1 00:00:03,660 --> 00:00:06,279 [Music] 2 00:00:06,279 --> 00:00:08,960 a communist Armada rolls into 3 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:11,360 place spring 4 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:14,040 1975 it is 30 years since the first 5 00:00:14,040 --> 00:00:16,840 shots were fired in the Vietnam War now 6 00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:19,400 2 years after America's withdrawal a 7 00:00:19,400 --> 00:00:22,760 final offensive is about to 8 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:28,240 begin it will take just 55 more days to 9 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:31,170 end a 10,000 day war 10 00:00:31,170 --> 00:00:54,520 [Music] 11 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:01,920 oh 12 00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:16,640 January 13 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:20,079 1973 the Paris peace treaty is 14 00:01:20,079 --> 00:01:22,920 signed under the treaty only 50 US 15 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:25,600 military advisers remain from a one-time 16 00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:27,320 force of half a 17 00:01:27,320 --> 00:01:30,360 million the main compromise allows o to 18 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:33,720 keep 150,000 regular troops in the South 19 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:36,280 and allows president Chu to remain in 20 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:39,000 power although Congress forbids further 21 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:41,920 US military action President Nixon gives 22 00:01:41,920 --> 00:01:45,000 two secret assurances that America will 23 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:48,040 use full force if necessary but in 24 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:49,040 August 25 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:52,600 1974 Nixon 26 00:01:52,660 --> 00:01:55,640 [Music] 27 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:58,799 resigns in December 1974 the Communist 28 00:01:58,799 --> 00:02:01,680 leaders meet in Han 29 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:03,759 they decide upon a 2-year program for 30 00:02:03,759 --> 00:02:05,280 military 31 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:08,440 Victory their immediate plan is to force 32 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:10,120 two from 33 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:13,040 office North Vietnam's Chief strategist 34 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:16,319 is defense minister bone win 35 00:02:16,319 --> 00:02:20,239 [ __ ] even in Saigon people are opposing T 36 00:02:20,239 --> 00:02:22,959 and trying to overthrow him you can't 37 00:02:22,959 --> 00:02:25,280 survive if you go against the people's 38 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:28,160 will the American imperialists thought 39 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:29,920 even when they withdrew their troops 40 00:02:29,920 --> 00:02:32,319 from Vietnam they would still continue 41 00:02:32,319 --> 00:02:34,959 to transform part of Vietnam into a new 42 00:02:34,959 --> 00:02:38,080 colony of theirs even now if they deploy 43 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:40,680 their Air Force and navy they will fail 44 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:43,599 again the Vietnamese people do not fear 45 00:02:43,599 --> 00:02:46,239 such things it is obvious that our 46 00:02:46,239 --> 00:02:48,760 people in particular our countrymen and 47 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:51,159 soldiers fighting in the South have 48 00:02:51,159 --> 00:02:54,319 beaten the American 49 00:02:56,440 --> 00:02:58,680 imperialists two is still totally 50 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:00,840 dependent on American to maintain his 51 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:05,640 army but Congress wants to end us 52 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:09,239 support as American Aid declines so does 53 00:03:09,239 --> 00:03:13,280 South Vietnamese morale since 73 from 54 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:14,959 the time we signed the peace agreement 55 00:03:14,959 --> 00:03:18,760 until 75 our war potential has been 56 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:20,440 reduced to 57 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:24,879 60% because of the cut of the economic 58 00:03:24,879 --> 00:03:26,480 and the military 59 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:29,959 aid from the United States and that I 60 00:03:29,959 --> 00:03:33,319 say that the Vietnamization has uh not 61 00:03:33,319 --> 00:03:36,040 been honestly done as promised by the 62 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:38,560 United States this is the main reason of 63 