No Man Left Behind: The Mayaguez Incident, A Heroic Rescue Mission

The Mayaguez Incident, narrated by Ralph Wetterhahn, author of "The Last Battle."
In the twilight of the Vietnam War, a mere two weeks after the fall of Saigon, a final act of conflict erupted in Southeast Asia, casting a long shadow over the painful end of an era. This was the Mayaguez incident, a tense standoff that led to the last American combat deaths of the war.
On May 12, 1975, the American merchant vessel SS Mayaguez was seized by Khmer Rouge forces in the waters off Cambodia. The U.S., still reeling from the fall of Saigon and eager to project strength, launched a hasty rescue mission. Marines were deployed to Koh Tang island, where the Mayaguez was believed to be held, while airstrikes targeted Khmer Rouge positions.
The operation was fraught with challenges from the outset. Intelligence was faulty, the terrain was hostile, and the Khmer Rouge defenders proved unexpectedly resilient. The marines faced fierce resistance, suffering heavy casualties. Meanwhile, the Mayaguez and its crew were released unharmed, unbeknownst to the U.S. forces still engaged in combat.
Despite the ship's recovery, the mission continued, fueled by a combination of political pressure and military momentum. Ultimately, the operation resulted in the rescue of the Mayaguez crew, but at a high cost. 41 American servicemen were killed, and 50 were wounded, making it the last official combat action of the Vietnam War.
The Mayaguez incident remains a controversial episode in American history. Some view it as a necessary show of force, a demonstration of U.S. resolve in the face of communist aggression. Others criticize it as a rash and ill-conceived operation, a final, tragic chapter in a war that had already claimed too many lives.
Regardless of interpretation, the Mayaguez incident stands as a stark reminder of the complexities and costs of war. It is a tale of heroism and sacrifice, of political miscalculation and the enduring scars of conflict. It is a story that, even decades later, continues to resonate, a poignant reminder of the final, painful chapter of the Vietnam War.

Ralph Wetterhahn, a Vietnam War veteran and former U.S. Air Force pilot, is the author of "The Last Battle: The Mayaguez Incident and the End of the Vietnam War." This gripping account delves into the final military conflict of the Vietnam War, exploring the capture of the U.S. merchant ship Mayaguez by Khmer Rouge forces in 1975. It details the subsequent U.S. military operation to rescue the crew, the intense battle on Koh Tang island, and the tragic fate of three Marines left behind. Wetterhahn's meticulous research, including interviews with Khmer Rouge captors, sheds light on this often-overlooked chapter of American military history.

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