This photo section begins with the pictures served as the requiem, paying tribute to all who sacrificed their lives in defending Saigon on
the final day of April 30, 1975, when all the King's men and his ally
had flew away for their own sanctuary.
Some may see these photos as the images of defeat, but take a hard
look at the historical pictures: They not only told the true story of
Vietnam war but they also mirrored the ultimate sacrifice, heroism,
human desperation and finally the state of being abandoned. Mr. Bui
Diem, former South Vietnam Ambassador to the US in an interview has
spoke of his mind:
"..Never put the fate of our nation into the
foreigners' hands..."Perhaps this is the priceless message for the many
next Vietnamese generations.
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More @ REQUIEM
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Mike Scruggs
Mike Scruggs
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On September 11 of this year, I was one of several
speakers at the Hendersonville Historic Courthouse commemorating the
2,977 Americans who died on September 11, 2001 and the four that had
died in Benghazi, Libya, on September 11, 2012:
There are still many lingering concerns about why the President and his national security, intelligence, and State Department staffs did not quickly and forcefully act to rescue our U.S. Ambassador to Libya. There is a persistent allegation that President Obama relieved U.S. Army General Carter Ham, commander of the U.S. African Command, and Navy Admiral Charles Gaouette, commander of Carrier Strike Group 3 for attempting to launch rescue operations despite the President’s order to stand down. Standing down is the President’s prerogative, but standing down on a rescue mission goes against very strong U.S. military traditions “never to leave a man behind.”
This is not an absolute tradition, however, even in rescue operations. Sometimes going after wounded or isolated troops can result in many more dead than the number to be rescued. Calculating the risks is always a factor. Our Communist enemies in Korea and Vietnam often used wounded men as bate to set up an ambush that might kill scores of Americans. My combat experience was with the Air Force and included air rescue missions and protecting air rescue missions under fire. One of the informal Air Force traditions is “the Air Force never turns back.” It is a proud tradition, but it is not a suicide tradition. Nevertheless, most military units will not willingly abandon their comrades in peril. It is simply part of their firmly ingrained code of duty and honor to make every reasonable effort to rescue their comrades. We need to keep those traditions.
The question is why President Obama ordered a stand down and enforced it to the letter. Did he know more than General Ham and Admiral Gaouette? My guess is that he probably did not know any more about events and operations taking place. He undoubtedly knew more about the political issues. I personally believe that the President had reasons for standing down that most Americans would not consider acceptable. Nevertheless, the rule of law and military command is that the President has the last say. He cannot be second-guessed at the time of his decision, but any subsequent information on that decision that becomes public knowledge is subject to the rule of law and the rule of the people.
My purpose for speaking at the September 11, 2013 Courthouse event was to give some perspective on how important it is for those who must face danger for their country to know that the American people and their fellow comrades will not abandon them in their desperate peril without enormous effort, fierce engagement with the enemy, and calling forth tremendous personal valor.
On the afternoon of February 7, 1967, I was the co-pilot/navigator on one of two Air Force twin engine A-26 Invader attack bombers assigned to fly close combat support on a mission to rescue a downed Air Force observer pilot forced to bail out right in the middle of the most dangerous and heavily defended mountain pass (Mu Gia) leading from North Vietnam into Laos. We were accompanied by two heavily armed Air Force A1-E Skyraiders also flying support for the two Air Force Jolly Green Giant rescue helicopters out of Udorn AB, Thailand, who would pick up the downed pilot.
The downed O-1 observer pilot had been missing for nearly a week, but was finally able to contact an over-flying Air Force search aircraft that morning. Within hours, Air Force, Navy, and Marine jet fighter bombers were wreaking havoc suppressing North Vietnamese communications and anti-aircraft batteries in the area. We could not see all this from our aircraft, but we could hear everything very clearly on our radios.
As we arrived on our assigned station, the first Jolly Green helicopter, flying just over the treetops, approached the rescue site from a SW position. The second Jolly Green followed about 150 yards behind.
In a few minutes, we heard “We’ve got him on board. We’re lifting off.” Then came the report “We’re getting a lot of ground fire.” Speaking directly to the pilot of the second Jolly Green the first Jolly Green pilot said. “We’re hit.” A moment later, in a very tense voice, he said, “We’re going in. Get down here quick, Chuck, get down here quick.” Then there was silence, as the first Jolly Green hit a steep mountainside and exploded into flames.
It has been 44 years, but that last cry, “Get down here quick, Chuck. Get down here quick” is forever etched upon my memory.
Then came a determined voice from the second Jolly Green, “We’re gong in to see, if there are any survivors.” At this point they were also experiencing a hail of ground fire. The crew of the second chopper was astonished to see that there was a survivor. Sgt Duane Hackney, the pararescue man, had been thrown clear of the burning inferno. He stood there on a steep slope waving at them. Despite their own mortal danger, the second Jolly Green, still under fire and taking hits, moved in, picked him up and lifted off.
Meanwhile the two A1-Es engaged the enemy with a ferocious display of firepower. We were held in reserve because very shortly thereafter, Navy and Air Force jets were already on the scene and took an awful vengeance on the North Vietnamese.
In the meantime, the second Jolly Green, smoking and vibrating terribly, headed west into Laos and relative safety. They had to crash land in the middle of Laos, but were picked up by another rescue helicopter the next morning.
“Not for Self but Country” is the traditional U.S. Navy Motto. Patriotism is selfless love set in truth. Its banners are duty, honor, courage, blood, sweat, and tears.
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