Father of Marine Killed in Panama Says Invasion Was Right Decision

The father of a Marine killed in the invasion of Panama said Wednesday he supports President Bush’s decision to use military force and was certain his son felt the same way.

“I think (the decision) was excellent, and I think if Gary were here, he’d say it should have been done earlier,” said Albert Isaak, a biology professor at Bob Jones University and father of Cpl. Garreth Isaak, the first casualty of the operation whose name was released by the Pentagon.

“He and the Marines were ready to go in. That’s what they were trained for,” the elder Isaak said.

Albert Isaak said his son, 22, joined the Marines shortly after his high school graduation and was looking forward to getting out of the service in another year and a half.

“It just seems like he hasn’t lived very much,” Isaak said. “He hasn’t had a chance to do a lot of things.”

Garreth Isaak, attached to D Company of the 2nd Light Armored Infantry Battalion at Rodman Naval Base in Panama, was part of a Marine contingent from Camp Lejeune, N.C., that arrived in the Central American nation in October for a three-month assignment, his father said.

“We were looking to have him home in late January,” he added.

Isaak said military officials told him late Wednesday morning that his son had been killed instantly by a bullet wound to the neck. Marine spokesman Capt. Scott Campbell said Isaak was killed by Panamanian Defense Forces soldiers during an assault on a traffic control station.