CHAPTER SIX
VIETNAM
Once again Chris found himself as a civilian, and on familiar ground back in the UK. Having settled in to a rented furnished flat in Bermondsey located on the southern side of the river Thames in London.
After an absence of just over five years it was also nice to be once again known, and referred to as Chris, and to bury John James into the back of his mind.
He was anxious to call in a few long outstanding favours from some of his old friends, trying to find a way of getting himself to Vietnam. Originally he had thought of immigrating to Australia to join the Australian Army. Although he knew time was not on his side, as the news coming out of Vietnam at the moment was a little confusing. There was even talk that the Americans might pull out of the country all together. Although, unknown to Chris at the time, he could have presented himself at Australia House in London and signed along the dotted line as they say.
Then by chance one of his friends informed him of a rumour going around, that several Aid Agencies were involved in something that was brewing and about to take place in Saigon. Although he was not sure what, and had no way of confirming the information. Chris made many phone calls until eventual he was put through to one, he was pinning his luck on. Not sure how he should approach the subject, he started the conversation by explaining who he was and that he had a fairly long military background. Ending by adding that he would like to help with countries that have experienced the ravages of war.
Chris was in luck, as the person on the other end of the phone sounded as though he was interested. Insisting that as long as he was prepared to travel. As they were both based in London they arrange to meet up the following day.
As previously arranged they met at the Aid Agency headquarters. Where it was explained roughly how the agency worked. Adding that at the moment they were working with the American Government in Vietnam. However, not too many details were disclosed. Although Chris was happy with the six-month deal being offered and could not wait to sign along the dotted line, asking, “when do I start.” “Be here tomorrow morning at 10am” was the reply. Chris wasted no time in making the necessary arrangements to carry out his orders.
The following morning along with four other guys, who already worked for the Agency were driven to the American Airbase at Lakenheath, situated in the Forest Heath district of Suffolk. Where the US Military would fly them to Vietnam along with other members of the team who had also joined them at the Air Base. Chris could not believe his luck that within a week he would be standing on Vietnamese soil.
It was a long flight via America, but a time when the team would get to know each other and of what was expected of them. It was also a time when friendships were made and of who they thought they might be able to trust, as they were going into a war zone.
Upon their arrival at ‘Tan Son Nhut’ Airport about four miles north of Saigon, they were greeted with turmoil as was usual in most Asian countries. Although this country had the added threat of war all mixed in with the mayhem. Within an hour their little group were ushered into a room at the Airport, where they were informed of the situation that not only involved them, but the whole country of Vietnam. Being briefed on what had happened during the past three months and of what the country had endured, and at a guess what was to be expected might happen next.
“The situation has changed drastically since you boarded your aircraft in England.” The organiser told the awaiting crowd of agency workers gathered around him.
“I’m sorry to have to inform you that the central Vietnamese city of ‘Da Nang’ fell to the Viet Cong (VC) during March, and Saigon is about to be encircled, probably shelled and then attacked.” He continued, “The American President Gerald Ford has already publically announced that the American Government will begin evacuating orphaned children from Saigon.
“Operation Babylift as it has been named is about to evacuate South Vietnamese orphans to the United States, and other countries including Australia, France, and Canada. In the hope, that they will be adopted by families around the world. It’s strongly believed that American servicemen may have fathered many of the children. Therefore, it’s our duty to try and save these children by getting them away from a war zone. Failing to do so would probably lead to their deaths, as some twisted form of retribution.” He continued “A series of 30 pre-planned flights had already been organised using C-5A Galaxy and C-141 Starlifter cargo aircraft.”
“Your job is to use military trucks and to find all these orphans where ever they are across the city. They will then be paired up with carers to be flown out of the country from about the 3rd of April. You are to try and keep it as low key as possible. If word gets out, almost all the city’s inhabitants will want to be on board those aircraft. In fact, the biggest worry is that they will all flock to the Airport, and in their determination to leave would simply block the runways, trapping everybody including your selves.”
