The FReeper Foxhole Revisits The Mayaguez Incident (May 12-16, 1975) - May 20th, 2005

http://www.usmm.org/mayaguez.html ^

[snippy_about_it]

Lord,

Keep our Troops forever in Your care

Give them victory over the enemy...

Grant them a safe and swift return...

Bless those who mourn the lost.
.

FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer
for all those serving their country at this time.


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The FReeper Foxhole Revisits

Capture and Release of SS Mayaguez
by Khmer Rouge forces in May 1975

Beginning in 1965, the SS Mayaguez sailed a regular route for Sea-Land Services in support of American forces in Southeast Asia: Hong Kong -- Sattahip, Thailand -- Singapore. On May 7, 1975, about a week after the fall of Saigon, Mayaguez left Hong Kong on a routine voyage.

She was launched in April 1944 as SS White Falcon, a C2-S-AJ1 (U.S. Maritime Commission) built by North Carolina Shipbuilding Company of Wilmington, NC.

Southeast Asia. Planned route of SS Mayaguez Hong Kong, Sattahip, Thailand, Singapore

After World War II, she was renamed Santa Eliana. In 1960, she was lengthened and widened by Maryland Shipbuilding and Drydock and converted into a container ship. She could carry 382 containers below and 94 on deck. She was the first all-container U.S. flag ship in foreign trade. She was renamed SS Sea in 1964, and SS Mayaguez in 1965.

On May 12, 1975 the SS Mayaguez was in a regular shipping lane in the Gulf of Siam about 60 miles from the coast of Cambodia, but only about 8 miles from Poulo Wai (Kao Wai), an island claimed by Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam. There were many small boats about. Suddenly, a few American-made PCF Swift gunboats headed from Poulo Wai towards the Mayaguez. At 2 PM, a 76-mm shot was fired across her bow.

Captain Charles T. Miller heeded the warning and at the same time sent out a Mayday message. Cambodia had fallen in mid-April, and the gunboats were in the control of the Khmer Rouge, who had captured 27 crewmen of 7 Thai fishing boats, shot at a South Korean freighter, captured 7 South Vietnamese vessels, and held a Panamanian ship for 35 hours.The crew of the SS Mayaguez received no warning about these events before Khmer Rouge naval forces boarded the SS Mayaguez.


Aerial surveillancs showing two Khmer Rough gunboats during the initial seiziing of the SS Mayaguez Photo courtesy of U.S. Air Force

Captain Miller, of Fountain Valley, CA, stalled as long as he could, pretending not to understand, and telling his captors his radar was malfunctioning. Finally, he was forced to follow the gunboat into Kampong Saom (Kompong Som, formerly Sihanoukville) on the mainland.

Around noon on May 13, the ship anchored off Kaoh Tang (Koh Tang or Kach Tang), a small island 30 miles off the Cambodian coast. U.S. Air Force P-3, Orion, F-4E Phantom, F-111A, A-7D Corsairs, and AC-130H "babysat" the Mayaguez. Just before 4 PM, pilots saw smoke coming from the stack of the Mayaguez. Two Corsairs strafed across her bow and the smoke died down. Many small boats milled around the Mayaguez, making it hard for the airmen to determine exactly what was happening. They saw the 39 man crew board a fishing boat at 7 PM on May 13 and saw people disembarking fishing boats at Kaoh Tang island. They assumed - incorrectly -- the Mayaguez crew was on the island.

President Gerald Ford denounced the seizure as an "act of piracy" and demanded immediate release of the ship. Diplomatic efforts were unsuccessful and at 5:45 PM on May 14, the President ordered military action. A Marine Corps detachment at Subic Bay was given the assignment. They were to board a ship at sea -- the first such manuever since 1826.

Mariners volunteer

Rear Adm. Sam H. Moore, Military Sealift Command, asked for volunteers from MSC ships in Subic Bay to accompany Marines during recapture of the ship to help get her underway. Late on May 13, Captain Raymond Iacobacci of USNS Greenville Victory found 6 volunteers among his crew for the dangerous mission [USNS stands for United States Naval Ship -- Navy controlled with civilian crew]:

Clinton Harriman, First Officer
Karl Lonsdale, Third Officer
Robert Griffin, Yeoman Storekeeper
Michael Saltwick, 2nd Asst. Engineer
Hermino Rivera, Fireman/Watertender
Epifanio Rodriguez, Oiler


Detail of Cambodian coast showing Poulo Wai, Kaoh Tang, Kampong Saom

The volunteers were briefed at 11 PM and at midnight were aboard an Air Force C-141 on their way to Utapao Air Base in Thailand where 1,100 Marines landed after flights from the Philippines and Okinawa. U.S. Air Force planes sank three Cambodian gunboats to prevent their taking Mayaguez crew to the mainland.

The Marines showed the MSC mariners photos of the Mayaguez and discussed plans to retake the ship. First Officer Harriman told the Marines they could have the ship under way within 2 to 6 hours after boarding -- if nothing was damaged.

