28 Apr 2003 Andres Garcia, from Carlsbad, New Mexico, was involved in the rescue of the merchant ship S.S. Mayaguez on May 15,1975. During the mission, the helicopter in which Andres was riding was shot down off of the coast of Koh Tang Island, near Cambodia. Andres, along with several other Marines, was lost. While the mission to rescue the crew of the Mayaguez was ultimately a success, with the 39 crewmembers being rescued, it came with a high price. May Andres and the others lost in this effort rest in peace. From a friend, Gregory Rangel 4109 Cummings Dr, N Richland Hills, Tx 76180 pilottx1@aol.com

 

10 Dec 2004 POW/MIA PRAYER Almighty God, Today we pause to remember those who have suffered the injustices of becoming Prisoners Of War. Give us a moment to recall the many who had the misfortunate destiny to have never returned from the hands of our enemies and will forever wear the label of missing in action. Thank you for their courage, their tenacity, their bravery, their strength; not only for those of wars of the past but for those of the recent conflict. Let us learn from their example to have steadfast faith in you. Spare us, if it is possible, from ever having to be a POW or MIA. But if we, who serve today, are called to face such a challenge, give us the strength and fortitude to do so with honor. Continue to watch over us, God, and especially help the families of those who never returned. In your name we pray, Amen. From his brother. E-mail address is not available.

 

The Mayaguez Incident After the fall of Cambodia and South Vietnam to the Communists, Cambodian forces captured the US-registered ship SS MAYAGUEZ, taking her to the offshore island of Koh Tang. President Gerald Ford directed that the ship should be recaptured and her crew freed by use of force. The USS CORAL SEA (CVA-43) battle group and an assault group from the 9th Marines were directed to land on the island and retake the ship and crew. Although intelligence estimates indicated that the island was lightly held, in fact there were a considerable number of Cambodian troops in place -- and they had hand-held weapons suitable for use against helicopters. The Marines staged through U-Tapao RTAFB in Thailand and were landed by USAF CH-53A helicopters. As the helicopters approached shore, the aircraft were taken under fire and four were brought down: One had disembarked its troops and ditched offshore; the crew was picked up. One went down in the surfline and all aboard made it ashore. One went down in the surfline with a single casualty. One went down offshore; eleven Marines and two Navy Corpsmen were not rescued. In a sense the rescue effort was successful - the ship was recaptured and its 39 crewmen recovered - but the cost was high: 50 wounded and 17 unaccounted for ... 14 servicemen believed killed in the downed helicopters, one known dead Marine whose body could not be recovered, and three missing Marines ashore (PFC Gary Hall, LCpl Joseph Hargrove, and Pvt Danny Marshall). Eventually the US and Cambodian governments agreed to attempt the recovery of remains from the raid and in 1995 a number of human remains were repatriated. During May and June of 2000, the US government announced the positive identification of nine of the missing men. Lance Corporal Garcia's remains were in this group, with the announcement of his identification coming on 8 May 2000. As of 29 Apr 2003, eight men who participated in the MAYAGUEZ raid haven't come home: SSG Elwood Eugene Rumbaugh, 21st SOS PFC Daniel Andrew Benedett, 2/9 Marines PFC Gary Lee Hall, 2/9 Marines LCpl Joseph N. Hargrove, 2/9 Marines PFC James Joseph Jacques, 2/9 Marines Pvt Danny G. Marshall, 2/9 Marines PFC James Rickey Maxwell, 2/9 Marines PFC Richard William Rivenburgh, 2/9 Marines

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