Country music star Lee Greenwood recounted a dangerous mission to Panama in 1989, where he was dispatched by then-President George H.W. Bush to entertain U.S. troops during Operation Just Cause. During the trip, Greenwood and his driver came under fire.

Greenwood shared the experience on the "Hang Out With Sean Hannity" podcast, recalling that Bush personally asked him to bring his band to Panama. "I’m going to send you to Panama," Greenwood recalled Bush telling him. "Take your band down there. I’ve already taken out the dependents. We’re going to take [Noriega] out... I want you to entertain our troops."

The singer said that while his band traveled separately by helicopter, he was given a letter from the president for Marines stationed in the jungle. He then proceeded in a jeep with a sergeant. "So, the band’s gone. I jump in a jeep with a sergeant and we... come under fire and the bullets are whizzing through the jeep," Greenwood said.

He stated that he was not hit, but the sergeant driving the vehicle was wounded. "[It] took my driver’s finger off right there in the index finger," Greenwood said. "So fortunately, I didn’t get hit. We got to the compound where the Marines were, and I showed them where we were, and they went out, and they took out these guys."

Operation Just Cause began in December 1989, deploying approximately 26,000 U.S. combat troops to Panama. The mission aimed to remove dictator Manuel Noriega, restore the democratically elected government, and protect American citizens in the country.

Years later, Greenwood reunited with the sergeant who drove him during the Panama mission. The sergeant, who had lost part of his finger, approached Greenwood backstage after a concert. "I said, ‘Is he missing a finger?’" Greenwood recalled. "He said, ‘Yes.’ I came out, and we hugged each other, you know, for the moment that we could have both been killed."

Greenwood noted that these military visits have been a significant part of his career. "I remember it was 140 degrees in the jungle ... and addressing 150 Marines that are about to go to war," he said. "It’s been like that all over my career whenever I visit military, and that makes me a very proud patriot."

His wife, Kimberly Greenwood, mentioned that their relationship began through USO tours and interactions with service members. "Really, our beginning of our relationship started with patriotism and serving our military," she said. "And that’s what we’ve done for our entire time together."

Greenwood also reflected on his iconic song "God Bless the USA," stating it was written out of love for the country and respect for those who served. "I’m so proud to know that I wrote it because I love the country," he said. "I didn’t write it for any other purpose."