Mayaguez Rescue Operation - "The Last Battle"
The first time security police were tasked with a high-priority rescue mission was in May 1975, when the S.S. Mayaguez merchant ship was seized by Khmer Rouge communist forces in Cambodia. When diplomatic efforts failed to secure the release of the Mayaguez, On May 13, General Burns and his Seventh Air Force staff developed a contingency plan to retake the Mayaguez using an assault force composed of men of the Air Force 56th Security Police Squadron. 75 volunteers from the 56th would be dropped onto the containers on the decks of the Mayaguez on the morning of 14 May. In preparation for this assault five HH-53s and seven CH-53s were ordered to proceed to U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield for staging. At approximately 21:30, one of the 21st SOS CH-53s (68-10933, call sign Knife 13) crashed en route to U Tapao, killing 18 security police and its five-man crew. A trailing CH–53C “Jolly Green” helicopter landed and dismounted its security police force to assist the crew of the downed aircraft. After the crash, a decision was made to employ a USMC assault element rather than the SP force. The 18 SPs who perished in the crash were listed as having died in a training accident although all were awarded posthumous Bronze Stars with a “V” for Valor. This was coincidentally the last and final conflict for the United States in the Vietnam War.
US Air Force Photo by Boyd Belcher
Top Photo: Security Police from the 56th Special Operations Wing, Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. (preparing to depart in support of the Mayaguez rescue operation)
Top Photo: Security Police from the 56th Special Operations Wing, Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. (preparing to depart in support of the Mayaguez rescue operation)
The 22 pictures below are the fallen of the 56th Security Police and the 21st SOS aircrew May 14th, 1975 aboard "Knife 13"
Personal Accounts
USS MAYAGUEZ RESCUE OPERATION (13-15 May 75)
While on a controlled tour with the Armed Forces Police Detachment, Washington D.C., I received notification of a Permanent Change of Station reassignment. I was being assigned to the 388th Security Police Squadron, Korat Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand, reporting in January 1975. Knowing that the Vietnam War had just ended, I assumed this tour would be a piece of cake. We probably would be closing down bases in Thailand. This was my fourth PCS tour to PACAF, yet my first in Southeast Asia (Philippines, Okinawa, Johnston Island).
Upon arrival at Korat, I was assigned to a law enforcement flight, midnight shift, as the Flight Chief. I further was assigned as the law enforcement Flight Chief for deployment purposes and kept a mobility bag packed at all times. I was only a TSgt but had a large flight of about 110 USAF men and women and about 200 Thai AF Guards. The flight was composed of LE security policemen and augmenters from other base units that were winding down, with primarily a resources protection mission. My new commander was Major Frank Martin, later to be Brig Gen Martin, USAF Chief, Security Police.
As I recall, early in the morning of 13 May 1975, I was rudely awakened by a loud knock at my hooch door. I was instructed to immediately report to Central Security Control with my mobility gear ready to deploy. Having just ended a midnight shift and half asleep, I got dressed, grabbed my gear and headed for CSC. There I was told that a flight of 25 airmen was being deployed to Utapao RTAFB for staging and further deployment. Final destination---unknown! I was to be the Squad Leader and a Lieutenant would accompany us as the Officer In Charge.
I repeatedly counted personnel and equipment, making double sure, no make that triple sure that each person and their equipment were accounted for prior to boarding a C-130 aircraft for the short flight to Utapoa. We had 25 people and I had a correct list of names as we boarded the aircraft. All in order, so far.
Upon arriving at Utapoa, we were temporarily put up in the base gym. I was instructed to report to a General Officer for deployment orders and further instructions. I did so immediately. To my surprise I was informed that we were going to rescue, via a surprise helicopter assault, the USS Mayaguez, which had just been captured off the Cambodian coast by Khmer Rogue communist forces. It became apparent immediately to me that the wrong flight had been deployed from Korat. We were the LE flight, equipped with .38 revolvers, handcuffs, nightsticks, etc., ready for riot control. They obviously should have deployed the Air Base Ground Defense Security flight. Also after recounting I discovered we only had 24 people that had deployed. No lieutenant. Needless to say I was on the phone back to Korat and Major Martin. I explained our situation, I understand he wasn’t happy, but said we were there and to make the most of it. I did.
The mission was to marry-up six, 25 man squads from different bases in Thailand to make up a 150 man assault flight. The war was over and there were no other combat forces in the area at the time.