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:41,280 the collapse of 64 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:45,000 saet in saigan there is still hope 65 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:47,799 America will 66 00:03:47,799 --> 00:03:52,159 return the capital is crowded with 67 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:57,560 refugees almost half the country's 68 00:03:57,560 --> 00:03:59,920 budget is spent on defense yet War War 69 00:03:59,920 --> 00:04:03,239 equipment is not being 70 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:06,599 replaced Hanoi now takes extraordinary 71 00:04:06,599 --> 00:04:09,239 efforts to ensure a surprise offensive 72 00:04:09,239 --> 00:04:11,599 the field commander General van Tien 73 00:04:11,599 --> 00:04:14,959 zong is sent into South Vietnam but to 74 00:04:14,959 --> 00:04:16,759 remain anonymous he travels part of the 75 00:04:16,759 --> 00:04:20,359 way by bicycle journalist Wilfred Brett 76 00:04:20,359 --> 00:04:22,759 they wented great considerable lengths 77 00:04:22,759 --> 00:04:26,880 to guards keep secrecy they kept secret 78 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:28,800 the fact that that vanen zung had even 79 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:30,919 gone to the South they kept issuing 80 00:04:30,919 --> 00:04:32,840 birthday message or congratulatory 81 00:04:32,840 --> 00:04:35,560 messages from Hanoi signed in his name 82 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:37,199 and his car went to the staff 83 00:04:37,199 --> 00:04:39,479 headquarters at the same time every 84 00:04:39,479 --> 00:04:42,199 morning so at all levels they were very 85 00:04:42,199 --> 00:04:43,919 conscious of the need for secrecy and I 86 00:04:43,919 --> 00:04:46,840 think very effectively kept the 87 00:04:46,840 --> 00:04:49,240 secret Hanoi moves three armored 88 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:52,000 infantry divisions around banut in the 89 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:54,600 western Highlands though banat is a 90 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:57,320 strategic Center only 4,000 South 91 00:04:57,320 --> 00:05:00,140 Vietnamese troops are deployed there 92 00:05:00,140 --> 00:05:02,639 [Music] 93 00:05:02,639 --> 00:05:05,199 2 a.m. March 10th 94 00:05:05,199 --> 00:05:09,240 1975 an artillery barrage opens the 95 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:11,680 [Music] 96 00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:15,199 attack tanks spearhead the 25,000 man 97 00:05:15,199 --> 00:05:19,720 communist Force they encircle the 98 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:23,840 City by dawn after 4 hours of intense 99 00:05:23,840 --> 00:05:27,039 artillery fire North Vietnamese infantry 100 00:05:27,039 --> 00:05:28,479 penetrates the 101 00:05:28,479 --> 00:05:31,479 defenses 102 00:05:35,980 --> 00:05:39,169 [Music] 103 00:05:42,199 --> 00:05:45,199 president 2 has no time to reinforce on 104 00:05:45,199 --> 00:05:47,840 the first day of battle most of the city 105 00:05:47,840 --> 00:05:49,160 is 106 00:05:49,160 --> 00:05:52,440 captured by next morning fighting ends 107 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:54,120 half of the South Vietnamese soldiers 108 00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:57,080 surrender or desert the first big battle 109 00:05:57,080 --> 00:06:00,199 of the final offensive is over now in 110 00:06:00,199 --> 00:06:01,919 one of the most controversial moves of 111 00:06:01,919 --> 00:06:04,560 the war president Chu abandons two 112 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:07,240 Northern provinces he also decides to 113 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:10,120 evacuate the entire Highlands region and 114 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:12,639 redeploy his troops further south we 115 00:06:12,639 --> 00:06:14,720 have not to 116 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:17,400 wait before it become too late and we 117 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:19,319 cannot do anything we have to take the 118 00:06:19,319 --> 00:06:22,880 risk a calculated risk you know because 119 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:25,400 of the the redeployment the withdraw 120 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:29,000 without Mobility without the great five 121 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:31,880 powers support is a risk but it's a must 122 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:33,990 for 123 00:06:33,990 --> 00:06:35,520 [Applause] 124 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:37,960 us the withdrawal from the highlands 125 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:40,759 becomes a trail of blood and confusion 126 00:06:40,759 --> 00:06:43,800 from the towns of pleu and Kon half a 127 00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:45,800 