Robert Jones, US deputy assistant secretary of defense for POW/MIA affairs, on Friday led dozens of military and diplomatic officials to Koh Tang, the site of the US’s last direct battle with Indochinese communists.
A former Khmer Rouge soldier involved in the 1975 Mayaguez incident was interviewed during the island trip as part of a month-long MIA recovery mission.
Of 21 marines aboard three US helicopters shot down during the Mayaguez battle, 18 went missing. During the mission that began Jan 11, remains of a human have been found on the beach on the north end of Koh Tang. The remains are being sent to a laboratory in Hawaii for examination.
US Ambassador Kent Wiedemann was among the US officials who went on Friday’s trip.