I talked to the Utapao armory folks and eventually; they agreed to lend us proper weapons. Well, with the law enforcement troops I had, most had not been through Air Base Ground Defense training. Thanks goodness, all the NCOs had been through the training. The four of us immediately initiated a hands-on training class with the borrowed weapons.
During this initial period, we were all briefed that a chopper from Nakhon Phanom RTAFB (NKP) with 25 souls on board (18 SPs) had crashed, killing all on board. This devastating news rallied us even more throughout the coming hours. We were all very upset as it had not yet been determined if the cause of the crash was accidental, if it had been shot down or sabotaged. We all were determined to do our best on this mission, for the guys who had just died, so that their deaths would not be in vain.
We were preparing for an early morning take-off via helicopters for an at sea assault on the USS Mayaguez. Each squad had been briefed and assigned to certain levels of the ship. We received our intelligence briefing and were given a couple of hours to get some shut-eye. Soon we were summoned and loaded up busses for the trip to the flight line to board the choppers. While on the flight line waiting to board the choppers, we received word that due to the earlier chopper crash, our mission was cancelled.
Little did we know that a contingent of 175 Marines deployed from Okinawa, would complete the assault and rescue operation successfully the next day. The impending assault was reported in the Bangkok Post, prior to the event, alerting the communist forces. The Marines ran into an ambush from some 200 heavily armed Khmer Rouge, laying in wait for them. Although the Marines suffered 15 KIAs, 3 MIAs and 49 wounded, they persevered and rescued all 39 crewmembers of the USS Mayaguez.
Although this eventually turned into a USMC operation, I am told it was the most highly decorated single mission in Air Force history, earning four AF Crosses, 22 Silver Stars and numerous Air Medals, Bronze Stars and Purple Hearts.
My personal salute goes to the lost Security Policemen and the US Marine Corps and to those men who gave their all. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
By
M. T. ‘TED’ WHITLOCK JR., MSgt, USAF (Ret)
Vietnam Security Police Association LIFE MEMBER #98
Air Force Security Police Association LIFE MEMBER
While on a controlled tour with the Armed Forces Police Detachment, Washington D.C., I received notification of a Permanent Change of Station reassignment. I was being assigned to the 388th Security Police Squadron, Korat Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand, reporting in January 1975. Knowing that the Vietnam War had just ended, I assumed this tour would be a piece of cake. We probably would be closing down bases in Thailand. This was my fourth PCS tour to PACAF, yet my first in Southeast Asia (Philippines, Okinawa, Johnston Island).
Upon arrival at Korat, I was assigned to a law enforcement flight, midnight shift, as the Flight Chief. I further was assigned as the law enforcement Flight Chief for deployment purposes and kept a mobility bag packed at all times. I was only a TSgt but had a large flight of about 110 USAF men and women and about 200 Thai AF Guards. The flight was composed of LE security policemen and augmenters from other base units that were winding down, with primarily a resources protection mission. My new commander was Major Frank Martin, later to be Brig Gen Martin, USAF Chief, Security Police.
As I recall, early in the morning of 13 May 1975, I was rudely awakened by a loud knock at my hooch door. I was instructed to immediately report to Central Security Control with my mobility gear ready to deploy. Having just ended a midnight shift and half asleep, I got dressed, grabbed my gear and headed for CSC. There I was told that a flight of 25 airmen was being deployed to Utapao RTAFB for staging and further deployment. Final destination---unknown! I was to be the Squad Leader and a Lieutenant would accompany us as the Officer In Charge.
I repeatedly counted personnel and equipment, making double sure, no make that triple sure that each person and their equipment were accounted for prior to boarding a C-130 aircraft for the short flight to Utapoa. We had 25 people and I had a correct list of names as we boarded the aircraft. All in order, so far.
Upon arriving at Utapoa, we were temporarily put up in the base gym. I was instructed to report to a General Officer for deployment orders and further instructions. I did so immediately. To my surprise I was informed that we were going to rescue, via a surprise helicopter assault, the USS Mayaguez, which had just been captured off the Cambodian coast by Khmer Rogue communist forces. It became apparent immediately to me that the wrong flight had been deployed from Korat. We were the LE flight, equipped with .38 revolvers, handcuffs, nightsticks, etc., ready for riot control. They obviously should have deployed the Air Base Ground Defense Security flight. Also after recounting I discovered we only had 24 people that had deployed. No lieutenant. Needless to say I was on the phone back to Korat and Major Martin. I explained our situation, I understand he wasn’t happy, but said we were there and to make the most of it. I did.
