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U.S. Air Forces Central

Taps

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- An Army bugler plays Taps during the closing moments of a memorial ceremony held here May 13 by the 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron in remembrance of 18 Airmen who were killed trying to end the USS Mayaguez incident in 1975. (Photo by Master Sgt. Orville Desjarlais Jr.)

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455th ESFS memorial ceremony remembers 18 fallen comrades

Published May 27, 2006
By 455th AEW Public Affairs

BAGRM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Members of the 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron paid tribute May 13 to 18 Air Force security forces Airmen who were killed in a helicopter crash.

On May 13, 1975, 51 security forces members joined in the rescue operation for the USS Mayaguez.

At 9,000 feet, a helicopter carrying the Airmen over flew an area near the Thai-Loation border and disappeared from radar. All on board were killed, one of the darkest days in security forces history.

Taps