Press Release - Department of Defense Announcement on the Cambodian Seizure of U.S. Merchant Ship Mayaguez
Beginning at 8:30 p.m. e.d.t. yesterday, there were indications that the Cambodians appeared to be attempting to move U.S. captive crewmen from the ship to the mainland. After giving warning, U.S. aircraft began efforts to block this movement.
Three Cambodian patrol craft were destroyed and about four others were damaged and immobilized. One boat succeeded in reaching Kompong Som.
U.S. aircraft had been receiving small arms fire from such boats for several hours prior to this action.
The Mayaguez is still anchored off Koh Tang Island. The first U.S. Navy vessel, the destroyer U.S.S. Holt, is now in the area.
NOTE: Press Secretary Ron Nessen read the announcement at his news briefing at the White House at 11:50 a.m. on Wednesday, May 14, 1975. It was not issued in the form of a White House press release.
On the same day, the White House announced that prior to ordering the military action, the President, through phone calls by his Congressional liaison staff, had consulted with the following Members of Congress:
—the Speaker of the House and President pro tempore of the Senate;
—the bipartisan leaders of the House and Senate;
—the Chairmen and ranking Republican Members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees;
—the Chairmen and ranking Republican Members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees; and
—the Chairmen and ranking Republican Members of the Senate Foreign Relations and House International Relations Committees.
Gerald R. Ford, Press Release - Department of Defense Announcement on the Cambodian Seizure of U.S. Merchant Ship Mayaguez Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/306873