However, they were not told of the North Vietnamese rapid advances towards Saigon since March and early April. There was concern by the military leaders in Saigon that the city, which had been fairly peaceful throughout the war, and whose people had endured relatively little suffering, was soon to come under a direct attack. Many feared that once the communists took control of the city, a bloodbath of reprisals would then take place.
Chris teamed up with John who he had made friends with during the flight over, and had already nick named him Johnno. They took to one of the fleet of trucks awaiting them outside, along with a driver and several female service personnel. Whose job it would be to carry the children while in the trucks. At least the drivers knew the area. While some of the female staff knew where the orphanages were located, and there were many of them. As Johnno and Chris had military backgrounds they had been selected to protect the team and to assist in any problems that might arise, including the paper work. Something which did not go down to well with both of them. It was to be one hell of a job to undertake, and the distant sound of explosions and gunfire was not going to make the job any easier. As daily it sounded like it was getting ever closer.
It was the introduction to their female workers, that one of them known as June Brennen caught Chris’s attention. She was very pretty, something he had not noticed in any female since the loss of his wife. Although deep inside he knew that the situation would arise one day at a later time in his life. He had been on a couple of dates in the past, such as a meal, or a drink and the cinema. But he had never slept with another woman. However, he had always found the opposite sex to be more interesting to chat with, and he certainly enjoyed their company, whenever possible. With their introduction all of a sudden he had a little sparkle in his eye for June.
Whenever possible he would end up chatting with here. The nature of their work always brought them close together, as Chris made sure he looked out for her. Trying to protect her at every opportunity.
With each orphanage they visited, there were always problems to over-come, mainly involving the staff. They knew that with the speed in which the children were being taken from them, that something was about to happening, and happen fast. It did not take a brain surgeon to work out what it was, as they could also hear the sound of distant explosions. Whenever asked why the children were being taken Chris chose to only tell them the basics, and to be as brief as possible. He totally refused to tell them lies. If need be he would not answer them and just walk away. Knowing that several wanted to go along, and act as the child’s carer. There was also a language barrier added to the mayhem of yelling and shouting. Many believing that the louder they shouted in the local tongue the better chance they would have to be allowed to get on the truck. However, it was not going to happen. It only hardened the team into making quick decisions, and to not being conned into dragging headquarters into the argument. The quicker they could leave with the children the sooner the arguing would finish at that particular location.
Chris tried to keep June in sight at most times, not wanting anyth
ing to happen to her. Both Johnno and Chris had been issued with pistols as personal protection which they tried to keep hidden whenever possible. Although they had been given the authority to use them if any of their lives were in danger.
After a couple of days, it became obvious that the explosions were getting closer, and some of the team were getting worried that they might become special targets, as the Military Truck told everybody who they were. There was also the possibility that the locals looking ahead and thinking that if they changed sides and killed a few Americans the V.C. or Charlie as Chris had already nick named them, would look on them favourable, rather than kill them.
Although at that time the American military were un-aware that Charlie had sent what they called small death squads into the city. Their aim was to kill as any Americans and sympathiser they came across. As a result, many bodies were seen lying around in the streets. While Military vehicles also became larger targets that were set on fire. The effect was to scare the locals to flee the city, and knowing that it was almost completely surrounded, they would eventually end up somewhere looking down the barrel of Charlies gun.
While driving around the city in the truck Chris would always try and sit next to June as their friendship developed further. It was not a sexual one, more like grown-ups, of being able to talk and enjoying each other’s company. By this time both had come to the same conclusion that military wise things were going to get worse the longer they stayed in Saigon. From the length of the orphanage list their work was going to take some time to complete. Both agreed that they had volunteered for the job and while it was still possible, they would keep their side of the agreement. Their talking became very personal, where they had come from, whom they had been with, and what they were hoping to do in the future, if indeed they both had one. Although at no time had there been any bodily contact. Chris did confide in June how his family had been killed, and that he had never got over it. The thought of going to bed with somebody else, in his mind was cheating on his wife. June said nothing, but took it all on board not wanting to upset the friendship they were experiencing. Chris explained that his love of being in the military had helped soften the impact of her loss. Explaining that service personnel make friendly bonds for life, and help each other out during the bad times.
