Video: 'Vietnam War, The Mayaguez Incident (1975)' (4 videos)

(Monday, May 12, 1975, 2:18 p.m. local time; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — The White House announced today the new Cambodian government had seized an American merchant ship, the Mayaguez, in international waters.

U.S. Marines gained control of the ship three days after its seizure, not knowing the 39 civilian members of the crew had already been released by Cambodia.