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Operation "eagle Pull" In Cambodia

Operation "eagle Pull" In Cambodia image
Parent Issue
Day
19
Month
April
Year
1974
OCR Text

The United States reportedly is preparing to land a force of 5000 Marines in Cambodia if the Phnom Penh government falls to the insurgents.

Pacific News Service states that Marines on active duty in Okinawa are reporting that stepped up troop deployments are taking place at the Koza-Shi base in preparation for what is called "Operation Eagle Pull". According to Marines familiar with the operation, "Eagle Pull" is the code-name for the landing of Marines in Cambodia, allegedly to protect American civilians there.

A Pentagon spokesman confirms that Marine and Regimental landing teams based on amphibious ships have been operating "all over the Seventh Fleet area of the Western Pacific".

The spokesman, however, when asked about "Operation Eagle Pull", refused to comment on it.

Marines who are familiar with the operation have told Pacific News that it involves a force of 5000 men in ships, hovering off the Cambodian coast, awaiting a major military setback for the Phnom Penh government.

According to reports, there were 1200 men stationed off the Cambodian coast last month. They are now reported to have been fortified by the first battalion which slipped out of Okinawa-apparently headed for Cambodia on April 1st.

Contrary to routine practice, the Marines in this latest operation were allowed no personal items aboard, such as guitars or stereos, and were permitted only one set of civilian clothes and one uniform.

The fall of Phnom Penh could come at any time. Kampot, Cambodia's third largest city and just 85 miles from Phnom Penh, was beseiged late last week, communications were cut, and there was hand-to-hand fighting in the streets.