When did planning for the evacuation of Vietnam begin?
Minutes of President Gerald Ford's National Security Council meeting on 9 April 1975 when evacuation plans were extensively discussed Planning for the evacuation of the Americans and their South Vietnamese allies from South Vietnam had begun before April 1975.
How many people were evacuated from Saigon in 1975?
It was carried out on 29–30 April 1975, during the last days of the Vietnam War. More than 7,000 people were evacuated by helicopter from various points in Saigon. The airlift resulted in a number of enduring images. Evacuation plans already existed as a standard procedure for American embassies.
How many US troops were evacuated from Vietnam?
In total, the evacuation operation successfully carried over 7,000 U.S. personnel, South Vietnamese individuals, and third-country nationals out of South Vietnam as the country fell.
How to evacuate from South Vietnam?
1 Option 1: Evacuation by commercial airlift from Tan Son Nhut and other South Vietnamese airports as required 2 Option 2: Evacuation by military airlift from Tan Son Nhut and other South Vietnamese airports as required 3 Option 3: Evacuation by sea lift from Saigon port 4 Option 4: Evacuation by helicopter to US Navy ships in the South China Sea
When did us evacuate Saigon?
It was carried out on 29–30 April 1975, during the last days of the Vietnam War. More than 7,000 people were evacuated by helicopter from various points in Saigon. The airlift resulted in a number of enduring images. Evacuation plans already existed as a standard procedure for American embassies.
Why did the US evacuate Vietnam?
Reluctantly, Martin announced that only Americans were to be flown out, due to worries that the North Vietnamese would soon take the city and the Ford administration's desire to announce the completion of the American evacuation. Ambassador Martin was ordered by President Ford to board the evacuation helicopter.
Did the US evacuate Vietnam?
President Ford authorized the evacuation of tens of thousands of "at risk" Vietnamese, even if they were not American dependents. In addition to the C-141 s, USAF C-130s from the 374th Tacti- cal Airlift Wing at Clark AB in the Philippines began flying to and from Saigon on April 21.
When was the Vietnam evacuation?
30 April 1975In the final days of the Vietnam War, American helicopters were used to evacuate nearly 7,000 people from the US embassy in Saigon on 29 and 30 April 1975.
What President pulled the us out of Vietnam?
NixonIn order to buy time with the American people, Nixon began to withdraw forces from Vietnam, meeting with South Vietnam's President Nguyen Van Thieu on Midway Island on June 8 to announce the first increment of redeployment. From that point on, the U.S. troop withdrawal never ceased.
How many died when we left Vietnam?
Total number of deathsLow estimate of deathsMiddle estimate of deathsNorth Vietnam/Viet Cong military and civilian war dead533,0001,062,000South Vietnam/U.S./South Korea war military and civilian war dead429,000741,000Democide by North Vietnam/Viet Cong131,000214,000Democide by South Vietnam57,00089,0006 more rows
Who was the last American to leave Vietnam?
Max BeilkeMax Beilke was the last American soldier to leave Vietnam. He and 124 others were killed Sept. 11, 2001 when a Boeing 757 flew into The Pentagon. On March 29, 1973, Mr.
Did any American soldiers stay in Vietnam after the war?
It's estimated that tens of thousands of veterans have returned to Vietnam since the 1990s, mostly for short visits to the places where they once served. Decades after the fall of Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) many former soldiers still wonder why they were fighting.
Is Vietnam still communist?
Vietnam is a socialist republic with a one-party system led by the Communist Party. The CPV espouses Marxism–Leninism and Hồ Chí Minh Thought, the ideologies of the late Hồ Chí Minh.
How did US leave Vietnam?
The Americans proposed a mutual withdrawal of both U.S. and North Vietnamese forces. Hanoi insisted on an unconditional U.S. withdrawal and on the replacement of the U.S.-backed regime of Nguyen Van Thieu by a neutral coalition government.
What happened when the US left Vietnam?
