The fall of Saigon happened 50 years ago today in 1975. Now that I have gained more perspective on life and a better understanding of history, I wish my Vietnamese mother were still around so I could ask her some questions. But, knowing her, she’d try to avoid any discussion because she wouldn’t want to revisit the heartbreak.
I have this one memory of watching the start of Miami Vice, and they mentioned the year 1975, the year of my birth. Mom was in the room, and I teased that 1975 must have been a great year for her. I mean, after all, I was born. But her mood immediately dampened. Not realizing I was trying to reference my birth year, she briefly told me that was when her country fell to communism. Saigon fell on April 30, 1975; I was born on August 30, 1975. What a complex year that must have been for my mom. It’s only now that I can put something like that together. I wish I could tell her that I understand it better.
I used to be confused seeing these photos of helicopters being pushed off the side of aircraft carriers. However, several years ago, I came across an article about Larry Chambers, the first African American aircraft carrier captain. He ordered helicopters to be pushed over into the sea from the USS Midway because a South Vietnamese Air Force pilot with his wife and their five children, ages 14 months to 6 years, dropped a note from the two-seated Cessna he snagged from a nearby island that he needed to land. Here’s a good article about his experience. Keep in mind, Chambers has only been at the helm for about 30 days. Talk about a heck of a decision.
I’m sure most folks have seen this photo. Many incorrectly claim it’s at the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam, but it was actually a nearby apartment building next to some CIA offices.
Many people are surprised to learn that that particular staircase is now on display at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids. I can’t find it right now, but I recall a recent story about how it was brought to the museum in the 1990s.
