Word: mayaguez
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...meeting an hour after Kissinger's return to Washington. At the session, the President decided to mount the rescue mission. One Marine assault force was to seize and hold the island, where U.S. officials believed some of the crew members had been taken; another unit was to board the Mayaguez. U.S. aircraft were to support
Shortly before 4 p.m., Ford held a crucial NSC meeting that lasted for nearly two hours. At 4:45, the President issued the final orders to begin the rescue operation at Koh Tang and to board the Mayaguez. Two hours later, Ford entered the Cabinet Room to brief congressional leaders on the crisis and the rescue attempt?and they gave him a standing ovation...
...Holt snuggled up to the Mayaguez. Rifles at the ready, the Marines climbed over the rail to the freighter; the Holt's deck crew trained machine guns on the Mayaguez's deck. With the Marines came a crew to sail the Mayaguez to freedom and a demolition team to check the ship for bombs and booby traps. To the Marines' surprise, no one was aboard. In the galley were bowls of warm rice and tea, but the diners?possibly Cambodians ?had disappeared. The disappointed Marines hoisted a U.S. flag on the freighter's fantail and awaited further developments...
Vigorous Fire. At the same time the Marines boarded the Mayaguez, nine CH-53 and HH-53 helicopters carrying 210 Marines attacked the island under cover of fighters?A-6 Intruders, A-7 Corsairs and F-4 Phantoms. It was a hard-fought battle. According to U.S. intelligence estimates, only between 100 and 200 Cambodians were defending the island, but they managed to shoot down three helicopters and damage two others. The Marines established a beachhead, then were pinned down for a time by vigorous small-arms fire from Cambodians hidden in a wooded area some 75 yds. from...
...contrary to their expectations, no members of the Mayaguez's crew were on the island...