American Notes Military

The Administration announced last week that the 250 U.S. troops remaining in Grenada will begin a five-month withdrawal plan in mid-April. At the same time, more than 400 troops from other Caribbean nations who are stationed in Grenada will begin a gradual evacuation, leaving the security of the tiny island completely in the hands of its own 560-member police force. Meanwhile, the military had another Grenada revelation last week: five Army men and three Marines had broken the law by returning from the Caribbean island with Soviet- made automatic rifles obtained during the invasion in 1983. Most of the offenders, ranging in rank from enlisted men to a captain, have been court- martialed, discharged from the service and given prison sentences as long as seven years.

One trophy hunter, however, Vice Admiral Joseph Metcalf III, the U.S. Force Commander of the invasion, was merely "cautioned" after trying to smuggle in 24 AK-47 automatic rifles and 24 empty ammunition magazines. Metcalf has since been promoted to Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Surface Warfare. Why the difference in punishments? Explained Pentagon Spokesman Major Richard Ziegler: "All service members fall under the jurisdiction of a uniform code of military justice. The approach to cases may be different." Later in the week, in response to criticism, the Pentagon announced plans to review the sentences meted out to the seven lower-ranking soldiers.