Letter of thanks to the crew of the USS Guam from James K. Bishop, US Ambassador to Somalia, and other heads of missions (ambassadors & charges d'affaires) who were evacuated from the US Embassy in Mogadishu, Somalia in Operation Eastern Exit. Helicopters from the USS "Guam" evacuated 281 diplomats and civilians from several nations on January 5-6, 1991 after fighting escalated in Mogadishu around New Year's 1991, promoting remaining foreign diplomatic missions (ie. embassies) in Mogadishu to close. The evacuees were taken to Oman, where they disembarked on 11 January. Of note was the US evacuation of diplomats from the Soviet Embassy, who first found refuge in the US Embassy and were then evacuated to the USS Guam.