million soldiers and civilians flee 128 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:48,240 toward the 129 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:51,599 coast military authorities choose an 130 00:06:51,599 --> 00:06:54,400 almost unusable Highway believing it's 131 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:58,400 safe from communist attack they are 132 00:06:58,400 --> 00:06:59,830 wrong 133 00:06:59,830 --> 00:07:01,560 [Music] 134 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:04,479 the North Vietnamese fire on the retreat 135 00:07:04,479 --> 00:07:07,390 it becomes known as the Convoy of 136 00:07:07,390 --> 00:07:10,459 [Music] 137 00:07:11,020 --> 00:07:12,479 [Applause] 138 00:07:12,479 --> 00:07:14,440 Tears only 139 00:07:14,440 --> 00:07:18,000 120,000 one in four reach the coast 140 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:20,680 where the Panic 141 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:24,240 renews survivors tell of babies and old 142 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:27,039 people crushed by military vehicles and 143 00:07:27,039 --> 00:07:29,039 of children dying on the road from 144 00:07:29,039 --> 00:07:31,319 Hunger 145 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:33,160 the withdrawal was rated one of the 146 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:35,199 worst planned and worst executed in 147 00:07:35,199 --> 00:07:37,800 military 148 00:07:40,770 --> 00:07:43,930 [Music] 149 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:48,879 history it has a domino effect Province 150 00:07:48,879 --> 00:07:50,639 capitals begin falling at the rate of 151 00:07:50,639 --> 00:07:53,080 one a 152 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:58,280 day president 2 now asks for Urgent US 153 00:07:58,280 --> 00:07:59,960 military action 154 00:07:59,960 --> 00:08:01,800 Washington's response is relayed by 155 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:05,680 Ambassador bu DM by the time I Rose back 156 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:09,199 home half the country was lot already 157 00:08:09,199 --> 00:08:12,520 and uh I did say frankly to all my 158 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:15,800 friends that there is no more 159 00:08:15,800 --> 00:08:21,039 hopes from the US side it means that if 160 00:08:21,039 --> 00:08:24,159 the things comes to wor the American 161 00:08:24,159 --> 00:08:26,720 wouldn't come back again so we have to 162 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:31,240 think in terms of realities 163 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:34,320 in saigan strict censorship keeps hope 164 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:36,599 in the 165 00:08:37,680 --> 00:08:40,519 headlines few Saigon know the full 166 00:08:40,519 --> 00:08:43,880 military disaster publicly Tu says his 167 00:08:43,880 --> 00:08:45,959 troops are 168 00:08:45,959 --> 00:08:50,240 holding anoi March 18th North Vietnam's 169 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:52,000 leaders savored their biggest victory 170 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:54,959 since defeating the French 21 years 171 00:08:54,959 --> 00:08:57,440 earlier they decide on a daring new 172 00:08:57,440 --> 00:09:01,519 strategy to cut South Vietnam in half 173 00:09:01,519 --> 00:09:03,440 the main prize will be the ancient city 174 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:06,279 of whei Vietnam's old capital and 175 00:09:06,279 --> 00:09:08,760 spiritual 176 00:09:12,120 --> 00:09:15,160 center within 24 hours preparations for 177 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:17,720 the attack 178 00:09:18,340 --> 00:09:22,320 [Music] 179 00:09:22,399 --> 00:09:25,040 begin Way's Northern defenses are hit 180 00:09:25,040 --> 00:09:29,399 first then heavy 130 mm guns hammer the 181 00:09:29,399 --> 00:09:31,519 southern and western 182 00:09:31,519 --> 00:09:34,399 approaches now way is cut off from dang 183 00:09:34,399 --> 00:09:37,959 to the south on March 25th after a 3-day 184 00:09:37,959 --> 00:09:41,920 Siege way Falls without resistance the 185 00:09:41,920 --> 00:09:44,279 Communist flag had flown here for 28 186 00:09:44,279 --> 00:09:46,800 days during the T offensive in 187 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:50,079 1968 this time it will 188 00:09:50,079 --> 00:09:52,560 stay the North Vietnamese Advance 189 00:09:52,560 --> 00:09:55,160 continues almost unopposed as South 190 00:09:55,160 --> 00:09:58,399 Vietnamese forces break and run at the 191 00:09:58,399 --> 00:10:01,120 first communist Advance on way the area 192 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:04,320 commander orders Retreat officers then 193 00:10:04,320 --> 00:10:06,519 their men abandon the city and its 194 00:10:06,519 --> 00:10:09,120 civilians their only Escape Route is the 195 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:12,240 sea South