Freestone County, Texas 
Military




[David Strickland has the original]

The Fairfield Recorder
Thrusday, January 13, 1977  - Front Page

Major Awarded Bronze Star for SS Mayaguez Incident

[Photo]

  Major John B. Hendericks, United States Marine Corps, has been awarded the 
Bronze Star Medal for meritorious action during the SS Mayaguez incident near
Cambodia May 15, 1975, Major Hendericks is son of Mr. and Mrs. R. N. Hendericks 
of Route 2, Fairfield.
  The medal was presented by the Secretary of the Navy and authorized by the 
President of the United States.
  The Citation designating the Bronze Star for Maj. Hendericks read as follows:
  "The President of the United States take[s] pleasure in presenting the Bronze
Star Medal to Major John B. Hendericks, United States Marine Corps, for service
as set forth in the following Citation:
  "For heroic achievement in connection with combat action on 15 May 1975 as 
Operations Officer, Second Battalion, Ninth Marines while engaged in the recovery
of SS Mayaguez which had been seized in the Gulf of Thailand by units of the 
Cambodian navy.  Landing on Koh Tang Island after being diverted by heavy small-
arms fire to a point south of the designated area, Major Hendericks, determining
there were no other friendly troops in the area, quickly organized a linkup force
with the few riflemen abailable from the helicopter team which consisted of a 
small Battalion Command Group, several explosive ordinance disposal and language
specialists, and an 81mm mortar section.  While personally heading this small 
force toward the main friendly force, he was taken under fire from a number of 
enemy positions along the coast.  Major Hendericks directed employment of the 
81mm mortar section to support the linkup.  After defeating the first enemy
position, he used a discarded enemy weapon and led a series of continuous 
assaults for the next six hours.  Although injured while maneuvering against
an enemy rifleman he continued to spur his men on, and by his aggressive
leadership, broke through the enemy and accomplished a linkup between the command
element and the main assault force.  After extraction was ordered, he personally
supervised the withdrawal of the Command Group and its attachments.  By his 
daring actions, 

[page 9]

and undaunted courage, Major Hendericks upheld the highest traditions of the 
Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. 
  "The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized."  And it is signed by the
Secretary of the Navy.