Koh Tang: Survivors of last Vietnam battle go back to honor missing comrades. Would you revisit one of your old battlefields?

2015-06-29T08:53:04-04:00

In May, veterans of the battle of Koh Tang, also known as the “Mayaguez Incident” or the last battle of the Vietnam War, returned to the small, jungle-blanketed Cambodian island in the Gulf of Thailand for the anniversary of the ill-fated mission. They disregarded persistent health problems, braved the unrelenting demons that have plagued their thoughts since 1975, and carried a message to the U.S. government and the American public at large: We will never forget.

http://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/koh-tang-survivors-of-last-vietnam-battle-go-back-to-honor-missing-comrades-1.354204

Koh Tang: Survivors of last Vietnam battle go back to honor missing comrades

Forty-one American servicemembers, including three Marines who were left behind, were killed in the battle of Koh Tang, also known as the “Mayaguez Incident.” In May, veterans of the battle returned to the jungle island to carry a message to the U.S. government and the American public: We will never forget.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jun 29 at 2015 8:59 AM

2015-06-29T08:59:29-04:00

Thanks! I was not very familiar with this. I appreciate you sharing SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 29 at 2015 9:07 AM

2015-06-29T09:07:07-04:00

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S., I am not a Vietnam Veteran - I am much younger - but I can relate. Despite current conditions there, I do desire to visit Mosul again and walk the ground that I fought on and lost Soldiers. I think that it would bring about some closure, and I would like to see what became of some of the initiatives that my unit worked so hard on in 2004-05.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jun 29 at 2015 9:11 AM

2015-06-29T09:11:10-04:00

I would love t go back. There are videos posted online and pictures on Google Earth showing the area then and now. When I get into that I lose track of time.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Jun 29 at 2015 9:16 AM

2015-06-29T09:16:54-04:00

Most of my "battle fields" were small valleys and hilltops. Our main operational base was Quan Loi. Here are two pictures .. one from back in the day and the other from Google Earth.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Jun 29 at 2015 9:19 AM

2015-06-29T09:19:28-04:00

What a great way to honor those who gave their lives. Thanks for sharing.

Response by SGT Corey Franks made Jun 29 at 2015 9:28 AM

2015-06-29T09:28:24-04:00

Awesome story

Response by LTC John Shaw made Jun 29 at 2015 9:48 AM

2015-06-29T09:48:35-04:00

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. Events are too fresh for me to think about visiting, we can only hope either of these countries will be functional in the future.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 29 at 2015 5:31 PM

2015-06-29T17:31:06-04:00

Many veterans go back for various reasons for which I am not smart enough to enumerate. My guess is to find peace and pay homage to the MIA buddies.

Response by Cpl Dennis F. made Jul 1 at 2015 8:40 PM

2015-07-01T20:40:16-04:00

I read quite a bit about this decades ago. It was probably, at least one of, the biggest cluster-fucks the Marine Corps was ever involved in. I really feel for those guys going back to that nightmare. Semper Fi, guys!

Response by Cpl Dennis F. made Jul 1 at 2015 8:50 PM

2015-07-01T20:50:07-04:00

I just had to go back and read this. Lo and behold my crazy assed buddy Al Rockoff make another rare appearance. He moved to Cambodia about 30 years ago and I occasionally see him make an appearance. Glad to see he is still alive after all of these years! If ever you have the opportunity to see his thousands of negatives/prints from Vietnam/ Cambodia/Laos, do so. Not likely, as All said that they would not all be seen until he was dead and gone, but it could happen.