# Mayaguez/ Fillmore Column **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [April 27, 2009, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayaguez-fillmore-column/494558 "2009-04-27T21:41:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SiXSwordS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayaguez-fillmore-column/494558/1 "2009-04-27T21:41:12Z")
From the [Millard Fillmore Society Column](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/98/where-can-i-join-the-millard-fillmore-society) > [@](#): > > Fillmore’s Mayaguez came when he settled an historic dispute between American businessmen and the Peruvian government over the exploitation of Peru’s guano resources. I assumed that _Mayaguez_ referred to the [Mayagüez Incident](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayag%C3%BCez_incident) involving the Khmer Rouge. In context though, that wouldn’t seem to be the case as Fillmore seems to have been successful while the U.S. Military was criticized for their handling of the incident and dozens of people died. I’m guessing this isn’t a reference to Puerto Rico… so what is it a reference to? ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayaguez-fillmore-column/494558/2 "2009-04-27T23:22:07Z")
It’s a reference to the Mayaguez Incident of the Ford Administration (the article is from 1976). I don’t recall clearly, since I was only 16 or so at the time, but I seem to remember that President Ford wasn’t seen that negatively at the time over the Mayaguez situation. He acted decisively, the crew were obtained, and the military mistakes weren’t played up that much in the press. So, in light of what was known when this column was written a year later, the comparison may have seemed more apt than we would think, looking back at it today. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayaguez-fillmore-column/494558/3 "2009-04-29T12:41:17Z")
> [@](#): > > by **Cecil** > The last address I have for the Millard Fillmore Society is out of date and we must face the distressing possibility that the group is no more. Too bad. The society sponsored many activities, all dedicated to the honor of the thirteenth President, are an annual birthday party (January 7), a national essay contest on the theme “What would America be today if there had been no Millard Fillmore?”, and the publication of a magazine, Milestones With Millard. Mr. Adams, may I suggest that you contact the _Albuquerque Journal_, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and get in touch with a columnist named Jim Belshaw. Every year or so, he writes a column extolling the virtues of President Fillmore, and touting the Society for the Preservation and Enhancement of the Reputation of Millard Fillmore, the Last Of the Whigs. (Although I have a sneaking suspicion that he is just trying to trick the editors into printing the acronym.) New Mexico owes a great dept of gratitude to Fillmore, for signing the [Compromise of 1850](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compromise_of_1850). If not for that legislation, half of us would be a bunch of damn Texans. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayaguez-fillmore-column/494558/4 "2009-04-29T14:40:04Z")
I remember the Mayaguez incident, and Gary Trudeau’s take on it: “Begin Operation Frequent Manhood!” ---
**Author:** ![SiXSwordS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayaguez-fillmore-column/494558/5 "2009-04-29T14:46:21Z")
The Wiki article on the incident refers to Operation Frequent Wind. I somehow pictured the Army staging area as a scene from Blazing Saddles.