Editorial: Honoring our fallen troops

Friday, May 27, 2005 | 8:59 a.m.

Thirty years ago this month a U.S. merchant ship, the SS Mayaguez, was traveling in a regular shipping lane in the Gulf of Siam. Its cargo included supplies for U.S. troops in Thailand and for the American embassy there. On May 12 the ship and its crew of 41 passed within eight miles of Poulo Wai, an island claimed by the government of Cambodia, which had been seized the month before by the warring and butcherous Khmer Rouge. Gunboats operated by Khmer Rouge naval forces captured the Mayaguez and forced its captain to change course for Cambodia. President Gerald Ford, determined to show the world that America was still strong despite its hectic withdrawal from Vietnam the previous month, ordered a military rescue operation.

A plan involving the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy and the Marines was prepared and carried out beginning on May 14, 1975. The troops ran into heavy resistance as they approached Kho Tang island, about 40 miles from the Cambodian mainland where the captured Mayaguez was anchored (Air Force bombers stopped the ship from being escorted to the mainland). Some helicopters carrying Marines were shot out of the air as they approached the island, and the ground fighting was hellish. The Mayaguez and its crew were rescued, but not before 50 troops were wounded and 38 were killed, according to the U.S. Merchant Marine Web site.

As we head into the Memorial Day weekend, we remember these fallen airmen, sailors and Marines, and what they did for the crew of the Mayaguez and America's honor 30 years ago. We believe it's important to remember that many thousands of American troops have given their lives in our lesser-known battles, most of which are known now only by military historians. In the history books, the fierce fighting experienced by the troops on Kho Tang island is known as the Mayaguez Incident. It was far more than an incident to the troops fighting it. The same applies to the hundreds of skirmishes, short battles and terrorist attacks that have taken the lives of American troops around the world since our country was founded. This is a weekend for remembering those troops, many of whom were tortured or forced to perform slave labor before being killed by our enemies.

Naturally, it's only honorable and right to also remember the ultimate sacrifices American men and women have made in our major wars, including the current wars in Afghanistan and Iraq that have killed about 1,800 of our troops. That number includes 13 from Nevada: Marine Lance Cpl. Nicholas Anderson, Army Capt. Joshua Byers, Marine Lance Cpl. Donald "John" Cline, Army Cpl. Matthew Commons, Army Spc. Jason Disney, Army Staff Sgt. Donald Griffith Jr., Army Pfc. Daniel Guastaferro, Marine Pfc. John Lukac, Army Sgt. Eric Morris, Marine Lance Cpl. Richard Perez Jr., Marine 2d Lt. Frederick Pokorney, Marine Cpl. William Salazar and Army Staff Sgt. Cameron Sarno.

Memorial Day weekend is set aside for honoring such heroes, whose sacrifices should not only remain forever in our minds, but as well in our history books.