Hospital Corpsman First Class Bernard Gause, Jr., USN, was assigned to Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific. On May 15, 1975, Petty Officer Gause was among the joint forces assigned the mission of rescuing the captured crew of the American freighter MAYAGUEZ and returning the seized ship. The helicopter in which Gause and twenty-two Marines were being transported came under heavy fire from Cambodian soldiers as it approached the island of Koh Tang to begin the search for the crewman of the captured freighter.

The severely damaged helicopter crashed into the sea off the coast of the island and exploded. Because of the intense ground fire from the Cambodians and the forced exit from the burning aircraft, the troops were compelled to swim out to sea. Extensive search and rescue efforts undertaken by air and surface forces rescued twelve of those aboard the helicopter. Regrettably, Petty Officer Gause was among those who either perished in the helicopter or were lost in the swift current. His remains could not be located.

Petty Officer Gause was listed as Missing in Action which later changed to Killed in Action/Body Not Recovered.

Petty Officer Gause was born November 11, 1940, in Birmingham, Alabama, which he listed as his Home of Record.