The Fall of Saigon

[garyedolan]

From one of my USMA '69 Classmates that I thought I would share:
"In a couple of weeks the nation will again mark the anniversary of the Fall of Saigon. Naw, just kidding, no one in the US will remember anything on April 30th. A few of us will note the day in shame and sorrow, a few others as a day of infamy, and some, unfortunately, will meet it with smug ideological satisfaction.

Sorry, where was I, I drifted off there. Oh, I wanted to recommend Lewis Sorley's (Class of '56) A Better War:The Unexamined Victories and the Final Tragedy of America's Last Years in Vietnam. It was actually published in 1999, but I'm always the last to know. I feel like it's required reading for our class, the last West Point class of Vietnam. He's compiled the bulk of it from a trove of 455 reel-to-reel recordings of MACV proceedings 1968-1972. The book demonstrates that Creighton Abrams was one of America's greatest post WWII generals, and lays out how the team of Abrams/Bunker/Colby won the military conflict, before it was politically squandered.

It's on a par with H. R. McMasters' (Class of '84) Dereliction of Duty for describing how we went to war and how we pursued that war.

A personal note. In the last chapter this observation hit me hard: "(One cost of the war) was the splintering of the social compact in American society . . . the unalterable alienation of those who served from those who did not and would not, a permanent schism derived from absolutely incommensurable interests and values." I try, every day and in every way, to be a better person than I was the day before; but I agree with Sorley that I just don't think I'm ever personally going to be able to close up that schism.
Rick Whitaker"
"This young Century will be liberty's Century"
These are very sobering words that capture in few lines the highest price that our Country has paid and will continue to pay for that War, I think, at least, until a future time if we then face war for our very survival as a nation: "(One cost of the war) was the splintering of the social compact in American society . . . the unalterable alienation of those who served from those who did not and would not, a permanent schism derived from absolutely incommensurable interests and values."

[Jim]

Time flies. 38 years have passed since the fall of Saigon. Frankly, the US Army was at a historic low point. Creighton Abrams was the right man in the right place; he almost single handedly reformed the institution. He was responsible for reforming the NCO Corps by establishing NCOES and the 1st Ranger Battalion. The Army, however, is about to go through another emotional event as it downsizes following Iraq. Already we have reorganized the force in Germany, and for the first time since 1943, we have no tanks in Europe. By the end of the year, the first Selective Early Retirement Boards (SERB) will meet to reduce the force size. Interesting times we live in.

[centermass]

Damn shame nowadays, most political figures have no concept or clue what they have done to turn the aspiring who might have joined the military away with the new policies in place.

I honestly think Regiment might be the last bastion of what once was instead of what's yet to come.

[Jim]

I honestly think Regiment might be the last bastion of what once was instead of what's yet to come.

I think that is why I encourage these young men to join the Regiment! I served nine presidents, and I tried to live with Duty, Honor, and Country. Sadly, we have been overcome with Political Corretntness.

[Sleepy Doc]

For the record, I was 5 years old (ironically, my son's age now.) However, I do remember seeing the footage of the evacuation on TV, particularly the iconic image of the helicopter taking people from the roof of the embassy. I remember thinking, "those guys want to get out of there really bad" and wondering why..

[Ranger Ron]

I vaguely remember it too. (Not because I was 5!!!!!!!) Getting old is not for the faint at heart.

Thanks Gary!

[garyedolan]

Getting old is not for the faint at heart.

I absolutely agree---ya gotta be tough to get old; getting old is not for the feeble!

[GoldCoast]

I honestly think Regiment might be the last bastion of what once was instead of what's yet to come.

I think that is why I encourage these young men to join the Regiment! I served nine presidents, and I tried to live with Duty, Honor, and Country. Sadly, we have been overcome with Political Corretntness.

Many are overcome by political correctness, but not all. I have a lot of hope for the current and future generations because I interact heavily with the current generation. Mankind as an animal hasn't changed, just the 'conversation' as a Randian socialist would call it... I take the time to teach and mentor as much as I can, and it pays off (not always, usually in the case of a liberal college education). The folks I take time with are stunned that free thought is still a thing, and my door is always open for discussion if they wish.

Speaking of which, Jim, when I get back you and I are gonna drink a little on the back porch and talk for a while. I think you will be interested in some impressions I'm in the process of gathering.

[Steadfast]

I remember hearing of the fall of Saigon & in later years remember seeing (video's) the last people climb stairs to the last helicopters leaving the US EMBASSY. Seeing Navy men (on a Carrier) pushing Huey's off the deck into the water to make room for the people coming in - the last several thousand or so.

I thought of the Mount-yard tribesmen that fought alongside of us as natural scouts - hunters, being left behind to fend for themselves. Then over the years as more & more of my friends from the V.A. that went back to Vietnam to visit their old grounds north of us in Zone I. And the area where I served (Central Highlands) was off limits to foreign visitors as we heard the Mount-Yards were being slaughtered for being on our side. To this day I have not heard of anyone being able to visit the Central Highlands.

I remember reading that the stairs leading to top of the US EMBASSY were put in President Ford's Library & restored a few years back. The President's Museum is in Michigan.

Myself, I never ever went to Saigon. Arrived in-country at Cam Ranh Bay. Out of country at Quin yon (east of An Khe). (my spelling prolly sucks).

[Jim]

I was in my local CVS today. The clerk is Vietnamese, he asked me don't you want to go back to Viet-Nam? My answer was, No, all my friends are here. We have hundreds of Vietnamese Rangers in Northern Virginia,

[Flesh Thorn]

For the record, I was 5 years old (ironically, my son's age now.) However, I do remember seeing the footage of the evacuation on TV, particularly the iconic image of the helicopter taking people from the roof of the embassy. I remember thinking, "those guys want to get out of there really bad" and wondering why..

Similar memories. And also the belief that there was actually a Planet of the Apes sort of war going on, since I kept hearing references to soldiers fighting against gorillas. Not trying to be funny, but that's actually what I thought when I was a young kid.

X3. Evening news was very appealing to me as a youngster even though I did not comprehend.......kind of like it is now. :?