Steve Ware
The Vietnam Veterans of Quail Creek met on July 24. Approximately 15 club members and Quail Creek residents attended. Our featured speaker was Quail Creek resident Shelley Kais. Shelley was a civilian employee of the Defense Advance Research Projects Agency in 1975. She was temporarily assigned to Udorn Royal Air Force Base, Thailand. While there, she was informed of a civilian job opening and was recommended to apply, and she was accepted. So began her nine month assignment. Udorn is a critical base as it is located near Laos and Vietnam. Shelley was stationed there when the Khmer Rouge seized control of the U.S. merchant ship SS Mayaguez. The rescue of the crew was the last battle of the Vietnam War. Shelley presented a detailed analysis of the incident.
The battle began on May 12, 1975 and ended on May 15. It actually involved three wars, political, intelligence, and tactical. The ship was located on May 13, but the location of the crew was unknown. The crew was located on May 14 on the island of Koh Tang. 600 Marines assaulted the island. With support from the Air Force and Navy, the Marines successfully recovered the crew, but 41 military personnel died and 50 more were wounded. The mission was successful, but with a high cost.
Shelley said that nine months in Thailand taught her that history isn’t made in moments of certainty. It is made by ordinary people making extraordinary decisions with incomplete information.
She concluded by saying that this battle continues to be taught in military schools in the U.S.