to 196 00:10:12,240 --> 00:10:15,200 dang in the Panic many troops drown 197 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:18,040 trying to reach the 198 00:10:19,079 --> 00:10:21,720 boats at dang there is a widespread 199 00:10:21,720 --> 00:10:23,440 belief that a deal has been made to 200 00:10:23,440 --> 00:10:26,079 abandon the city to the Communists 3 201 00:10:26,079 --> 00:10:31,040 million people try to flee South 202 00:10:37,660 --> 00:10:40,750 [Music] 203 00:10:46,440 --> 00:10:48,880 as 35,000 North Vietnamese troops 204 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:51,320 approach Danang the South Vietnamese 205 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:54,040 Commander abandons his men other 206 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:58,000 officers remove their uniforms and 207 00:10:58,040 --> 00:11:01,040 hide 208 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:10,289 [Applause] 209 00:11:12,079 --> 00:11:14,120 the opening artillery barrage is enough 210 00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:15,120 to end 211 00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:17,800 resistance 100,000 South Vietnamese 212 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:20,040 soldiers surrender after being left 213 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:24,560 leaderless dang Falls in only 32 hours 214 00:11:24,560 --> 00:11:30,959 former Premier NN Ki now for that final 215 00:11:31,079 --> 00:11:34,639 debacle I have to admit that it's 216 00:11:34,639 --> 00:11:37,639 our 217 00:11:37,760 --> 00:11:42,079 responsibilities or to be exact I should 218 00:11:42,079 --> 00:11:45,519 say it's Mr T 219 00:11:45,519 --> 00:11:48,360 responsibilities B me to it when it 220 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:51,519 first started commanding officers 221 00:11:51,519 --> 00:11:56,360 ran first in the AO area Danang 222 00:11:56,360 --> 00:12:00,279 commanding officers R every everywhere 223 00:12:00,279 --> 00:12:04,000 commanding officers run first and all 224 00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:06,800 those commanding officers were appointed 225 00:12:06,800 --> 00:12:09,000 by Mr 226 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:11,480 T at the first 227 00:12:11,480 --> 00:12:15,600 time the morale of the army was affect 228 00:12:15,600 --> 00:12:18,040 not affected because they have been just 229 00:12:18,040 --> 00:12:22,040 overrun affected since two years because 230 00:12:22,040 --> 00:12:24,480 everyone understand that the military 231 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:25,880 act has been 232 00:12:25,880 --> 00:12:29,279 cut the economic act has been cut 233 00:12:29,279 --> 00:12:32,760 there's many signs that America have 234 00:12:32,760 --> 00:12:33,959 abandoned 235 00:12:33,959 --> 00:12:37,000 us by early April the Communists control 236 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:39,760 the North and 237 00:12:42,079 --> 00:12:44,480 Center there's new respect for the North 238 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:47,480 Vietnamese field commander General zung 239 00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:49,560 he is an outstanding tactician like his 240 00:12:49,560 --> 00:12:51,120 tutor General 241 00:12:51,120 --> 00:12:54,240 [ __ ] of this period he wrote we 242 00:12:54,240 --> 00:12:57,000 understood that time is strength and 243 00:12:57,000 --> 00:13:00,000 that an opportune moment is priceless 244 00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:02,959 less the US Army Chief of Staff General 245 00:13:02,959 --> 00:13:06,800 wand now visits Vietnam he reports that 246 00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:09,959 Saigon urgently needs $700 Million worth 247 00:13:09,959 --> 00:13:12,720 of arms Replacements but politically 248 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:16,079 this is impossible South Vietnam's Army 249 00:13:16,079 --> 00:13:19,680 is doomed military analyst Brian Jenkins 250 00:13:19,680 --> 00:13:24,320 it was my belief that if that assistance 251 00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:26,279 were 252 00:13:26,279 --> 00:13:29,040 withdrawn uh that then this military 253 00:13:29,040 --> 00:13:32,079 machine that we had created in South 254 00:13:32,079 --> 00:13:35,120 Vietnam would indeed collapse of its own 255 00:13:35,120 --> 00:13:38,120 weight uh you know you've seen in in the 256 00:13:38,120 --> 00:13:42,519 museums these these suits of armor that 257 00:13:42,519 --> 00:13:44,440 look very very formidable of course 258 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:45,920 there's nothing inside of them and if 259 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:48,760 you give it a good kick uh the entire 260 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:50,560 thing tumbles to the ground and in 261 00:13:50,560 --> 00:13:52,959 effect that's what we were creating in 262 00:13:52,959 --> 