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N0KFQ > TODAY 29.04.16 16:33l 34 Lines 1477 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 92050_N0KFQ
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - Apr 29
Path: IW8PGT<IZ3LSV<IW0QNL<VE2PKT<ZL2BAU<N9PMO<N4ZKF<N0KFQ
Sent: 160429/1422Z 92050@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA BPQ1.4.65
1975
Operation Frequent Wind begins
Operation Frequent Wind, the largest helicopter evacuation on
record, begins removing the last Americans from Saigon.
The North Vietnamese had launched their final offensive in March
1975 and the South Vietnamese forces had fallen back before their
rapid advance, losing Quang Tri, Hue, Da Nang, Qui Nhon, Tuy Hoa,
Nha Trang, and Xuan Loc in quick succession. With the North
Vietnamese attacking the outskirts of Saigon, U.S. Ambassador
Graham Martin ordered the commencement of Frequent Wind.
In 19 hours, 81 helicopters carried more than 1,000 Americans and
almost 6,000 Vietnamese to aircraft carriers offshore. Cpl.
Charles McMahon, Jr. and Lance Cpl. Darwin Judge, USMC, were the
last U.S. military personnel killed in action in Vietnam, when
shrapnel from a North Vietnamese rocket struck them as they were
guarding Tan Son Nhut Airbase during the evacuation. At 7:53 a.m.
on April 30, the last helicopter lifted off the rook of the
embassy and headed out to sea. Later that morning, North
Vietnamese tanks crashed through the gates of the Presidential
Palace. North Vietnamese Col. Bui Tin accepted the surrender from
Gen. Duong Van Minh, who had taken over from Tran Van Huong (who
only spent one day in power after President Nguyen Van Thieu
fled). The Vietnam War was over.
73 - K.O., n0kfq
N0KFQ @ N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
E-Mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
Message timed: 09:22 on Apr 29, 2016
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