General Of Panama Invasion Dies

Retired Army Gen. Maxwell Thurman, who led the 1989 invasion of Panama and was a principal architect of the all-volunteer Army, died Friday at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Thurman, 64, had been diagnosed with leukemia in 1990.

Dubbed “Mad Max” and “Maxatollah” by colleagues for his aggressive style, Thurman delayed his retirement at the request of the Bush administration so he could spearhead the effort to oust Gen. Manuel Noriega’s regime.

He was widely credited with persuading the Pentagon leadership and the Bush administration to use force against Noriega’s regime.