Revisiting Vietnam....1975

[madfloridian]

Revisiting Vietnam.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/716609.stm

The Pentagon was always promising light at the end of the tunnel.

But 58,000 American lives were lost. The carnage, often televised across the nation, triggered a public mutiny.

John Lennon and Yoko Ono were among the celebrities who joined the anti-war movement - so intense, it drove one president from the White House, and eventually forced all American forces from Vietnam.

3m Vietnamese lives, military and civilian
58,000 US lives

1975 The Fall of Saigon
http://news.bbc.co.uk/aboutbbcnews/hi/news_update/newsid_3853000/3853853.stm

The fall of Saigon

In Spring 1975, South Vietnam was about to be overrun by communist forces ending the Vietnam War - the greatest struggle of the Cold War era and the only major military defeat in United States history. The United States had abandoned its ally after a war which had left over two million dead including more than 50,000 Americans.

The BBC's Brian Barron reported on the war for six years and saw the last helicopter leaving the roof of the US embassy in Saigon. Against orders, he decided to stay.

Short video clip at the site.

Saigon surrenders

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/30/newsid_2498000/2498441.stm

Video and audio at the site.

1975: Saigon surrenders
The war in Vietnam ended today as the government in Saigon announced its unconditional surrender to North Vietnamese forces.

The capitulation of the South Vietnamese government came just four hours after the last frenzied evacuation of Americans from the city. President Ford, who has requested humanitarian aid for the Vietnamese, let it be known that he was proud to have saved what Vietnamese he could in the last, frantic helicopter evacuation.

But there is said to be deep humiliation in the United States government at the desperation and chaos of the final hours of America's presence in Vietnam.

The President ordered United States ships to remain indefinitely off the Vietnamese coast to pick up refugees: but even this gesture has been snubbed by the North Vietnamese, who have prevented any more refugees from fleeing.

58,000 soldiers died because they kept saying we could win if we just stayed a little longer. There are a few pictures if you wander around the BBC site, but I am not going to post any of them. I remember that time too well.

[Erika]

1. Never will I forget Vietnamese soldiers pulling women and

kids out of the rescuing American helicopters and taking their places on the helicopter. Never.

We died for men who, for their own safety, sacrificied women and children.

[madfloridian]

2. It was a horrible time.

And there were too many funerals to attend.

[WinkyDink]

3. I don't recall those photos. But in any event:, your anger is misplaced.

Americans died in South VietNam because of their AMERICAN LEADERS.
Period.