WHATS NEW

We have a new President and Board of Directors

President Ronald Scott
Vice President: Al Bailey
Secretary: Dan Hoffman
Treasurer: Fred Morris
Director: Ron Falls
Director: Clark Wiger
Director: Steve Berger

2022 reunion pictures PUSH HERE

New information on Presidents page!  Push here



New Koh Tang Vets Hat!

These hats are fully embrodered in Yuma, AZ and are very comfortable
Available now in the Kohtang Store






Jim Butler, Lithographer aboard the USS Coral Sea recently contacted Don Raatz with some incendiary information. Seems he was tasked with printing 10,000 leaflets ostensibly to be dropped on Koh Tang Island requesting the return of our dead and missing. Unfortunately, an order was given at some point prior to their delivery to destroy the already printed leaflets as well as the plates used to print them. Fortunately, he withheld 4 of them “for posterity”.  He also provided a translation. Don is in the process of verifying its content independently. This is not the first time of hearing about this but in the past it was just a rumor.  This development demands us to at least attempt to discover who ordered their printing in the first place, and more importantly who ordered their destruction.


 


KaBOOOOOOOOMmmmm w/Blue-82  

At our last reunion Navy E-5 Tom Rieter mentioned that he was on deck of the USS Wilson with a movie camera when a plane dropped something with a parachute and it ended up being a bomb we know as the Blue 82, Daisy Cutter. The largest non-nuclear bomb in the US arsenal. This along with some actual combat video which includes the Wilson's Captain gig footage, HH-53, OV-10 and more. Thanks Tom for these great shots!

<<<click on picture to watch video!


Way to go Dan DeLeuw
After several years of trying, New member Dan Deleuw is pictured here delivering the plaque to the SS Jeremiah O'Brien to be displayed where the Captains desk of the SS Mayaguez is on display. Shown here with General Manager Matt Lasher who is a retired Marine himself. Thank You Dan!

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We are now a IRS approved 501(c)(19) Veterans Organization!

Koh Tang Mayaguez Veterans Org is now an 501 (c) (19) Veterans Organization.
This is the same designation as the Amvets, American Legion, and VFW.
Donations to this organization are tax deductable and the organization is tax exempt.
This is a process that the membership charged the board to accomplish that has taken several years.  Thanks to VP Don Raatz for all his leg work in making this happen!

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Korean Defense Service Medal

 We are eligible for this, follow the info below to apply.

 As I interpret the criteria, members of 2/9 that deployed to Korea in the summer of 1975 are eligible. There is a self certification process with form PUSH FOR DOWNLOAD of self certification form. You may also need the Battalion Unit Diary

 I (Fred) have pre filled out Col. Austin's information on the self certification form for you. You will need to finish filling out with your personal information.

I recommend the following for the form Unit Assigned/TAD (While in Korea): 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division Base Location/Name of Exercise/Operation in Korea: Embarked aboard U.S. Navy ships off shore in ROK; ashore in tent camp at Pohang for extended training with ROK Marines; reembarked and amphibious landing near Pohang as part of joint/combined exercise that was predecessor to the Team Spirit series; reembarked for liberty port visit in Inchon before return to Okinawa.
........Dates in Area of Eligibility : late June 1975 to Early September 1975

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Your help is needed in locating those involved with the mission. Call Al Bailey at (240) 876-9717 or if you are looking for someone yourself, feel free to call Al anytime; hopefully we will have the contact information.

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ribbion and medal thumbnail
Ribbon and Medals
Check out the PDF to check out the ribbons we earned on the Island and on the float

Koh Tang Mayaguez Recovery Mission Ribbons
Kohtang Ribbons

 

You can use the PayPal Donate button to donate to this site,

OR to pay for your purchases at the Koh Tang Store!  PB