Gerald R. Ford Library

1000 Beal Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI  48109-2114

www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. MARINE CORPS. HISTORY AND MUSEUMS DIVISION:

Copies of Oral Histories on the Mayaguez Action and Related Marine Unit Operational Records, 1965-1977

 

 

 

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

 

The collection was created by the Marine Corps Historical Center, from its digitized holdings, at the suggestion of an associate of former President Ford.  It includes compact disks of oral histories (audio files only) with Marines who participated in the Mayaguez action. It also includes compact disks containing Marine unit operational records from the Mayaguez action.  These disks, as an incidental by-product of their creation, also contain extensive operational records from the Marine units' participation in other phases of the Vietnam War.  Most of these records date from 1965-1970, but some concern the evacuations of Phnom Penh and Saigon, and the later transfer of refugees to the United States.  The Ford Library staff has printed to paper, as an additional convenience to researchers, all operational records that date from the Ford presidency.

 

QUANTITY

2.4 linear feet (33 compact disks and ca. 4,000 pages)

 

DONOR

Gerald R. Ford (accession number 2004-NLF-031)

 

ACCESS

Open. 

 

COPYRIGHT

Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public domain.

 

Prepared by William H. McNitt, May 2006

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INTRODUCTION

 

 

 

The Marine Corps History and Museums Division collects oral histories and documents concerning the history of the Marine Corps.  In 2004 they sent compact disks containing copies of materials relating to the recapture of the S.S. Mayaguez and other aspects of the Vietnam War to former President Gerald R. Ford.  He donated them to the Ford Library.

 

The CDs contain two sets of material.  The first consists of audio files of oral histories conducted with Marine Corps personnel who participated in the recovery of the S.S. Mayaguez after it was seized by Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge in May 1975.  All of the interviews concern the landing on Koh Tang Island and the search for the ship and its crew.  Several interviews record the memories of survivors of a helicopter crash that took place during the operation, killing several Marines.

 

The second set of CDs contains operational records for several Marine Corps units involved in the Mayaguez action.  Although some documents concern the Mayaguez, the bulk of them date from 1965 to 1970 and concern these units’ involvement in other aspects of the Vietnam War.  For the convenience of researchers, the Ford Library staff has printed to paper all operational records dating from the Ford administration.  In addition to the Mayaqguez rescue operation, these materials relate to the evacuations of Cambodia and South Vietnam in 1975 (Marine units assisted with the evacuation) and Indochina refugees (the Marines were involved with both their evacuation from Indochina and their arrival in the United States).

 

 

Related Materials (May 2006):

Materials on the Mayaguez, the evacuations from Cambodia and South Vietnam, and Indochina refugees appear in a number of Ford Library collections.  Information on all these topics appears in the White House Central Files Subject File, the Files and Papers of Press Secretary Ron Nessen, and several of the National Security Adviser subcollections.  The Sea-Land Service Collected Materials concerning the Mayaguez contain transcripts of oral histories with the captain and crew of the Mayaguez.  Another key collection on the Indochina refugees is the Theodore Marrs Files.

 

Series Descriptions

 

Box 1        Mayaguez Oral History Audio Files on Compact Disks, 1975.  (28 CDs)

Audio files of oral history interviews with Marine Corps personnel who participated in the operation to recover the crew of the S.S. Mayaguez after it was seized by the Cambodian Khmer Rouge in May 1975.

Arranged numerically by CD number.

 

Box 1        Vietnam War Operational Records of Marine Units on Compact Disks, 1965-1977.  (5 CDs)

Images of selected Marine Corps unit operational records (orders, reports, clippings, and analyses).  Many of the units for which records appear on the CDs were involved in the Mayaguez rescue operation and a small number of documents relate to that operation and other events dating from the Ford administration.  The bulk of the documents, however, date from 1965 to 1970 and concern earlier aspects of the Vietnam War.

Arranged numerically by CD number.

