PHILIPPINES: U.S. MARINES ARRIVE AT SUBIC BAY AFTER TAKING PART IN "MAYAGUEZ" RESCUE -- 15 WOUNDED MARINES RECEIVE PURPLE HEART MEDALS.

Record ID: 584193

  • Title: PHILIPPINES: U.S. MARINES ARRIVE AT SUBIC BAY AFTER TAKING PART IN "MAYAGUEZ" RESCUE -- 15 WOUNDED MARINES RECEIVE PURPLE HEART MEDALS.
  • Date: 23rd May 1975
  • Summary: 1. GV USMC Band playing as U.S.S. Wilson arrives. 0.08 2. USMC Band playing. 0.13 3. MV General Houghton on dockside. 0.16 4. GV Marines on U.S.S. Wilson. 0.24 5. GV U.S. Flag. 0.27 6. GV Houghton on board U.S.S. Wilson. 0.30 7. GV Houghton congratulates Marines. (2 shots) 0.58 8. GV Navy crew watching. 1.01 9.
  • Embargoed: 7th June 1975 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SUBIC BAY, PHILIPPINES
  • Country: Philippines
  • Reuters ID: LVA4UNP3Q12E84IIL4LVZDYPEYG5
  • Story Text: The last of the U.S. Marine force that took part in the rescue of the "Mayaguez" arrived at Subic Bay, the Philippines, on board the destroyer, U.S.S. wilson, on Tuesday (20 May).

    The Marines, who led the assault on Koh Tang Island off the Cambodian coast the previous Wednesday (14 May), were greeted by their commanding officer, Major-General Kenneth J. Houghton.

    Two-hundred-and-ten Marines from the Third USMC Division based in Okinawa, Japan, took part in the operation. The Marines backed by air strikes, fought an estimated 150 Cambodian troops for 15 hours on the island of Koh Tang.

    The number of casualties suffered by the Marines was initially put an one dead, with 22 wounded and 13 missing.

    But on Tuesday night, the U.S. Defence Department in Washington revised the figures -- the fourth set in five days -- to 15 killed, 70 wounded and thirteen missing in last week's action.

    Although President Gerald Ford's personal rating for his role in the operation remains high in the United States, the high casualty rate and the nature of the rescue operation have prompted criticism in Congress and elsewhere in the world.

    The wounded were brought to Subic Bay also on Tuesday on board the carrier, U.S.S. Coral Sea.

    In a dockside ceremony, Major-General Houghton presented 12 of the wounded with Purple Heart medals. Three others were awarded with the Purple Heart in the sick bay of the U.S.S. Coral Sea.
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