00:13:55,279 in 263 00:13:56,680 --> 00:13:58,880 Vietnam behind the scenes there is 264 00:13:58,880 --> 00:14:01,199 pressure on two to resign in favor of 265 00:14:01,199 --> 00:14:03,279 neutralists with most of his country 266 00:14:03,279 --> 00:14:06,279 gone he tries to reassure his 267 00:14:06,279 --> 00:14:10,759 people so I have been very uh 268 00:14:10,759 --> 00:14:13,600 calm at that 269 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:16,680 period we have been overrun but not 270 00:14:16,680 --> 00:14:19,920 all oneir of the army has been overrun 271 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:23,160 but not all uh oneir of the country or 272 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:25,079 half of country has been overrun but not 273 00:14:25,079 --> 00:14:29,320 all we still have many more crucial 274 00:14:29,320 --> 00:14:33,199 area and we still have a 275 00:14:35,199 --> 00:14:37,959 strength the only special American aid 276 00:14:37,959 --> 00:14:41,399 program is called operation baby lift 277 00:14:41,399 --> 00:14:43,839 the evacuation of 2,000 orphans to the 278 00:14:43,839 --> 00:14:48,680 United States it begins tragically a c5a 279 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:51,120 the world's biggest transport plane 280 00:14:51,120 --> 00:14:57,079 crashes outside Saigon and 140 children 281 00:14:57,680 --> 00:14:59,199 die 282 00:14:59,199 --> 00:15:01,079 the disasters in the field can no longer 283 00:15:01,079 --> 00:15:03,639 be hidden Saigon begins to strengthen 284 00:15:03,639 --> 00:15:06,160 its Highway perimeters the Communist 285 00:15:06,160 --> 00:15:08,240 Advance is almost two years ahead of 286 00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:09,399 hano's 287 00:15:09,399 --> 00:15:11,680 expectations North Vietnam expert 288 00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:13,839 Wilfred berett well right at the 289 00:15:13,839 --> 00:15:16,680 beginning it was felt that for the 290 00:15:16,680 --> 00:15:19,639 first uh the first season offensive 291 00:15:19,639 --> 00:15:21,279 season attack it would be good enough if 292 00:15:21,279 --> 00:15:24,160 they got to Danang dug in there 293 00:15:24,160 --> 00:15:25,720 Consolidated and so forth and then the 294 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:29,399 next operational season went on down to 295 00:15:29,399 --> 00:15:32,600 Saigon and the meong Delta but it was 296 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:34,440 the the panic in way and the the 297 00:15:34,440 --> 00:15:36,480 collapse in in 298 00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:39,880 Danang and uh 299 00:15:39,880 --> 00:15:42,079 the the ease with which all these 300 00:15:42,079 --> 00:15:44,560 provincial capitals just fell one after 301 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:48,240 another and the fact that the um the 302 00:15:48,240 --> 00:15:50,600 cyclon command was unable to most 303 00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:52,160 consolidate its troops they were not 304 00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:54,240 able to withdraw properly and 305 00:15:54,240 --> 00:15:56,600 regroup and uh everything was done in a 306 00:15:56,600 --> 00:15:59,519 very slipshod and haphazard a fashion 307 00:15:59,519 --> 00:16:01,360 with very very little morale the only 308 00:16:01,360 --> 00:16:05,279 real battle was in fact at Swan 309 00:16:05,279 --> 00:16:08,720 loock Swan L is a small provincial 310 00:16:08,720 --> 00:16:12,519 capital only 38 Mi Northeast of Saigon 311 00:16:12,519 --> 00:16:15,639 it blocks the main communist 312 00:16:15,639 --> 00:16:18,480 Advance Zan luck is the Last Hope for 313 00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:20,600 those who believe an all outand can 314 00:16:20,600 --> 00:16:23,560 prevent military 315 00:16:26,399 --> 00:16:29,720 collapse April 9th the North Vietnamese 316 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:33,000 open fire on Zan luak but this time 317 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:35,480 there is no easy Victory the Communists 318 00:16:35,480 --> 00:16:39,199 later called the Fighting Fierce and 319 00:16:39,199 --> 00:16:42,199 cruel 40,000 North Vietnamese troops 320 00:16:42,199 --> 00:16:44,560 launch an assault against the city they 321 00:16:44,560 --> 00:16:48,880 are repelled The Defenders 322 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:53,789 [Applause] 323 00:16:57,480 --> 00:17:00,480 Counterattack 324 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:03,880 in anxious Saigon the name Zan Lu become 325 00:17:03,880 --> 00:17:07,360 synonymous with hope and 326 00:17:08,030 --> 00:17:11,880 [Applause] 327 00:17:11,880 --> 00:17:14,480 heroism the North Vietnamese decide to 328 00:17:14,480 --> 00:17:17,039 bypass Zan loock and strike at the next 329 00:17:17,039 --> 00:17:19,799 city banoa closer to 330 00:17:19,799 --> 00:17:23,400 zon after a week both bienen and Zan Lo 