The remaining Americans escaped in a series of frantic air- and sealifts with Vietnamese friends and coworkers. A military government was instituted, and on July 2, 1976, the country was officially united as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam with its capital in Hanoi. Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City.
How many US died in Vietnam?
The Vietnam Conflict Extract Data File of the Defense Casualty Analysis System (DCAS) Extract Files contains records of 58,220 U.S. military fatal casualties of the Vietnam War. These records were transferred into the custody of the National Archives and Records Administration in 2008.
How did US lose Vietnam War?
There were a couple of reasons for this. First, the Americans were an invading force, and the Vietnamese were fighting on their own soil. Second, the Americans were not willing to make an all-out commitment to win.
What happened when the US left Vietnam?
The remaining Americans escaped in a series of frantic air- and sealifts with Vietnamese friends and coworkers. A military government was instituted, and on July 2, 1976, the country was officially united as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam with its capital in Hanoi. Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City.
What happened in Vietnam after the withdrawal of US forces?
Shooting and fighting continued for years; eventually, the American combat troops withdrew from the South and signed the Paris Peace Accords, which resulted in two separate governments in Vietnam.
Did any American soldiers stay in Vietnam after the war?
It's estimated that tens of thousands of veterans have returned to Vietnam since the 1990s, mostly for short visits to the places where they once served. Decades after the fall of Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) many former soldiers still wonder why they were fighting.
When did the US evacuate the South Vietnamese?
On April 30, 1975, the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese Army, effectively ending the Vietnam War. In the days before, U.S. forces evacuated thousands of Americans and South Vietnamese. American diplomats were on the frontlines, organizing what would be the most ambitious helicopter evacuation in history.
What was the logistics of issuing visas and evacuating these Vietnamese and American citizens?
The logistics of issuing visas and evacuating these Vietnamese and American citizens were not glamorous but were essential. American diplomats were behind every detail. Some diplomats showed exceptional bravery saving Vietnamese citizens who would have faced persecution under the new regime.
What is the bravery of Vietnamese refugees?
The Bravery and Resilience of Vietnamese Refugees. No one showed more bravery in this evacuation than the Vietnamese that went to extreme risks to evacuate their families from the war zone, risking their lives to board helicopters as quickly as possible.
How tall is the wall in Vietnam?
In this April 29, 1975 file photo, South Vietnamese civilians scale the 14-foot wall of the U.S. embassy in Saigon, trying to reach evacuation helicopters as the last Americans depart from Vietnam. (AP Photo/File)
What happened in 1975?
Throughout March and April 1975, the North Vietnamese Army captured more and more Southern cities. South Vietnamese citizens began to flee in mass numbers. The fall of the second-largest city, Da Nang, sparked even more refugees to depart.
How many Americans were in Vietnam in 1973?
Although the United States had withdrawn its military forces from Vietnam after the signing of the Paris Peace Accords in 1973, approximately 5,000 Americans remained–including diplomats still working in the U.S. embassy in Saigon.
What were the factors that caused the NVA to launch an offensive?
While President Nixon threatened a forceful response to a violation of the treaty, many factors, including lack of domestic support and the distraction of the Watergate scandal, provided an opportunity for the NVA to launch an offensive.
How many people were evacuated from Saigon?
While more than 7,000 people were evacuated from Saigon before the city fell, thousands of at-risk Vietnamese individuals are believed to have been left behind. Various reports have estimated tens or even hundreds of thousands of at-risk Vietnamese individuals were abandoned in the hasty evacaution from Saigon.
Who died in Vietnam in 1975?
On Thursday, the Vietnam Memorial Wall tweeted, “The day before the Fall of Saigon on April 29, 1975 Charles McMahon Jr. & Darwin Judge fell during a rocket attack on Tan Sun Nhut Air Base. The last Americans to die on the ground in Vietnam.
How old was Trinh Peterson when she was evacuated?
Col Trinh Peterson reflecting on her own personal experience as one of the South Vietnamese individuals evacuated during the fall of Saigon. Peterson was just eight years old at the time.
