Collection

Commissioned by the 21st Special Operations Squadron’s director of operations (the donor) in 1996, this depicts the initial assault by U.S. forces on Koh Tang Island (off Cambodian coast in Gulf of Thailand) following the Khmer Rouge taking hostage of the SS Mayaguez and its crew immediately after the Vietnam War. Intelligence reports suspected the Mayaguez crew were held hostage on the island. A joint helicopter force flew Air Force and Marine Corps personnel to find and return the crew to American control. The painting is of a CH-53 (call sign Knife 31) coming under attack on the island’s northeastern beach on the morning of May 15, 1975, and is turning to exit the area. In the background, another CH-53 (call sign Knife 23) has already crash-landed due to withering enemy fire, including rocket-propelled grenades. Both aircraft crashed on the beach, and all but one Air Force crewmember (2d Lt Richard Vandegeer) safely made their way back to station.