore democracy. A scant three days
later, the lead element of the invasion parachuted into the Panamanian sky at 1 a.m.,
in the U.S. military’s first combat night jump since World War II.
Among those parachuting in was Specialist Salvatore “Sammy” DiTusa, a member
of the U.S. Army’s 2/75 Rangers. In those pre-dawn hours, the Rangers and several
other elite military units knocked out radar installations, secured several critical
objects and paved the way for the almost 26,000 U.S. troops to follow. On June 5,
DiTusa will offer a blow-by-blow account of a dictatorship’s end.
The museum will be open at 2 p.m., with light refreshments served. Admission is
free, but donations are welcome. Seating is limited, and reservations are a must.
Call 708-338-0690 and leave your name, phone number and the number of people in
your party.