Mayaguez Organizational Theory

Applying selected concepts of organizational theory to the Mayaguez incident of

1975 leads to a more comprehensive understanding of events and more accurate lessons

learned. Application of organizational theory demonstrates the decision processes at the

executive level left the military operation vulnerable to failure. Henry Mintzberg

structural contingency model and Lee Bowman and Terrence Deal

organizational theory are used and are applied to executive

behind focusing on the executive level is twofold: First, it is where final critical decisions

were made, and second, military operations cannot take place without an executive

authorization. The Mayaguez crisis was rife with potential pitfalls and, though President

Ford was equipped

John F. Guilmartin Jr., professor of history at

Ohio State University and author of A Very Short War: The Mayaguez and the Battle of

Koh Tang (College Station, Texas: Texas A&M Press, 1995). His firsthand knowledge

as a participant in the Mayaguez incident greatly facilitated our research. He graciously

donated his time to our seemingly endless questions. Dr. Guilmartin still lives by the

motto of the Air Force combat rescue community:

Our group also thanks the survivors of Koh Tang Island who interviewed with us

via email and telephone communication. Specifically, Col. (Ret.) James Davis, Mr. Bob

Blough, Mr. Dan Hoffman, and Mr. Larry Barnett all contributed to our research efforts

on the Mayaguez incident. Without their firsthand accounts and invaluable insight, we

would not have been able to draw the correct conclusions for our analysis. We are

grateful for the opportunity to learn from the nation

instruct and continue the education process of the military community. We are indebted

to them not only for their contribution to our thesis, but for their military service to this

great nation.

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