1975, Part 6: The Mayaguez Incident

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! It's 1975 again, and in Part 6 we are discussing one of the final flashpoints of the Vietnam War era — the Mayaguez Incident.

Often overshadowed by larger conflicts of the time, this tense and tragic event marked the last official battle involving U.S. forces in Southeast Asia. We unpack the timeline of events, from the capture of the American cargo ship SS Mayaguez by the Khmer Rouge in May 1975, to the swift and deadly U.S. military response ordered by President Gerald Ford.

What drove the urgency behind the mission? How did this short but violent episode shape U.S. foreign policy and public perception of the war's end?

Join us as we explore the politics, pressure, and human cost behind the Mayaguez Incident — a story of rescue, retaliation, and the murky line between peace and war.

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Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen

Craig Kidd on Twitter @CraigKidd1

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