 

Boxes 2-6 Mayaguez and Related Operational Records, 1975-1977.  (2 linear feet)

Marine Corps unit reports, orders, clippings, and analyses dating from the Ford administration.  The Ford Library staff printed to paper all documents dating from the Ford administration from the CDs in the previous series.  The documents concern the evacuations from Cambodia and South Vietnam in 1975, Indochina refugees, and the role of various Marine units in the rescue of the S.S. Mayaguez from Khmer Rouge control.

Arranged alphabetically.

 

Container List

 

Box 1       Mayaguez Oral History Audio Files on Compact Disks

6033 – Col. M. J. Steinberg – Debrief of Former IG for USSAG/7th Air Force Re Operation Frequent Wind and the Mayaguez Rescue

6036 – Col. James G. Dionisopoulus – Debrief of Former C/S, III MAF

6079 – Capt. Walter J. Wood – Commanding Officer, Co. D, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, re Operations in Mayaguez Rescue

6088 – Sgt. William J. Owens – 1st Squad Leader, 3rd Platoon, Co. D, During the Recapture of the Mayaguez

6089 – 2ndLt. Joe Flores, Jr. – Recapture of the Mayaguez

6091 – SSgt. G. E. Hagen – 3rd Platoon, Co. D, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, in the Recapture of the Mayaguez

6092 – Cpl. Paul R. Coker – 3rd Platoon, Company D, in Recapture of the Mayaguez

6106 – LCpl. Dennis H. Wood – 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, in Recapture of the Mayaguez

6107 – Cpl. Billy C. Rucker – Squad Leader, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, in Recapture of the Mayaguez

6112 – Maj. John B. Hendricks - Debrief of Operations Officer, 2nd Battalion, 9the Marines, Koh Tang Island, Cambodia Assault

6113 – Cpl. Gilbert C. Lutz – Squad Leader, 1st Platoon, Co. G, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, in the Assault on Koh Tang Island

6114 – GySgt. Lester A. McNemar – Discusses Mission of Co. G, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, on Landing at Koh Tang Island

6115 – 2ndLt. Harry T. Williams – Debrief of Naval Gunfire Officer With 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, on Koh Tang Island Assault

6116 – GySgt. Francis McGowin – Intelligence Officer, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, Discusses Intelligence Problems Encountered During the Koh Tang Island Assault

6117 – LCpl. Larry J. Branson – Pointman for H&S Co., 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, at Koh Tang Island

6119 – Capt. James H. Davis – CO in Assault During the Mayaguez Incident

6120 – 1stLt. Michael S. Eustis – Experiences of Survivors of USAF CH-53 Helicopter Shot Down During the Koh Tang Assault

6121 – 1stLt. James D. Keith – Koh Tang Island During the Mayaguez Incident

6122 – 2ndLt. James McDaniel – 1st Platoon Commander, Co. G, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, Discusses Mission of Landing at Koh Tang Island

6123 – 2ndLt. William L. Smith – Platoon Commander, 2nd MT, Co. G, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, re Sweeping Koh Tang Island in Search of Mayaguez Crewmen

6124 – 2ndLt. Joe J. McMenamin – Discusses Mission of 81mm Mortar Platoon to Sweep Through Koh Tang Island in Search of Mayaguez Crewmen

6125 – Sgt. George N. Wiatt – Co. G, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, in Assault on Koh Tang Island

6126 – SSgt. Fofo Tuitele – Landing on Koh Tang, Co.G, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines

6127 – PFC Timothy W. Trebil – Debrief of Co. G, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, Survivor of Downed USAF CH-53 Helicopter During Assault on Koh Tang Island

6129 – Col. John M. Johnson, Jr. – Debrief of Former C/S, III MAF/GSF CO, re Planning and Execution of the Mayaguez Operation

6151 – Capt. M. E. Stahl – Observations of Former CO, Co. E, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, During the Assault on Koh Tang

6152 – Maj. John Hendricks – Amplifying Remarks Regarding the Assault By 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, on Koh Tang (See Transcript In Box 3)

