Mayaguez incident

The Mayaguez incident was the first major foreign policy crisis of United States President Gerald R. Ford.

The crisis began on May 12, 1975, when the Cambodian navy seized the American merchant ship SS Mayaguez in international waters.

The incident ended on May 15 when U.S. Navy and Marines raided the Cambodian island Koh Tang and recovered the Mayaguez. During the operation 38 servicemen were killed but all 40 of the Mayaguez's crew were retured safely.