THE WALL OF FACES

Hospital Corpsman First Class Bernard Gause, Jr., USN, was
assigned to Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th
Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force,
Pacific. On May 15, 1 975, Petty Officer Gause was among the
joint forces assigned the mission of rescuing the captured crew of
the American freighter MAYAGUEZ and returning the seized
ship. The helicopter in which Gause and twenty-two Marines were
being transported came under heavy fire from Cambodian soldiers
as it approached the island of Koh Tang to begin the search for the
crewman of the captured freighter. The severely damaged
helicopter crashed into the sea off the coast of the island and
exploded. Because of the intense ground fire from the Cambodians
and the forced exit from the burning aircraft, the troops were
compelled to swim out to sea. Extensive search and rescue efforts
undertaken by air and surface forces rescued twelve of those
aboard the helicopter. Regrettably, Petty Officer Gause was among
those who either perished in the helicopter or were lost in the swift
current. His remains could not be located.