The mission was to marry-up six, 25 man squads from different bases in Thailand to make up a 150 man assault flight. The war was over and there were no other combat forces in the area at the time.
I talked to the Utapao armory folks and eventually; they agreed to lend us proper weapons. Well, with the law enforcement troops I had, most had not been through Air Base Ground Defense training. Thanks goodness, all the NCOs had been through the training. The four of us immediately initiated a hands-on training class with the borrowed weapons.
During this initial period, we were all briefed that a chopper from Nakhon Phanom RTAFB (NKP) with 25 souls on board (18 SPs) had crashed, killing all on board. This devastating news rallied us even more throughout the coming hours. We were all very upset as it had not yet been determined if the cause of the crash was accidental, if it had been shot down or sabotaged. We all were determined to do our best on this mission, for the guys who had just died, so that their deaths would not be in vain.
We were preparing for an early morning take-off via helicopters for an at sea assault on the USS Mayaguez. Each squad had been briefed and assigned to certain levels of the ship. We received our intelligence briefing and were given a couple of hours to get some shut-eye. Soon we were summoned and loaded up busses for the trip to the flight line to board the choppers. While on the flight line waiting to board the choppers, we received word that due to the earlier chopper crash, our mission was cancelled.
Little did we know that a contingent of 175 Marines deployed from Okinawa, would complete the assault and rescue operation successfully the next day. The impending assault was reported in the Bangkok Post, prior to the event, alerting the communist forces. The Marines ran into an ambush from some 200 heavily armed Khmer Rouge, laying in wait for them. Although the Marines suffered 15 KIAs, 3 MIAs and 49 wounded, they persevered and rescued all 39 crewmembers of the USS Mayaguez.
Although this eventually turned into a USMC operation, I am told it was the most highly decorated single mission in Air Force history, earning four AF Crosses, 22 Silver Stars and numerous Air Medals, Bronze Stars and Purple Hearts.
My personal salute goes to the lost Security Policemen and the US Marine Corps and to those men who gave their all. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
By
M. T. ‘TED’ WHITLOCK JR., MSgt, USAF (Ret)
Vietnam Security Police Association LIFE MEMBER #98
Air Force Security Police Association LIFE MEMBER
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56th SFS Luke AFB Annual Retreat CeremonyThe men and women of the 56th SFS honor the members of their squadron every year on the anniversary of the loss of 18 security policemen on May 15th, 1975.
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From the Gerald R Ford Presidential Library
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The operation once again told the story of the sacrifices endured by those that choose to don the uniform, and protect our nation from those that wish to do it harm.
The valor and gallantry exhibited by these men was ever-present and the decorations awarded, numerous. The decorations were one Navy Cross, four Air Force Crosses, 47 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 60 Purple Hearts, 28 Silver Stars, 39 Bronze Star Medal (with Valor), 17 Navy Commendation Medals (with Valor), and 40 Navy Achievement Medals (with Valor). The Navy Cross and the Air Force Cross are decorations second only to the Medal of Honor. The Navy Cross was awarded to Second Lieutenant James V. McDaniel, USMC, G Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines. The Air Force Cross was awarded to Captain Rowland W. Purser and First Lieutenant Donald R. Backlund of the 40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, and to First Lieutenant Richard C. Brims and Sergeant John D. Harston of the 21st Special Operations Squadron. In February 1976 the Airmen of the 40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron and the 21st Special Operations Squadron presented a flag to President Ford in commemoration of the operation. Graphics include crossed knives, the SS Mayaguez, and two Jolly Green Giant foot prints, all against green mounds representing the island of Koh-Tang. The flag also contains a navy-blue fringe border. It features embroidered text that reads “40th ARRS/ Jolly Greens/ ‘We’ll see who owns this farm’/ G. Ford/ 21st SOS Knives.” The quote likely refers to President Ford’s Commencement Address at the University of Pennsylvania on May 18, 1975, in which he says, “…But the national will that saw the struggle through to its successful conclusion was better expressed by the patriot farmer who said as he picked up his musket, ‘We’ll see who’s going to own this farm.’ I believe that spirit is very much alive in America today.” The flag was accompanied by a letter from Lt. Colonel Joseph P. McMonigle, commander of the 40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, along with a roster of participants in his squadron and the 21st Special Operations Squadron that provided air support for the recovery of the Mayaguez. |
