LARRY BARNETT: Marines Costly Rescue of SS Mayaguez Crew From the Khmer Rouge скачать в хорошем качестве

LARRY BARNETT: Marines Costly Rescue of SS Mayaguez Crew From the Khmer Rouge

Not long after he was part of the chaotic evacuation of the US embassy in Saigon, Larry Barnett (2nd Battalion, 9th Marines) had to saddle up again to head to Cambodia. The Khmer Rouge had seized an American merchant vessel, the SS Mayaguez. Despite questionable intelligence, the Marines were directed to land on Koh Tang Island where the crew was believed to be held. The assault was a disaster. The little used tactic of assaulting a beach with helicopters proved to be nearly the end of Larry Barnett and the other Marines. They were pinned down by the Khmer Rouge and evacuation by helicopter was impossible due to the withering fire. Half the Marines who were pinned down were going to get out on a small boat. Larry Barnett describes the tense moment when it was decided who was leaving and who was staying. But the boat never made it in and now their only chance was a chopper pilot who came in under heavy fire. (Interview conducted on May 15, 2018) WitnessToWar.org Follow us on: x.com/WitnessToWar facebook.com/WitnessToWar instagram.com/WitnessToWar #Marines #Vietnam #veteranstories #CombatVeteran