By now it was definite that Charlie was gaining ground, as each day the explosions were sounding nearer to the city centre, as the collection of the orphans still tried to continue. While some of the teams working the outer edge of the city were coming under fire and their losses were starting to mount.
Chris tried unsuccessfully to talk June into staying at the airport for own safety. As it was quite obvious that the situation was getting out of hand and becoming very dangerous. Anybody who was of western appearance where now targets, for Charlie, or any local trying to make a name for him-self. In the hope to convince the soon to be new rulers of the area, that they had always been on their side.
Earlier secret plans outlining the first ‘Babylift’ flight out of Saigon were finally launched into operation on the 3rd April 1975. However, the first flight eventually took off on the 4th April. A C-5A Galaxy flew the initial mission taking off just after 4pm in the afternoon.
Twelve minutes after take-off, there was what seemed to be an explosion as the lower rear fuselage of the aircraft was torn apart. The locks of the rear-loading ramp had failed, causing the door to open and separate. A rapid decompression occurred. The control and trim cables to the rudder and elevators were severed, leaving only one aileron and the wing spoilers operating. Two of the four hydraulic systems were also knocked out. Leaving the pilot and co-pilot, trying to regain control of the airplane, and to perform a 180-degree turn in order to return to ‘Tan Son Nhut’ Airport.
The crew wrestled with the controls, managing to keep control of the plane with changes in power settings by using the one working aileron and wing spoilers. The crew managed to descended to an altitude of 4,000 feet on a heading of 310 degrees in preparation for landing on ‘Tan Son Nhut's’ runway 25L. However, halfway through the turn to a final approach, the rate of descent increased rapidly. Seeing they could not make the runway, full power was applied to hopefully bring the nose up. The C-5 eventually touched down in a rice paddy field. Skidding for a quarter of a mile, after which the aircraft became airborne again for a half mile before hitting a dike, and breaking into four parts, some of which caught fire.
Survivors struggled to extricate themselves from the wreckage. The crash site was in a muddy rice paddy near the Saigon River, one mile from the nearest road. Fire engines could not even reach the site, and helicopters had to set down some distance from the wreckage. About 100 South Vietnamese soldiers were deployed around the area, which was near the site of an engagement with the Charlie the previous night.
The flight had been carrying 243 children. Of the 313 people on board, 138 were killed in the crash, that included 78 children and 35 of the Defence Attaché Office, 14 Secret Saigon personnel, and 11 U.S. Air Force personnel, while 175 survived the impact.
At the time of the crash, various adoption and church groups had all been working frantically to shuttle the infants out of the country before it fell to the invading, North Vietnamese Army. With this tragedy, the mission was severely disrupted, but it continued. Within 24 hours 1,200 children, including 40 of the crash survivors, were evacuated on other planes.
Growing panic in the streets of Saigon started to escalate, as the evacuation continued. Constant rocket attacks turned the loading of the infants and children into a safety nightmare. While many adult participants wondered if the plane they were boarding would even get off the ground. If it did, would it then be shot down? Two armed military security Police Officers rode shotgun on nearly every subsequent evacuation flight.
Daily Chris and his team were coming across bodies in the streets, while people were running around waving their arms in the air shouting and screaming. Chris and Johnno were starting to realise that they were not going to finish their task, and their own lives were now at risk. They were also wondering if plans had been hatch to get them out.
On the 9th April the North Vietnamese (PAVN) forces reached ‘Xuan Loc’, the last line of defence before Saigon, where the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) 18th Division made a last ditch stand to try and hold the city, during fierce fighting that lasted for several days.
