Although the United States troops had left Vietnam, our nation had committed to support the South Vietnamese in their fight against Communist aggression.  A key component of the cease fire agreement was that the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese troops could stay in place in South Vietnam.  This obviously worried President Thieu as he knew his forces could not win without help from the United States.  President Nixon assured President Thieu that we would continue to provide aid to help the South Vietnamese people and that we would not abandon them.

The Democratically controlled Congress had other ideas.  They were embroiled in the Watergate hearings and forced President Nixon to resign on August 8, 1974, just a year-and-a-half after ending America’s longest war.  In October of 1974 Congress opposed assistance to South Vietnam and appropriated just $700 million for their defense.  That represented a very small percentage of what was needed for the South Vietnamese to defend themselves.  The result was that many South Vietnam Air Force  squadrons had to be abandoned and most were unable to fight at full strength.  Bandages and other medical supplies ran out, leaving the wounded in painful conditions.  Meanwhile, the Communist buildup was immense and they were advancing more rapidly than expected.

President Ford requested more aid but both houses of Congress, as well as the American public (78% polls) opposed further assistance.  Henry Kissinger made a plea to Congress stating we had a moral obligation to help and that our honor was at stake, but again Congress refused.  Unable to defend themselves, in 1975 the South Vietnamese knew the Communist overthrow of Saigon was only a matter of time.

There was one shining moment amidst the haggling.  In April of 1975, using presidential authority, President Ford approved the evacuation of orphaned babies.  “Operation Babylift,” which involved military transport planes with specially fitted seats saved over 3,000 babies.  But even a successful effort to save children could not be accomplished without tragedy.  Sadly, one of the planes crashed, killing 257 orphans and adults, including 37 American women.

As the Communists were on the verge of victory, mass hysteria was occurring inside Saigon. South Vietnamese who had helped the Americans, faced certain execution once the Communists took over.  Thousands of horrified South Vietnamese women, children, and men stormed the U.S. embassy in hope of being evacuated.  Some women crying and pleading with soldiers guarding the barricaded embassy handed their children over the gates, hoping at least to save their children.  “Operation Frequent Wind,”  a helicopter shuttle mission, flew people from the top of the embassy to the safety of U.S. carriers in the gulf.  Over 1,000 American non-combat military personnel and civilians, and over 6,000 non-Americans were evacuated, but thousands more were left behind with uncertain fates.  In the early morning hours of April 30, 1975, U.S Ambassador Graham Martin, suffering with pneumonia and carrying a folded American flag, boarded the final flight.

Within a few hours of the final flight, the Communists overran Saigon and the war in Vietnam was history.

Time is running out.  The final helicopter shuttle must leave right away or risk being shot down.  As the United States Ambassador, you have been ordered to take as many people as you can and evacuate the embassy.  There is room in the helicopter for only five people, but ten are outside your office pleading for help.  The five you choose will be flown to freedom and safety.  You must choose five and only five, including children, because any more and the helicopter might crash, killing everyone on board.  The five you must leave behind face uncertain futures, possibly death.   Your decision is a matter of life or death.

Choose five of the following people who are outside your office. Defend your choices.

1) A peasant farmer who helped save U.S. soldiers by warning them that Viet Cong
    were in his village.

2) A 28-year old pregnant woman.

3) A wealthy businessman who helped the United States by supplying critical
    information about the Viet Cong.

4) A 4-year old boy and his 2-year old sister, who look like Vietnamese but say their
    father is an American.

5) An elderly man who lost two sons and his wife in the battle of Hue.

6) A wounded South Vietnamese soldier and his wife.

7) An older woman and her teenage daughter.

You decide.  As a reminder, you can choose only five.  There is no room to squeeze in extra children sitting on laps, or anything along those lines.

As noted in the background information, thousands of people stormed the U.S. embassy fearing for their lives.  The people were frantic and did everything they could to get into the embassy.  At times, soldiers protecting the embassy had to hit the people with the butt of their rifles to prevent them from storming over the walls.  The thousands of people who were left behind feared torture and death.  Some committed suicide, others tried to hide, while thousands upon thousands fled on small rafts and boats.  Many of those who left on boats were picked up by Navy carriers, some made it to Thailand and the Philippines, while still others died along the way.

Some decisions in life are tough.  Learning to use critical thinking and developing thinking skills in general is an important lesson for classroom learning, and more importantly for life.

Learn, too, to be careful when judging others.  It’s very easy for us to sit in the comfort of a classroom or our homes and criticize the decision makers of the Vietnam era.  While we can see clearly through the lens of history that many mistakes were made by our leaders, it’s important to remember that President Johnson, President Nixon, and all military and political leaders made decisions that they felt were best under the circumstances at that time.  Their goal was to win the war and establish a peaceful life for the innocent people of South Vietnam.

Yes, some decisions in life are tough.  On that sad day in Saigon, April 30, 1975, two helicopter crewmen had a difficult decision to make.  Should they try one more rescue flight to try save a few more people, or stay on the naval carrier?  While attempting their final heroic flight, the helicopter crashed, killing both men.  As the lives of the last two Americans to die in Vietnam ended, so too did the Vietnam war.

We have a decision, too.  Should we study the war, criticize the men and women involved, and state that the American men and women died in vain?  Should we simply say it was a big mistake and try to forget about the Vietnam War?  Or, should we take the time and effort to learn and care about the 58,220 Americans who died in Vietnam, and the 2.7 million who decided to say “yes” when their country asked them to serve at a time in need?

You decide.