6165 – Cpl. John S. Standfast – Experiences of Members of the 4th Marines and 9th Marines During Contingency Operations in Southeast Asia, March 30-May 15, 1975

6167 – Capt. James D. Keith and Captain Terry Tonkin – Details of Action On and Off Koh Tang Island in Amplification of Oral History Interview #6121

6168 – Capt. Terry Tonkin – Experiences of FAC from 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, Who Was Aboard Helicopter (Knife 31) Shot Down Off the Eastern Landing Zone at Koh Tang

11017 – Maj. David A. Quinlan – HQMC Presentation on the Rescue of the Mayaguez and Koh Tang Operation

11018 – Maj. W. L. Smith

11019 – Col. R.W. Austin (Tape 1)

11020 – Col R.W. Austin (Tape 2)

11615 – SSgt. Fofo T. Tuitele – Platoon Sergeant, Co. G, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, During Operation Mayaguez

Vietnam War Operational Records of Marine Units on Compact Disks

CDs # 036, 044, 053, 056, and 067

 

Box 2       Mayaguez and Related Operational Records

1st Battalion, 4th Marines

- Command Chronology (Mayaguez)

- Mayaguez Post-Exercise Report

- Officer in Charge's Account of the Mayaguez Recovery Operation

1st Battalion, 9th Marines

- Operation Order 3-75 (Operation Eagle Pull)

- Operation Order 5-75 (Operation Frequent Wind)

2nd Battalion, 9th Marines

- Command Chronology (Mayaguez)

- Koh Tang/Mayaguez Historical Report

- Mayaguez Lessons Learned

3rd Marine Division

- Roster of Marines Who Participated in the Koh Tang/Mayaguez Operation

9th Marine Amphibious Brigade

- A/A Report - Command Chronology (Operation Frequent Wind)

- Amphibious Evacuation Security Force

- Command Chronology, April 17-30, 1975 (Operation Frequent Wind)

- Command Chronology, April 17 - May 31, 1975 (Operation Frequent Wind), (1)-(3)

- Brigade Logistic Support Group - Command Chronology (Operation Frequent Wind)

- Command Chronology, March 26 - April 30, 1975 (Operation Frequent Wind)

 - Command Chronology, May 13-22, 1975 (Mayaguez)

 

Box 3       Mayaguez and Related Operational Records

9th Marine Amphibious Brigade

- CTG 79.1 Oplan 5060 (NEMVAC) - Annex B: Intelligence (Planning for Evacuations from Cambodia and Vietnam)

     - Log Book (Operation Frequent Wind and Mayaguez)

     - Operation Frequent Wind Report

Center for Naval Analyses

  - Vertical Assault on Koh Tang Island and Recovery of the Mayaguez Working Paper

CINCPAC

     - Mayaguez Lessons Learned

     - Mayaguez Recap

Headquarters Marine Corps

     - Mayaguez Lessons Learned, July 23, 1975

      - Mayaguez Lessons Learned, July 25, 1975

      - Mayaguez Recovery Operation

      - Vertical Assault on Koh Tang and Recovery of the Mayaguez Working Paper

Hendricks, John - Oral History #6152 - Transcript

List of Mayaguez Oral Histories

Marine Corps Operational Center

     - Mayaguez Operational Summary

Vietnam - Early Bird Articles (1)-(5)

Vietnam - Kintner Seminar, 1976

 

Box 4       Mayaguez and Related Operational Records

Vietnam - Mayaguez Rescue (1)-(2)

Vietnam - Message Traffic - Department of Defense News Briefings, April 1975 (1)-(2)

Vietnam - Refugee Clippings (1)-(7)

 

Box 5       Mayaguez and Related Operational Records

Vietnam - Refugee Clippings (8)-(18)

 

Box 6       Mayaguez and Related Operational Records

Vietnam - Refugee Operations - Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro, CA (1)-(7)

Vietnam - Refugees - Awards/Medals (1)-(2)

Vietnam - Refugees - Operation New Arrivals Reports (1)-(2)