However, the PAVN finally overran ‘Xuan Loc’ on the 20th April despite heavy losses, and on 21th, President Thieu resigned in a tearful televised announcement in which he denounced the United States for failing to come to the aid of the South. The North Vietnamese front line was now just 26 kilometres from downtown Saigon.
The victory at ‘Xuan Loc’, which had drawn many South Vietnamese troops away from the Mekong Delta area, opened the way for the PAVN to encircle Saigon. Moving 100,000 troops into positions around the city by the 27th April. However, by this time the ARVN having few defenders realised, the fate of the city was effectively sealed.
Increasingly flocks of helicopters were constantly flying overhead. They watched, as some landed on pre-selected buildings picking up what Chris could only guess were important people from around the city. While not receiving any information from headquarters, as to what they had to do in a situation that might cut them off from their headquarters. Chris and Johnno decided that it looked like they were going to be hung out to dry as they called it. Increasingly they were coming across burnt out vehicles all over the city, and in some places the roads were completely blocked.
Suddenly as they turned a corner a large bright flash of light filled the truck, very quickly followed by a deafening explosion on the bonnet of the truck in front of them. The vehicle jumped into the air and rolled over on its side, sliding about fifty feet along the road before coming to a halt. It was a couple of minutes before Chris came around and started to feel his body for signs that he had been wounded. No use relying on his body to tell him as he ached all over. Although he
and probably all of them had been deafened by the explosion. A couple of minutes later Johnno was shaking his hand asking how he was. Johnno had managed to get away without a scratch, while others in the vehicle were not so lucky. Both the driver and front passenger were dead. A couple near the front in the back were also dead along with three children. Two of the women including June had survived along with two children, as had Chris and Johnno. It took several minutes to get themselves out of the vehicle and check each other over for wounds. The women were not too bad and could at least walk. Although Chris was more interested in June, who seemed to have gotten away none the worse for wear.
Suddenly another military vehicle pulled up beside them to offer help. It was already crowded with military personnel fleeing the area, and could only take two. Chris was by now walking okay, and insisted June and Anne along with the two children they were now carrying were to get on board. Insisting that he and Johnno would carry on by foot and try and get a lift further down the road.
It was only at that point he suddenly realised that they were about to be parted, and he still wanted to learn more about her. Would they ever meet again? Panic took over him on what to do next. He grabbed her by the waist and planted a big kiss on her cheek. Then after helping her climb on board, the truck started to pull away from them. “Where do you usually live” he shouted to her. “London” she called back, and within seconds she was gone. Leaving Chris feeling sad, and realising that he would miss their chats and daily company. Not to mention would he ever see her again.
It did not take them long to realise that two western looking guys walking along a road in Saigon were probably Americans. While there only protection was Johnno’s pistol and six rounds. As Chris had lost his during the crash, and in his haste to extricate himself from the vehicle, although he had not realised it at the time. Being civilians on foot in a war zone, makes them very vulnerable. To not only to Charlie, but also a target for the local thieves and looters, most of who were armed.
As they made their way in the direction of the Airport they did not notice that the exploding shells seemed to be getting closer. Suddenly a single shot rang out and Johnno dropped to the ground just in front of him making no noise. Chris dropped to his knees beside him and checked him out looking for a pulse in his neck. He was not surprised to find that there was not, as there was a fast bleeding hole on the left side of his temple. His first reaction was that a professional had delivered a shot that good, and if he did not move quickly and get out of the area he would be the next victim.
It hurt Chris to leave Johnno lying in the road, but this was not a time to be sentimental and hanging around. He was in a hurry and needed to keep moving. All the time trying to come up with a plan on what he was to do next. However, there seemed to be a lot going on in the area as helicopters were still frequently flying around overhead. Chris was a realist, he knew that no pilot would waste time trying to pick him up from the street, as they were probably all under strict orders to pick up more important people that himself. Anyway they would not have known who he was.
Un-known to Chris, President Ford had finally approved a plan in which all but 1,250 Americans would be flown out of Saigon. Those remaining would be enough to be evacuated quickly, and flown out in a single day’s helicopter airlift. It was also unknown to Chris, that this plan had just been put into operation.
