A JOINT RESOLUTION in support of recovering the remains of lance corporal joseph nelson hargrove from the island of koh tang, cambodia.
Whereas, on May 12, 1975, the ship SS Mayaguez was seized by Cambodian forces and hostages were taken; and
Whereas, on May 15, 1975, military operations were initiated on Koh Tang Island for the purpose of freeing the hostages; and
Whereas, Lance Corporal Joseph N. Hargrove along with his gunnery crew, Private 1st Class Gary L. Hall and Private Danny Marshall, were in the second wave of the assault on the island; and
Whereas, after one full day of hostilities, the United States forces set up a perimeter on the west shore for the purpose of withdrawing from the island; and
Whereas, Joseph Hargrove and his gunnery crew were ordered to set up on the extreme right of that perimeter and to hold that position at all cost; and
Whereas, these three marines executed their orders faithfully and held their position as ordered; and
Whereas, based on eyewitness accounts by fellow marines, because of their bravery and as a result of their actions, the lives of fellow marines were saved; and
Whereas, according to Khmer Rouge accounts, Joseph Hargrove and his gunnery crew stopped Khmer Rouge forces from advancing towards the perimeter, which helped in reducing the number of American casualties; and
Whereas, these three marines were left behind at the mercy of the Khmer Rouge; and
Whereas, Joseph Hargrove was captured and executed on May 16, 1975, by the order of Em Son, Commander of the Khmer Rouge forces; and
Whereas, Joseph Hargrove's gravesite was positively identified on Koh Tang Island in 2001, but after six years, his remains have not been recovered and returned to his family in Duplin County; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
SECTION 1.  The General Assembly urges the Department of Defense to take measures to recover the remains of Lance Corporal Joseph Nelson Hargrove from the Island of Koh Tang, Cambodia.
SECTION 2.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to Department of Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates.
SECTION 3.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.