In the early morning hours of January 12, 1981, twenty-five detonations were heard coming from the ramp of the Muñiz Air National Guard Base, located at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico ( PR ). It was a terrorist attack. The result? Ten A-7D aircraft and a single F-104 destroyed, for a total damage of $45 million. It was the largest attack against the US military since the Vietnam War. The culprits? All members of a separatist domestic terrorist group called Ejercito Popular Boricua (English: Boricua Popular Army or BPA, EPB) more commonly known as Los Macheteros ("The Machete Wielders"); a nickname that conjures images of the makeshift group of Puerto Ricans who banded together to defend and fight the United States Army when it invaded during the Spanish-American War. The main ideology of the BPA is a free Puerto Rico, free from the colonial status that the United States has towards PR, and for PR to become its own sovereign state. Although the BPA is no longer as active as it once was, it continues to promote and fight for PR independence. But to understand the history, origins, ideologies and goals of the BPA we must go back in time and recognize why such a group exists. The island is used to battles and struggles for independence. Even in the 16th century, when the Conquistadors had control of the island, the indigenous people who lived on the island called Taínos, united and rebelled against the Spanish. But armed only with spears and bows, they were no match for the flintlock weapons, cannons and steel armor of the Conquistadors. Over time the Spanish wiped out the Taíno population and culture and took control of the island. Remnants of the Taíno geniuses still exist because of the...... middle of paper....... They have not committed an attack since 1998, when they took responsibility for the explosion at one of the power plants. Not much information is known about the new leadership, and some even speculate that the group has disbanded; there are only a few people here and there who continue to demonstrate under the banner of Los Macheteros. But they are still out there, there are still citizens who want to secure independence from the United States by any means necessary, all they need is a spark to light the powder keg again and a charismatic leader to rally the group. But whatever they do and whatever people want to call them; terrorists or heroes, their names were forever stained in blood by Ojeda's actions and orders. Even if his intentions were noble, wanting a free country for his people, that does not justify the killing of unarmed military personnel and innocent civilians.