Koh Tang Mayaguez Vets Organization Guest Book

I saw a special on the Military History channel about the Mayaguez rescue mission. I had never heard of this web site before and am very glad to see the recognition given to the brave Marines that were deployed on the Island and especially about the unbelieveable actions of the Air Force pilots. I was a radio operator on the Harold E. Holt during the rescue mission of the Mayaguez. God bless you all, I will always remember.

This friday will be the 34th anniversary of the opearation. I hope that everyone is doing well and hope to see you in Indiana.

Semper Fi
Al Mahan

like your web site, I also was there G 2/9

Semper FI jarheads,
Just wanting everyone to know that thewife and I are enjoying a nice stay with Jeff Kern and his wife in Arizona. I'm gonna make sure that they get to Branson.
Semper Fi

I like your site.

I ran across this website and thought you War Vets would be interested in what it takes to get a CAR now.
Sailors Get CAR After Rocket Attack; Marines on the Ships Say 'No Thanks'
By Andrew Scutro - Times Staff Writer
01-06-2006. A rocket sailing over the bow of an Amphib is enough combat for a sailor to rate a CAR Ribbon, even if he wasn't there and the ship was pier side, according to the Navy. Sailors from the amphibious assault ship Kearsarge and docklanding ship Ashland have been awarded the Combat Action Ribbon for an August 19, 2005 incident in Aqaba, Jordan. The crews were notified by letter from 5th Fleet on Dec. 1, according to a Kearsarge spokesman. While Kearsarge and Ashland were tied up pier side in port, a rocket flew over Ashland's bow andpast Kearsarge, hitting a nearby warehouse. The Katyusha rocket killed a Jordanian soldier and wounded another. Both were standing watch on the pier. ** No Americans were hurt and no U.S. equipment sustained damage** According to Navy rules, anyone assigned to the ship's crew at the time of the incident is entitled to wear the CAR. Senior Chief Journalist Dave Nagle, the Kearsarge's spokesman, said sailors are entitled to wear a CAR even if they were off the ship during the action. "If you were assigned toKearsarge on that day, you rate the ribbon," he said. According to a Navynews release, "robust" force protection measures were credited with savingthe ships from "direct attack."

I am still searching for pics of Loney, Sandoval, Benedett and any air force guys that have passed since or was KIA.

If anyone can help please send pics to me. That includes marines that have passed since.

Thanks Al
Semper Fi

Watching the news about the pirated Maersk Alabama being "the first pirated American vessel in 200 years," I wondered how the Mayaguez Incident only 34 years ago did not qualify as piracy.

Is the taking of the Mayaguez considered naval warfare rather than piracy? Or because they took the crew without commandeering the ship? Gerald Ford used the term "piracy" during the incident.

Not stirring up anything here, but the fact that the Mayaguez Incident is relevant to current events seems to be lost on the media.

If anybody has a pic of the following marines please send me email with the pic I am doing a tribute to our fallen brothers. I need the following Loney, Garcia, Copenhaver, Jacgues, Rivenburgh, Benedett and Sandoval.

Thanks and Semper Fi
Al Mahan

I was assigned to the Security Police Squadron at NKP in 1975. I knew and worked with several of the men that were on that chopper when it went down. Earlier that day we had taken a break and were playing a rather rough game of water polo in the little pool near the flight line. Hamlin, Hankamer and a few more were there. They were good men.