Mayaguez: Remembering fallen SPs at annual retreat

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman R. J. BIERMANN
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  An annual retreat ceremony is scheduled to honor the 18 Air Force security police who lost their lives nearly 35 years ago during a rescue mission to save those on-board the U.S. container ship S.S. Mayaguez. 

"This is another way for us to show pride in our unit history and respect our fallen comrades," said Master Sgt. Robert DeCroce, 56th Fighter Wing Antiterrorism Office. 

On May 12, 1974, the Mayaguez was captured by Khmer Rouge pirates, when the vessel drifted into Cambodian waters just 12 days after U.S. forces pulled out of Vietnam. The next day, 125 Airmen security police were sent in support of the mission. 

The 18 Airmen, assigned to the 56th Security Police Squadron, died May 14, 1974, after their CH-53C transport helicopter crashed. The helicopter was one of over 15 sent. Along with the 18 police, four Airmen from the 21st Special Operations Squadron and one linguist perished in the crash. 

"We can't forgot those who came before us, and this is just a small way of honoring those who gave everything," Sergeant DeCroce said.