When did the fall of Saigon happen?
A famous picture from the fall of Saigon shows dozens of people lined up to board a small Huey helicopter at 22 Gia Long Street in Saigon on April 29. A member of the CIA helps evacuees up a ladder onto an Air America helicopter on the roof of 22 Gia Long Street April 29, 1975, shortly before Saigon fell to advancing North Vietnamese troops.
How many Marines died in Operation Frequent Wind?
Two U.S. Marines were killed during Operation Frequent Wind: 21-year-old Cpl. Charles McMahon and 19-year-old Cpl. Darwin Judge. The Marines were assigned to protect the Defense Attaché Office near the Saigon airport and were killed in a rocket attack on April 29, 1975 — just one day before the city fell.
What was the purpose of Operation Frequent Wind?
The day before the South Vietnamese capital fell, the U.S. military launched Operation Frequent Wind to airlift remaining Americans and at-risk South Vietnamese individuals.
When did the evacuation of Saigon happen?
In March of 1975, Americans and Vietnamese employees of the U.S. government began to be evacuated from other cities around the country, but the evacuations sparked chaos when many members of the public found out about the evacuations and begged to be included. Throngs of people attempted to board U.S. vessels and planes, creating widespread panic. For this reason, the Saigon evacuation was kept secret from the public up until the last minute.
What was the most famous event of the Vietnam War?
Following the fall of other large cities to the North Vietnamese Army, the U.S government launched covert operations to evacuate Americans and Vietnamese civilians from the country. These evacuations would become some of the most famous in history.
What happened in 1974?
In 1974, Congress reduced funding to the South Vietnamese government. This reduction in funds increased the vulnerability of South Vietnamese forces, and in December 1974, the North Vietnamese invasion began. As city after city fell to the North Vietnamese Army, refugees fled in droves while being shelled by North Vietnamese artillery. In Washington, President Ford appealed to Congress for emergency aid to Vietnam, but was turned down. When it became clear that evacuation would be necessary, controversy brewed over how to handle the evacuations. Some members of Congress insisted that only Americans should be evacuated, while others stressed the importance of evacuating “vulnerable” Vietnamese nationals. These were Vietnamese citizens who had worked with the U.S government, and would be at increased risk when the North invaded. Ultimately, the government decided to evacuate Americans, vulnerable Vietnamese, and Vietnamese relatives of American nationals.
When did Tomsen arrive in Saigon?
When Tomsen arrived in Saigon in April 1975, a small handful of Embassy staff were overwhelmed trying to evacuate a huge amount of people. In addition to evacuating his own relatives, Tomsen helped the employees of the U.S. Embassy in Saigon with the evacuation. They quickly encountered challenges.
When did Tomsen return to Vietnam?
But in the spring of 1975, Tomsen realized he would need to return to Vietnam. Tomsen’s wife Kim Dung Nguyen had been born in Vietnam, and her family was living in Saigon. With the fall of Saigon imminent, Nguyen knew that her parents and other family members would need to leave the city as soon as possible.
What happened to refugees in Vietnam?
As city after city fell to the North Vietnamese Army, refugees fled in droves while being shelled by North Vietnamese artillery. In Washington, President Ford appealed to Congress for emergency aid to Vietnam, but was turned down.
Where were the evacuees taken?
The evacuees would be quietly picked up and taken to a safe house, sometimes called a “staging” house or area …The evacuees would be grouped, placed in vehicles, and in some cases buses, and driven past the Vietnamese and American military guards at Tan Son Nhut [evacuation hall] to the gigantic Dodge City hall at DAO’s “Pentagon East.” From there they were boarded onto C-130s and C-141s [aircrafts] spiraling down from the sky to avoid anti-aircraft fire, and flown out of the country. Most evacuee flights went to Guam. Many also went to Clark Air Base in the Philippines.
How many Americans were evacuated from Vietnam?