President Ford was hoping to prevent total chaos, and to prevent the real possibility of the South Vietnamese turning against Americans, and to prevent all out bloodshed from occurring.
The U.S. was also concern as to whether the use of military force to support and carry out the evacuation was permitted under the newly passed War Powers Act back in the U.S. Although eventually White House lawyers determined that the use of American forces to rescue citizens in an emergency was unlikely to run afoul of the law. However, the legality of using military assets to withdraw refugees was unknown at that time. The troops on the ground needed protecting and time discussing the fine details was running out fast. Somebody had to decide and the paper work could be worked out at a later date when everybody was safe.
When Chris arrived at the next corner he looked up to read the name of the street sign hanging on a nearby lamp post. It read ‘Gia Long Street’, suddenly the brain started turning over as he realised that he knew where he was. If he was not mistaken the American CIA Headquarters was located along this road at number 22, just his luck that it was at the other end of the street. Although that played to his advantage because as he approached he could see that some of the Helicopters were picking up the staff and agents from the flat topped roof. It was only then that he suddenly realised why Embassy’s and other Agencies all had flat roofs, now he knew. Learn something every day had always been his motto.
There were two Vietnamese guards on the front gate leading into the building. A small crowd had already started to gather as locals could see what was going on, and were hoping to be included in the evacuation.
Being white it was easy for Chris to bluff his way past the guards, ordering them to keep the gates locked and the civilian locals out.
Once in the house there was no movement or sign of anybody telling Chris that they must all be up on the roof, so he headed for the stairs. As he reached the top floor he could see through the window that a crowd had gathered on the roof. Chris climbed out of the window onto the roof of another part of the building. He caught the eye of somebody he realised must have been in charge and asked what was happening. His response was to tell Chris that a flight had just left heading for a carrier waiting off shore. He would then return to what he thought might be its last flight as Charlie was closing in fast, and they did not want the chopper brought down.
Chris looked around at the size of the crowd and could not help thinking that he was not going to get a seat, leaving him to conclude that he would probably be left behind. Realising that he was not as important as the CIA members. With that he headed back down stairs looking for ideas as to what he might do next. Looking around the room he found a short length of rope, which gave him an idea. Arriving back at the window he decided to stay where he was until the chopper arrived back. Not wanting to give his plan away too soon.
He then tied the rope around his waist with a Bowline on the bite knot. Sometimes known as a double Bowline. A knot that will not slip if tied correctly. When tied you pass two loops around your waist and make the double knot in front of you. One of the loops is then passed around your waist, while the other is adjusted below your backside so you can sit in it and lean back. It being a quick and easy way of making a Boson’s chair used by many to rescue people, either hoisting them up or to lower them down.
After 15 minutes the chopper eventually arrived and landed on the roof. Once it was stationary and the guard standing to the right of the door hatch started loading those waiting. It was chaos with everybody pushing and shoving. Something that Chris was about to take advantage of. He walked over and just a little further to the guard’s right hand side started to tie his rope to the landing gear skids. The guard was occupied with the chaos, and loading of the passengers that he did not notice what Chris was doing.
As the last passenger boarded there was only one seat left and the guard just turned and jumped in screaming to the pilot to go. As the chopper started to lift it could hardly get off the ground, and it was only then that the guard saw that Chris was hanging from his rope below him. It was also apparent that the chopper was drastically over weight, but as it lifted it also moved forward and by now they were over the main road running along the front of the building. Chris screamed frantically above the roar of the engine to “keep going”. Somehow the message was passed on to the pilot. Who was struggling with the controls to gain height, by now some of the other passengers were getting worried that they might all be killed. Ordering the guard to cut Chris free and drop him. “Better to lose one guy, than a dozen.’ one of them shouted.
