From the Secretary of the Navy:

MY CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND
THE OFFICERS AND MEN UNDER
YOUR COMMAND FOR THE SUCCESSFUL
RESCUE OF SURVIVORS FROM THE
MERCHANT VESSEL HOI WONG X SUCH
HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS DESERVE THE
THANKS AND PRAISE OF ALL WHO TRAVEL
THE SEA LANES OF THE WORLD X IT IS
PARTICULARY GRATIFYING TO SEE SUCH
HEART WARMING RESCUE OPERATIONS IN
AN AREA TROUBLED WITH INTERNATIONAL
MIS-UNDERSTANDING X THOMAS S. GATES, JR.

From commander SEVENTH Fleet:

FOLLOWING RECEIVED BY COMSEVENTHFLT
FROM MASTER STRANDED MERCHANT SHIP
HOI WONG QUOTE THANKS TO YOU AND
YOUR MEN FOR THAT WONDERFUL JOB YOU
DID TODAY STOP IT CERTAINLY IS A GREAT
RELIEF FOR ME THANKS AGAIN UNQUOTE X
AND I AM PLEASED TO ADD I COULDN'T
AGREE MORE X MY CONGRADULATION ON A
JOB DONE IN AN OUTSTANDING MANNER X

ADM KIVETTE