In a three pronged attack:

• Marines were to overpower Cambodian soldiers believed to be aboard the Mayaguez, allowing the MSC crewmen to prepare and sail the ship to safety.
• Marines in helicopters were to make an amphibious assault on Kaoh Tang island.
• Navy aircraft from the carrier USS Coral Sea were to strike military targets in the mainland Kompong Som area.

Just before boarding the SS Mayaguez, USNS Greenville Victory First Officer Clinton Harriman (left) Second Engr. Michael Saltwick (right) discuss the boarding operation with USS Holt skipper Cmdr. Robert Peterson (center) [U.S. Navy photo from Sealift]

At 3 AM on May 15, the Marines, an Army linguist, 6 volunteer USAF bomb disposal experts, 6 sailors from USS Duluth, and the 6 MSC mariners boarded 3 helicopters bound for the USS Harold E. Holt, which was to provide a boarding platform for the assault. The CH-53s were too big for the Holt's helicopter pad, so the men in one helicopter clambered down rope ladders; others went down the cargo ramp as the helicopters touched down only their rear wheels.

Boarding the SS Mayaguez

Air Force planes dropped tear gas on the Mayaguez in advance of the boarding. USS Holt maneuvered alongside and 48 Marines stormed over the side like swashbuckling pirates. They found no one aboard.

About 8 AM the MSC mariners, wearing gas masks, boarded the Mayaguez . Within 5 minutes, they had the emergency diesel generator running. At 8:20 AM the Marines raised the American flag.


Marines wearing gas masks board the SS Mayaguez [U.S. Navy photo from Sealift]

The volunteers hauled out tow lines and cut the anchor chain with an acetylene torch. At 10:45 AM, USS Holt began her tow, while MSC engineers worked to get steam up.

Release of the Mayaguez crew

About that time, a Thai fishing boat approached the USS Wilson which was off Kaoh Tang island supporting the amphibious assault. Aboard the boat, which was captured by the Cambodians a few days earlier, was a Thai crew and the 39 men of the Mayaguez. They had been set free by their captors after being moved earlier in the day to Kompong Som in a small Cambodian gunboat. They had then been moved again to tiny Kach Island and had been freed there.


The USS Holt tows the SS Mayaguez to safety Photo courtesy of U.S. Navy

At noon, all Mayaguez crewmen were back aboard their own ship. The volunteers continued to assist until 7:30 PM, when they climbed into an Army tug boat and then were flown to the MSC office in Sattahip.

Marine Assault on Kaoh Tang

Meanwhile, on the northern tip of Kaoh Tang, the marine assault force arriving at 6 AM on the east and west beaches met heavy fire. Khmer Rouge held their fire until the CH-53 helicopters were close in. Machine guns, mortars, and rocket propelled grenade launchers devastated the helicopters. At 7:30 AM only 109 of the planned 180 marines were on the island in 3 separate locations, with Khmer Rouge infantry entrenched in bunkers in the 1000 feet of jungle between them. A-7D Corsairs provided cover, but the Mayaguez crew was thought to be in a building directly by the gun emplacements.

At 11:30 AM, 100 more marines landed. The plan called for 250 marines in the second wave, but by then there were only 4 helicopters available. Then word came of the safe arrival of the Mayaguez crew on the USS Wilson and the marines planned their withdrawal. Khmer reinforcements coming in from the south were stopped by 15,000 pound BLU-82 bombs.


Marines going over the side of the USS Holt during the retaking of the SS Mayaguez Photo courtesy of Bill McKinley

After the last helicopter left around 8 PM, a head count showed 3 marines were left behind on the island. In 1999, Department of Defense investigators found evidence to indicate one of the Marines was killed a few days later while trying to steal food from the Khmer Rouge. The other two were captured within a few days, executed, and buried on Kaoh Tang island.

The final U.S. tally for the assault:

	Killed	Wounded	Missing	Non-battle deaths
Army	0	0	0	0
Navy/Marine Corps	13	44	3	0
Air Force	2	6	0	23*
U.S. total	15	50	3	23

* Crash of helicopter carrying Combat Security Police Squadron in Thailand -- due to mechanical failure

The 6 volunteers from the USNS Greenville Victory were awarded the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal and the Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Medal.

In accepting his medal, Hermino Rivera stated, "I'm glad to have been able to do something for my country, and I wouldn't hesitate to volunteer in the future."

The reason for the unexpected release of the Mayaguez crew has never been fully understood; among the many theories are successful intervention by China or Israel.

The SS Mayaguez was scrapped in 1979.

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FReeper Foxhole Armed Services Links

[SAMWolf]

Morning E.G.C.

Supposed to be the end of the rain today and a nice weekend coming up. We'll see. :-)

[SAMWolf]

Morning alfa6.

[SAMWolf]

Morning Mayor.

Of all the masters the soul can choose, there are at last only two-God and money. All choices, however small, however the alternatives may be disguised, are but variants of this choice."

IMHO, power should be included, some people don't care about money, but about aquiring and exercising power. Although money may be the means to power, power is the master not the money.

[The Mayor]

Agreed!

[SAMWolf]

1941 Germany invades Crete

The Battle of Crete began on the morning of May 20 1941, during World War II, when Germany launched an airborne invasion under the code name Operation Merkur, or Operation Mercury. The operation was successful in terms of taking the island from the Allied forces holding it, but the victory was so costly that the Germans never again launched a major airborne mission.