When U.S. President Gerald Ford met with the National Security Council on 9 April 1975 he was told by Henry Kissinger that a maximum of 1.7 million people had been identified as possible evacuees and that these included: American citizens and their relatives, the diplomatic corps, the International Commission of Control and Supervision (ICCS), third-country nationals under contract by the U.S. government and the employees of the U.S. and their dependents (estimated at about 200,000 people). In addition, the Vietnamese relatives of American citizens and senior Government of Vietnam officials and their dependents (about 600,000 people) were also identified as potential evacuees, along with Vietnamese formerly employed by the U.S. and their dependents.
Where were the evacuation routes in Saigon?
The buses would follow one of four planned evacuation routes from downtown Saigon to the DAO Compound, each route named after a Western Trail: Santa Fe, Oregon, Texas, etc.
How many people were evacuated from Tan Son Nhut Air Base?
The fixed-wing evacuation was terminated and Operation Frequent Wind began. During the fixed-wing evacuation 50,493 people (including 2,678 Vietnamese orphans) were evacuated from Tan Son Nhut. The evacuation took place primarily from the Defense Attaché Office compound, beginning around 14:00 on the afternoon of 29 April, and ending that night with only limited small arms damage to the helicopters. The U.S. Embassy in Saigon was intended to only be a secondary evacuation point for embassy staff, but it was soon overwhelmed with evacuees and desperate South Vietnamese. The evacuation of the embassy was completed at 07:53 on 30 April, but some Americans chose to stay or were left behind and some 400 third-country nationals were left at the embassy.
What aircraft were used in the Tan Son Nhut crash?
With the cause of the crash still unknown, the C-5 fleet was grounded and the MAC airlift was reduced to using C-141s and C-130s. Rather than loading as many evacuees as possible, each evacuee was required to have a seat and a seatbelt, reducing the number of passengers that could be carried on each flight to 94 in a C-141 and 75 in a C-130. But these restrictions were relaxed and eventually ignored altogether as the pace of the evacuation quickened.:69 Armed guards were also present on each flight to prevent hijacking.:34 American commercial and contract carriers continued to fly out of Tan Son Nhut, but with decreasing frequency. In addition, military aircraft from Australia, Indonesia, Iran, Poland, the United Kingdom, France, and other countries flew in to evacuate their embassy personnel.:34
What is the evacuation option 3?
Option 3: Evacuation by sea lift from Saigon port. Option 4: Evacuation by helicopter to US Navy ships in the South China Sea. With Option 4, the helicopter evacuation would be expected to be similar to Operation Eagle Pull, the American evacuation by air of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on 12 April 1975.
What is the second act of Miss Saigon?
The second act of the stage musical Miss Saigon depicts events leading up to, and during Operation Frequent Wind, with the main protagonists (Chris and Kim) becoming separated as a result of the evacuation. Writer Claude-Michel Schönberg has acknowledged that the musical was inspired by pictures of the evacuation. Hugh van Es believed that Miss Saigon misappropriated his photo and considered legal action against the show, but decided against it.
What is Miss Saigon about?
The second act of the stage musical, Miss Saigon, depicts events leading up to, and during Operation Frequent Wind, with the main protagonists (Chris and Kim) becoming separated as a result of the evacuation. Writer Claude-Michel Schönberg has acknowledged that the musical was inspired by pictures of the evacuation.
How many troops were sent to Vietnam in 1964?
military advisers were ordered to the Republic of Vietnam (RVN or South Vietnam), bringing the total American troop level to 21,000. Shortly thereafter an incident occurred off the coast of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) that was destined to escalate the conflict to new levels and lead to the full scale Americanization of the war.
Why did Truman send the MAAG to Vietnam?
September 1950 — Truman sends the Military Assistance Advisory Group ( MAAG) Indochina to Vietnam to assist the French. The President claimed they were not sent as combat troops, but to supervise the use of $10 million worth of U.S. military equipment to support the French in their effort to fight the Viet Minh forces.
Why did Nixon order the bombing of North Vietnam?
