35 years ago today

[germdoc]

Saigon fell to the VC. I remember the TV footage vividly; I was 14 at the time.

I would like to express my appreciation for the sacrifices made by our fellow countrymen who fought in that war, and my sympathy for the people of all nationalities who died there.

[tommyt654]

Ditto and then some.

[BobSch]

Amen. I remember the images of people trying to get on the last choppers out.

I also remember how returning troops were treated by some of the public. Made me almost ashamed to be an American.

Anyone who puts it on the line to protect us has my eternal gratitude.

[woodturner]

Saigon fell to the VC. I remember the TV footage vividly; I was 14 at the time.

I was a little older than that, but I remember wondering why they were pushing the helicopters off the aircraft carrier into the ocean.

It was many years later when I finally heard an explanation - so many South Vietnamese were flying out to the carriers that they ran out of room. It was the SV choppers they were pushing overboard.

[Hoover]

Amen. I remember the images of people trying to get on the last choppers out.

I also remember how returning troops were treated by some of the public. Made me almost ashamed to be an American.

Anyone who puts it on the line to protect us has my eternal gratitude.

Unfortunately when I came home from the service, I was spit on, kicked at, being called a baby killer. Reliving the past is painful experience, and the fall of Saigon was definitely a low point in our history.

[Pappy]

I was in El Toro at the time. Refugees were flown in to be transported to temp centers for processing and relocation. All flights were brought in after normal ops had ended for the night and were treated as medivac flights. Made for a couple of months of long nights. The only thing else allowed in the airspace were a couple of Phantoms flying escort/cover.

[billwmeyer]

Unfortunately when I came home from the service, I was spit on, kicked at, being called a baby killer. Reliving the past is painful experience, and the fall of Saigon was definitely a low point in our history.

Hoover,
I cannot imagine what you thought when this happened to you. I never understood why people did this to our fighting men. They didn't start the war, or decide how to fight it. They honorably served their county. Hoover, I thank you for your service.

I never protested the war, I supported my country, but I have to admit, I was very confused about what we were doing there. I never served, I received a 4-F because I tore my knee up pretty bad in high school football. I had two years of ROTC, and was looking at the possiblity of going advanced, but I flunked the physical.

I was 25 when I saw the film of the helicopters being pushed off the ship. I feel this was a shameful time, because end the end, we just ran out. It should have been settled better.

Bill