James G. Bruen Jr.

About the Author: James G. Bruen Jr. is on the editorial advisory board of Fidelity, a monthly magazine of conservative Catholic opinion.

On December 20, 1989, Army Captain Linda Bray, commanding officer of the 988th Military Police Company, led a platoon in a three-hour firefight in Panama against troops loyal to General Noriega at the guard-dog kennel near his headquarters. Her platoon killed three Panamanian soldiers in the fight.

At the White House, President Bush’s press spokesman, Marlin Fitzwater, briefed reporters on the battle for the dog kennel defended by Panamanian Defense Forces:

“It was heavily defended. Three PDF men were killed. Gunshots were fired on both sides. American troops could have been killed. It was an important military operation. A woman led it, and she did an outstanding job.&rdquo...