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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Mike Scruggs
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:
Ambassador Chris Stevens, Sean Smith, Glen Doherty, and Tyrone Woods.
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.