Somehow the pilot managed to keep going alth
ough he could not gain much height and was wandering around to miss other high building in the area, rather than fly a straight line over them. Therefore, he headed for the river, which was an open expanse of water, so he would not have to go around or over other buildings. Slowly he gained a certain amount of control. They were also in luck as Charlie, who had previously been entrenched in the lower river area a few days before, had moved to take up other position within the city.
By now Chris was shouting to the guard to head for a ship he could see ahead of them toward the river outlet and the sea. The guard suddenly realised what Chris was thinking and shouting the message onto the pilot. Although Chris was still being swung around and from side to side. At least they were making head way down the river. All Chris could do was to take in the view that was happening below on the river. As well as the large ship he wanted to get to, the river was full of many smaller craft all trying to escape from Charlie. Not to mention their intent of cleansing the city of all western ideas that they had been fighting for many years.
As they approached the ship they could see that it was a medium size local cargo Freighter, with a couple of dozen containers on its deck. As for friendly or not, at least it was heading in the right direction away from Saigon. Therefore, Chris just assumed and hoped that it was on their side. Anyway it was too late to change the plans. Knowing full well that the overweight Helicopter would never make it out into the bay and the safety of a USS Okinawa Aircraft Carrier.
With a smile on his face Chris shouted up to the Guard “Lend me a knife”. Although he did not have one, the Co-pilot passed one back and it was handed down to Chris. “Thanks” he shouted, “Now just drop me off on one of the containers and I hope you all make it” “By the way my names Chris what’s yours”. To which he shouted “Jake, Jake Fields, Best of Luck.” “And the same to you all.” Chris replied.
The chopper slowly made its way to one of the containers that had a lot of clear space around it, so as not to hit anything with the rotor blades. Finally, Chis was standing on the container and cut himself free. Then waving to those above, and thanking them they gained some height and headed off towards what Chris could only surmise was where the USS Okinawa was waiting for them.
The chopper was still struggling to gain height, leading Chris to believe that they had already been over weight before he added his little bit of extra hanging underneath. Much later Chris was to learn that the Chopper was just pushed over the side of the carrier to make more room for many others that kept arriving. Therefore, Chris had been correct if he had not tied himself on he would have been left behind.
Chris did find himself on a local cargo Freighter that was also trying to escape the clutches of Charlie, and of the blood bath that all in Saigon were expecting to follow.
Within a few days the Freighter docked in Singapore, and immigration handed him over to the British Embassy who fixed him up with a new passport as Chris had arrived with only the clothes on his back. A few days later he bordered a flight to the UK.
Tuesday 29th April 1975 had not turn out to be just any old Tuesday. The NVA forces under the command of General Van Tien Dung began their final attack and assault on Saigon. The ‘Tan Son Nhut’ Airport was also bombarded and killed the last two American servicemen to die in Vietnam. Flights having continued until the artillery attacks rendered further flights impossible. However, not before 3,000 infants and children had been evacuated. Along with ‘Operation New Life’, over 110,000 other refugees were eventually evacuated from South Vietnam to the island of Guam in the Pacific Ocean before the fall of Saigon.
By the following afternoon the V.C. troops had occupied the important points of the city and raised their flag over the South Vietnamese Presidential Palace. The South Vietnamese Government capitulated shortly afterward, and it was renamed ‘Ho Chi Minh’ city, after the Democratic Republic's late President Ho Chi Minh.
However, the capture of the city had been preceded by the evacuation of almost all the American civilian and military personnel in Saigon, along with tens of thousands of South Vietnamese civilians associated with the Southern Regime. The evacuation culminated in ‘Operation Frequent Wind’, the largest helicopter evacuation in history. In addition to the flight of refugees, the end of the war and institution of new rules by the Communists contributed to a drastic decline in the city’s population. During the last days of the Vietnam War, helicopters evacuated more than 7,000 people from various areas around Saigon. The airlift resulted in a number of enduring photos. Like the evacuation of CIA Headquarters personnel by Air America from the rooftop of Number 22 Gia Long Street on the 29th April.