U.S. Army Unit in Panama Disbands

The U.S. Army deactivated its jungle warfare training unit in Panama on Thursday, taking another step toward fulfilling its obligation to dismantle a century-long military presence here.

At a small ceremony of U.S. troops at Ft. Sherman, which lies at the Atlantic mouth of the Panama Canal, Army officials rolled up the flag of the Jungle Operations Training Battalion.

“You are witnessing an important event, as this battalion is the first major unit to inactivate in the implementation of the Panama Canal Treaty,” Battalion Leader Col. Richard Thomas told them.

According to the 1977 Panama Canal Treaty, signed by Gen. Omar Torrijos and President Carter, the United States must pull out all its troops and hand over control of the canal and any military bases to the Panamanian government by Dec. 31.