THE MAYAGUEZ INCIDENT

The Mayaguez Incident

[Name of the Institute]

The Mayaguez Incident

Overview

On May 12, 1975, soon after the fall of Saigon, Cambodian forces seized the merchant ship Mayaguez off the disputed island of Poulo Wai in the Gulf of Siam, taking hostage its crew of 39. The ship was painted black and showed no flag at the time of its seizure, and it was outside international shipping lanes when seized by Cambodia. The ship carried Department of Defense cargo, though apparently no arms. Almost immediately American political and military leaders feared a repeat of the 1968 seizure of the Pueblo by North Korea.

Background ...