To reassure Thieu of American resolve, Nixon ordered a massive bombing campaign against North Vietnam utilizing B-52s and tactical aircraft in Operation Linebacker II, which began on December 18 with large raids against both Hanoi and the port of Haiphong. Nixon justified his actions by blaming the impasse in negotiations on the North Vietnamese. Although this heavy bombing campaign caused protests, both domestically and internationally, and despite significant aircraft losses over North Vietnam, Nixon continued the operation until December 29. He also exerted pressure on Thieu to accept the terms of the agreement reached in October.
Why did heroin use spike in Vietnam?
Troops used heroin and other drugs to pass time, deal with the mental stresses of combat, boredom, and feelings of hopelessness.
How many troops did President Johnson send to Vietnam?
July 28, 1965 — In a nationally televised speech, President Johnson announced his decision to send an additional 50,000 American troops to South Vietnam, increasing the number of personnel there by two-thirds and to bring the commitment to 125,000.
How many military advisers did Kennedy send to Vietnam?
In May 1961, Kennedy sent 500 more military advisers, bringing American forces there to 1,400. With the budget increased and with American boot on the ground in Vietnam by at least 1961, these actions came to be questioned by other segments of the U.S. government and among the people of the United States.
When did China and the French agree to return to Vietnam?
In exchange, China agrees to assist the French in returning to Vietnam north of the 17th parallel. March 6, 1946 — After negotiations with the Chinese and the Viet Minh, the French sign an agreement recognizing Vietnam within the French Union.
When was Saigon evacuated?
"There were desperate scenes of families separated and crying out for help, pleading not to be left behind," reported former CBS News correspondent Ed Bradley, as the city of Saigon was evacuated ahead of its fall on April 30, 1975.
Who was the last American evacuee from Saigon?
Bradley's report ended with the arrival of one of the last evacuees from Saigon, U.S. Ambassador Graham Martin, the final American ambassador stationed in South Vietnam.
What happened on the 40th anniversary of the fall of Saigon?
On that day, as it had throughout the conflict, CBS News covered the events from the ground. The images captured that day are nothing short of astonishing: helicopters plunging into water; pilots leaping out of aircraft; Vietnamese swimming for boats; hordes of evacuees desperately looking for a way out.
What happened to the helicopter in Saigon?
A South Vietnamese pilot purposely crashes his helicopter in the evacuation of Saigon on April 30, 1975 CBS News. One Vietnamese pilot crashed his helicopter into the side of the U.S.S. Blue Ridge, while others managed to crash land on the deck of the ship.
When did the Vietnamese climb onto a vessel?
Vietnamese climb onto a vessel in an attempt to escape Saigon on April 30, 1975 CBS News. And it was on those ships where some of the most dramatic images of that day emerged.
Who was the CBS correspondent in Vietnam?
CBS News correspondent Ed Bradley reporting from Vietnam during the war. CBS News. Former CBS News correspondent Ed Bradley filed a report that many at home would see on the "CBS Evening News" on April 30, 1975.
Where did American helicopters circle the city?
Once they reached Ton Son Nhut airport, Bradley reported, armed paratroopers turned their buses back. Eventually they reached the Saigon waterfront where American helicopters circled the city, as Vietnamese swam in the water below, trying to reach departing vessels. Look back: U.S. withdrawal from Vietnam 20 photos.
When did the Vietnam War end?
Hugh Van Es/UPI/Newscom. U.S. Vietnam War Vietnam. Just over 40 years ago, on April 23, 1975, President Gerald Ford announced the Vietnam War was "finished as far as America is concerned.". Military involvement had come to an end, but the U.S. still faced a crucial task: the safe evacuation of Americans who remained in Saigon, ...
Where did the South Vietnamese flee?
Hundreds of South Vietnamese also fled by military plane and helicopter, landing at airfields in Thailand or ditching their craft alongside American ships. The last dramatic act in the Vietnam drama began when Communist shells started raining down on Tan Son Nhut Air Base.
