Last Flight from Saigon. USAF Southeast Asia Monograph Series, Volume IV, Monograph 6

摘要

The Southeast Asia Monograph Series is designed and dedicated to telling the story of the U.S. Air Force's participation in the Vietnam War. This monograph, the sixth in the Series, adds another exciting chapter to the continuing effort to bring forth and highlight the dedication, courage, and professionalism of the U.S. airman in combat. 'Last Flight From Saigon' is an exciting and moving account of how all U.S. Services, as well as several civilian agencies, pulled together to pull off the largest aerial evacuation in history -- what many have referred to as a modern day Dunkirk. The three authors, intimately involved with the evacuation from beginning to end, have carefully pieced together an amazing story of courage, determination, and American ingenuity. Above all, it's a story about saving lives; one that is seldom told in times of war. All too often, critics of armed conflict make their targets out to be something less than human, bent on death and destruction. One need only study the enormity of the effort and cost that went into the 'evacuation of Saigon,' and the resultant thousands of lives that were saved, to realize that the American fighting man is just as capable, and more eager, to save lives than he is in having to wage war. On the last two days in April 1975, Operation FREQUENT WIND, the evacuation of Vietnam, ended a 20-year agony for the United States. The U.S. Embassy in Saigon, and its Defense Attache Office (DAO) there, helped plan, prepare for, and ultimately conduct, the final evacuation from South Vietnam. Operation FREQUENT WIND extracted 130, 000 people, including Vietnamese citizens, Third Country Nationals, and U.S. citizens -- a truly important feat which will continue to affect the United States for some time to come.