Allied commanders were worried about the Germans using Crete as a "springboard" to further operations in the area, possibly a seaborne invasion of Egypt in support of the German/Italian forces operating from Libya. However these fears were soon put to rest when Operation Barbarossa opened, and it was clear the German operation was defensive in nature.

Losses among the German paratroops meant that the fallschirmjäger were never again used as airborne troops, which eliminated this weapon from use in Russia. Given the poor communications and airbase defenses in Russia at the time, this can be considered a very serious setback, as it is likely paratroop operations would have been highly effective.

The Germans admitted losses of 6,200 men: 3,714 dead and 2,494 wounded. Today however, there are around 4,500 German graves at Maleme alone. The Australian war graves commission in 1945 estimated that the Germans suffered around 17,000 losses.

The Allies lost 3,500 soldiers: 1,751 dead, with an equal number wounded, and an enormous number captured (12,254 Commonwealth and 5,255 Greeks). There were also 1,828 dead and 183 wounded among the Navy. A total sum of 3,579 dead and 1900 wounded.

An unknown but large number of civilians was killed in the crossfire and died fighting as partisans. Many Cretans were murdered by the Germans in reprisals, both during the battle and in the occupation that followed.

[SAMWolf]

Morning Feather.

Now there's something you don't see every day.

[Valin]

Cold Iron
Rudyard Kipling


Gold is for the mistress -- silver for the maid --
Copper for the craftsman cunning at his trade.
"Good!" cried the Baron, sitting in his hall,
"But iron, cold iron, is the master of them all."

So he made rebellion against the King, his liege,
Camped before his citadel and summoned it to siege.
"Nay," said the cannoneer on the castle wall,
"But iron, cold iron, shall be master of you all!"

Woe for the Baron and his knights so strong
When the cruel cannon-balls laid them all along.
He was taken prisoner, he was cast in thrall,
And iron, cold iron, was the master over all.

Yet his King spake kindly (ah how kind a lord!).
"What if I release thee now, and give thee back thy sword?"
"Nay!" said the Baron, "Mock not at my fall,
For iron, cold iron, is the master of men all."

"Tears are for the craven. Prayers are for the clown.
Halters for the silly neck that cannot keep a crown.
As my loss is grievous, so my hope is small,
For iron, cold iron, must be master of men all."

Yet his King made answer (few such Kings there be!).
"Here is bread and here is wine -- Now sit and sup with me.
Eat and drink in Mary's name, while I do recall
How iron, cold iron, can be master of men all!"

He took the wine and blessed it. He blessed and broke the bread.
With his own hands he served them, and presently he said:
"See! These hands they pierced with nails, outside my city wall,
Show iron, cold iron, to be master of men all!"

"Wounds are for the desperate, blows are for the strong,
Balm and oil for weary hearts all cut and bruised with wrong.
I forgive thy treason -- I redeem thy fall --
For iron, cold iron, must be master of men all!"

"Crowns are for the valiant, sceptres for the bold!
Thrones and powers for the mighty men who dare to take and hold!"
"Nay!" said the Baron, kneeling in his hall,
"But iron, cold iron, is the master of men all!"

[E.G.C.]

((HUGS))Good morning, folks.

We're getting the house ready for guests. My brother from Texas is coming down with his son. They're going to be doing some fishing here for the next couple of days.

Forecast high here mid 90's. It's already in the low 80's.

[Professional Engineer]

Good morning ladies. It's Friday!

[stand watie]

GM, snippy!

free dixie,sw

[Aeronaut]

Hi Sam.

[Professional Engineer]

1934 Alexei A Leonov cosmonaut (Voskhod 2, Apollo-Soyuz)

These five men compose the two prime crews of the joint U.S.-USSR Apollo Soyuz Test Project docking in Earth orbit mission scheduled for July 1975. They are Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford (standing on left), commander of the American crew; Cosmonaut Aleksey A. Leonov (standing on right), commander of the Soviet crew; Astronaut Donald K. Slayton (seated on left), docking module pilot of the American crew; Astronaut Vance D. Brand (seated in center), command module pilot of the American crew; and Cosmonaut Valeriy N. Kubasov (seated on right), engineer on the Soviet crew.

[Professional Engineer]

0325 1st Christian ecumenical council opens at Nicæa, Asia Minor

No good will come of it, I tell ya'.

[Professional Engineer]

1944 US Communist Party dissolves

I beg to differ.

Excuse me, I've gotta irradiate my computer now.

[Professional Engineer]

ROFLOL, that's good!

[Professional Engineer]

Hiya Sam

[Iris7]

I had no idea. I had seen the 6,200 casualties number, but three times that many! What is that, about half? Those 17,000 look to be graves, too - dead men.

Looks like the New Zealanders did OK.

[snippy_about_it]

Well said. Thanks Iris7.

[snippy_about_it]

I have spent twenty years sorrowfully regretting this.

You just had another calling. The Navy needed you elsewhere or it would have been so.

[snippy_about_it]

Good morning Aeronaut.