Why did the Blue Ridge push a helicopter into the sea off the coast of Vietnam?
Blue Ridge push a helicopter into the sea off the coast of Vietnam in order to make room for more evacuation flights from Saigon on April 29, 1975. The helicopter had carried Vietnamese fleeing Saigon as North Vietnamese forces closed in on the capital. AP
What happened to Tan Son Nhut Airport?
After Tan Son Nhut Airport was bombed heavily on April 29, and the last two Americans were killed in action, the evacuation had to continue with helicopters. "It was an absolute mess," Colin Broussard, a marine assigned to Martin's personal security detail, told the Chicago Tribune in 2005.
How many helicopters were involved in Operation Frequent Wind?
The 19-hour operation involved 81 helicopters and is often called the largest helicopter evacuation on record.
How many people were evacuated from the Jolly Green Giants?
Originally, each of the Jolly Green Giants was to take 50 evacuees. But the Marines, unsure how rapidly the military situation might deteriorate, decided to push the load up to 65 to get as many people out as possible. Consequently, we were told we would have to jettison our baggage. I watched Vietnamese take thick wads of money from their suitcases and stuff it into their shirts, blouses and pants—their stakes for building a new life when they got to America.
How many Americans were on the helicopter lift?
It was the biggest helicopter lift of its kind in history—an 18-hour operation that carried 1,373 Americans and 5,595 Vietnamese to safety. Yet in sheer numbers, the feat was overshadowed by the incredible impromptu flight of perhaps another 65,000 South Vietnamese.
Who opposed evacuating Vietnamese civilians?
Critics on Wednesday were quick to recall that a young Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) opposed evacuating Vietnamese civilians placed during the 1975 fall of Saigon, just two years after he was first elected to the Senate.
What did Biden say about Vietnam?
Biden said in 2012 that he stood by his position on Vietnam. “It was decided we were not going to sustain our presence, ” he said in a speech at the late Sen. George McGovern’ s (D-SD) funeral. “And about five weeks later, helicopters taking off the roof. I mean, it’s not because of me. That was the plan. … I remember walking out of there thinking, ‘I was right.'”
Overview
Planning
Preparations on the ground
- Finally, in January 1973, representatives of the United States, North and South Vietnam, and the Vietcong signed a peace agreement in Paris, ending the direct U.S. military involvement in the Vietnam War. Its key provisions included a cease-fire throughout Vietnam, the withdrawal of U.S. forces, the release of prisoners of war, and the reunificatio...
Options 1 and 2: fixed-wing evacuation
Task Force 76
Planning for the evacuation of the Americans and their South Vietnamese allies from South Vietnam had begun before April 1975. When U.S. President Gerald Ford met with the National Security Council on 9 April 1975 he was told by Henry Kissinger that a maximum of 1.7 million people had been identified as possible evacuees and that these included: American citizens and their relatives, the di…
Tan Son Nhut under attack
On 1 April an evacuation control center manned by U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force (USAF) and U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) personnel began operating at the Defense Attaché Office (DAO) compound on 12-hour shifts, increasing to 24-hour shifts the next day. Also on 1 April, Plan Alamo was implemented to defend the DAO compound and its annex so it could serve as a holding area for 1,500 …
Option 4 – White Christmas in April
By late March, the embassy began to reduce the number of U.S. citizens in Vietnam by encouraging dependents and non-essential personnel to leave the country by commercial flights and on Military Airlift Command (MAC) C-141 and C-5 aircraft, which were still bringing in emergency military supplies. In late March, two or three of these MAC aircraft were arriving each day and were used to evacuate civilians and Vietnamese orphans. On 4 April, a C-5A aircraft carrying 25…
Security and air support
With the fall of Saigon imminent, between 18 and 24 April the U.S. Navy assembled ships off Vũng Tàu under Commander Task Force 76:
Task Force 76
USS Blue Ridge (command ship)
USS Oklahoma City (Seventh Fleet flagship)