#operation frequent wind

[lonestarflight]

A Marine Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion lands during the 1975 evacuation of Phnom Penh and Saigon, South Vietnam.

"OPERATION FREQUENT WIND--A Marine CH-53 helicopter sets down on a black-topped baseball field, utilized as a landing zone on the northern section of Saigon to pick up awaiting avacuees during the evacuation exercises."

Photographed by GySgt. D.L. Shearer

Date: April 29, 1975

NARA: 26398259

[deadpresidents]

Awash in conflicting reports from unstable battlefronts, [President Gerald] Ford wanted a firsthand appraisal [on the situation in Vietnam] from someone he could trust. General [Frederick] Weyand was his chosen emissary. "You are not going over to lose," he instructed Weyand, "but to be tough and see what we can do." Ford conceded that any military options were severely limited. "I regret I don't have the authority to do some of the things President Nixon could do," he remarked wistfully. As the Oval Office emptied, photographer David Kennerly stayed behind. "You know, I would really like to go with the General," he said. Ford needed no persuading. As a journalist, and a friend, with extensive knowledge of the region from his two-year stint as a combat photographer for UPI, Life and Time, Kennerly could be counted on for an honest assessment of events -- more honest, perhaps, than that of diplomats and military men -- and with it, the pictures to back him up. Kennerly returned to his first-floor office with a sign dangling from his neck. GONE TO VIETNAM. BACK IN TWO WEEKS.

That evening the irreverent photo hound dubbed Hot Shot by the Secret Service appeared in the upstairs family quarters to say goodbye. Ford threw a protective arm around the young man's shoulders.

"You be careful. You have everything you need?"

As a matter of fact, Kennerly's pockets were empty. Local banks were closed and he could use some cash. Ford opened his wallet and handed over its contents, $47, as Betty Ford gave Kennerly a hug. He was striding toward the door when the President called out his name. "Here," said Ford, tossing Kennerly a quarter. "You might as well clean me out."

-- Richard Norton Smith, on White House photographer David Hume Kennerly's interactions with President Gerald Ford after Kennerly asked to accompany a General on a fact-finding mission to Vietnam in March 1975, shortly before the Fall of Saigon, An Ordinary Man: The Surprising Life and Historic Presidency of Gerald R. Ford (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO)

[todaysdocument]

Operation Frequent Wind (1975 evacuation of Phnom Penh and Saigon) [detail], April 29, 1975. Photo by: Cpl M.A. Abrham

File Unit: Divider/Subject - 279 - Operation Frequent Wind (1975 evacuation of Phnom Penh and Saigon)

Series: Black and White Photographs of Marine Corps Activities in Vietnam, 1962 - 1975

Record Group 127: Records of the U.S. Marine Corps, 1775 -

Image Description: OPERATION "FREQUENT WIND" --A South Vietnamese helicopter pilot and his family, safely aboard the USS HANCOCK, are escorted by a Marine Security Guard to the refugee area during the evacuation of Saigon, Republic of Vietnam.

[whattolearntoday]

A bit of April 29th history...

1587 - Sir Francis Drake sails into Cadiz, Spain and sinks the Spanish fleet

1707 - English and Scottish parliaments accept Act of Union which creates the United Kingdom of Great Britain

1852 - 1st edition of Roget’s Thesaurus published

1975 - US begins evacuation from Saigon in Operation Frequent Wind in response to advancing N Vietnamese army, bringing an end to US involvement in war

1992 - Jury acquits LA police officers in beating of Rodney King, riots begin

2018 - The Simpsons (pictured) surpass Gunsmoke’s 635 episodes for longest running tv series

[thats-the-way-it-was]

April 29 1975: Operation Frequent Wind: The U.S. begins to evacuate U.S. citizens from Saigon, Vietnam before an expected North Vietnamese takeover. U.S. involvement in the war comes to an end.

Operation Frequent Wind was the final phase in the evacuation of American civilians and "at-risk" Vietnamese from Saigon, South Vietnamprior to the takeover of the city by the North Vietnamese Army (PAVN) in the Fall of Saigon. It was carried out on 29–30 April 1975, during the last days of the Vietnam War. More than 7,000 people were evacuated by helicopter from various points in Saigon. (wikipedia)

Photo: South Vietnamese refugees walk across a U.S. Navy vessel during Operation Frequent Wind (public domain)

[ferretfyre]

United States launches Operation Frequent Wind, evacuating all American citizens and “at risk” Vietnamese from Saigon (April 29, 1975 - colorized)

[roostro]

30 April 1975

[fordlibrarymuseum]

“LADY ACE 09 HAS THE AMBASSADOR AND HIS IMMEDIATE STAFF ON BOARD AND THAT THEY ARE MOVING THE GSF TO THE ROOF TOP FOR PICKUP.” “REPORTS ARE THAT THERE ARE 200 AMERICANS LEFT TO EVAC...” “LADY ACE 14 IS ON THE ROOF HE REPORTS SMALL ARMS FIRE ON THE NORTH EAST CORNER OF THE BUILDING IN A SMALL CLUMP OF TREES AT GROUND LEVEL.”

Helicopter Pilot Radio Transmissions during the Saigon Evacuation, folder “Washington, DC Time: 5:01 p.m. (April 29, 1975); Saigon time: 5:01 a.m.-5:57 a.m. (April 30, 1975)", from Box 1 of the U.S. National Security Agency: Non-Record Copies of Helicopter Radio Messages During Evacuation of U.S. Embassy in Saigon.

During Operation Frequent Wind, the final phase of the U.S. evacuation from Saigon, helicopters airlifted U.S. and South Vietnamese personnel out of the city. These communications between evacuation helicopters and their command and control center describe conditions at the U.S. Embassy as they continued their mission on April 29 and 30, 1975.

View more posts on the 40th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon.