December, 1989. The Philippines:
Operation Classic Resolve was the
United States' answer to Philippine
president Corazon Aquino's requests for military aid against ongoing
rebellions and
coup attempts, led by Colonel Gregorio 'Gringo' Honasan. To lend air support, the
USS Enterprise (CVN-65) and the
USS Midway (CV-41) and their
battle groups (Battle Group FOXTROT, and Battle Group ALPHA, respectively) gathered near
Manila Bay.
The rebellion was, in part, caused by a disquieted military force and general dissatisfaction with the economic reforms (or lack thereof). Colonel Honasan was a formidable threat; a previous
coup attempt in
August 1987 resulted in the deaths of 53 people. As the government asked for support from the
United States, the rebels said "We have American residences here at a striking distance and we can hit them at will . . . if they (U.S. forces) are going to hit us,"
The
support from the
United States military was warranted, Honasans ability to organize military forces was massive. Honasan had control over almost the entire Philippine
Air Force. His first violent act of this rebellion was in bombing the presidential palace and the government television organizations on
November 30, 1989. On
December 1, 1989, the first
American fighter jets (F-4 Phantoms) arrived to attempt to control the
violence, as ordered by U.S. President
George Bush. The rebels pilots were quickly grounded. Almost immediately, the rebellion seem quashed, however hundreds of rebels set up defensive positions in the streets of Manila. Heavy fighting continued for three days, and on
December 4, 1989, after surrounding remaining troops still standing their ground in the city, the Philippine government declared that the
coup was over. During the formal
cease-fire, wealthy tourists who had been holed up in the financial district began to evacuate the city.
December 10, 1989, the Philippine
government officially began a search for the renegade military leaders who had led the
rebellion. This was the last of seven failed
coup attempts against
Corazon Aquino led by Honasan.
Sources: http://www.mahk.com/sc540.htm, http://www.multied.com/Navy/CVN65Enterprise.html,
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/navy/enterprise/enterprise2.html