331 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:26,720 are outflanked the Defenders Retreat it 332 00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:30,400 is April 16th 333 00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:32,240 for the North Vietnamese generals the 334 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:35,080 way to Saigon is open they order its 335 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:38,480 capture within 2 weeks by May 1st ano 336 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:41,840 strategist Colonel haran 337 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:44,559 La the Army units that had the mission 338 00:17:44,559 --> 00:17:47,760 of encircling and attacking Saigon only 339 00:17:47,760 --> 00:17:49,640 took with them what was necessary for 340 00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:51,840 the 341 00:17:53,280 --> 00:17:57,120 fight some advanced in convoys others 342 00:17:57,120 --> 00:18:00,679 Advanced on foot and ran and made 50 343 00:18:00,679 --> 00:18:03,360 kilometers a 344 00:18:07,679 --> 00:18:10,919 day they didn't even eat because it was 345 00:18:10,919 --> 00:18:14,039 the goal The Taking of Saigon that was 346 00:18:14,039 --> 00:18:16,720 their first 347 00:18:22,580 --> 00:18:24,520 [Music] 348 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:27,919 preoccupation saon itself appears calm 349 00:18:27,919 --> 00:18:30,520 poent mounts as supplies of gasoline and 350 00:18:30,520 --> 00:18:33,600 other Commodities grow 351 00:18:38,120 --> 00:18:40,600 short refugees keep crowding 352 00:18:40,600 --> 00:18:43,559 [Music] 353 00:18:43,559 --> 00:18:47,200 in now the elite see no way out 354 00:18:47,200 --> 00:18:49,480 sincerely I do not know what's going to 355 00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:52,360 happen next so I'm you know I I know 356 00:18:52,360 --> 00:18:55,000 that I'm expecting something but I don't 357 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:56,679 know 358 00:18:56,679 --> 00:18:59,480 what president you is now under intense 359 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:00,840 pressure to 360 00:19:00,840 --> 00:19:03,280 resign his suggested replacement is 361 00:19:03,280 --> 00:19:06,480 neutralist General dwan van Min known as 362 00:19:06,480 --> 00:19:08,880 bigman it's believed the Communists 363 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:10,880 might negotiate a coalition government 364 00:19:10,880 --> 00:19:11,720 with 365 00:19:11,720 --> 00:19:16,280 him senior Cia analyst Frank snip bigman 366 00:19:16,280 --> 00:19:19,919 was a self-proclaimed neutralist he'd uh 367 00:19:19,919 --> 00:19:21,520 called himself a member of the third 368 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:23,880 Force he had a brother or a cousin there 369 00:19:23,880 --> 00:19:27,480 was some debate over this uh who was uh 370 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:29,200 a high ranking North Vietnamese 371 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:32,840 political officer a general so uh big 372 00:19:32,840 --> 00:19:35,919 men was the the last American hope T had 373 00:19:35,919 --> 00:19:38,480 to be got out of the way on April 20th 374 00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:41,640 US ambassador gram Martin visits T I 375 00:19:41,640 --> 00:19:44,840 simply went to president T and and laid 376 00:19:44,840 --> 00:19:48,640 out on the table as clearly as I could 377 00:19:48,640 --> 00:19:52,559 Marshal the facts that they seemed to me 378 00:19:52,559 --> 00:19:55,360 to be relevant to the situation the 379 00:19:55,360 --> 00:19:58,000 military situation what the other side 380 00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:01,520 had what we had the political situation 381 00:20:01,520 --> 00:20:03,919 the attitude in his own Administration 382 00:20:03,919 --> 00:20:06,840 among his own generals and expressed the 383 00:20:06,840 --> 00:20:11,360 conviction that while I did not believe 384 00:20:11,360 --> 00:20:14,000 myself that there was any possibility of 385 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:18,120 such a transition it was clear that some 386 00:20:18,120 --> 00:20:21,440 of his own generals wished to attempt it 387 00:20:21,440 --> 00:20:25,919 but would not do so with him in 388 00:20:27,159 --> 00:20:30,799 position the next day April 21st Chu 389 00:20:30,799 --> 00:20:33,520 resigns the 390 00:20:33,919 --> 00:20:36,200 presidency As a caretaker government 391 00:20:36,200 --> 00:20:38,919 takes over T is hurried into 392 00:20:38,919 --> 00:20:41,480 Exile and it so happened that it was my 393 00:20:41,480 --> 00:20:44,600 job to get t to the 394 00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:48,039 airport shortly after his resignation 395 00:20:48,039 --> 00:20:51,200 and what a night it was it was a a 396 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:53,480 Starlet night there were tracers out 397 00:20:53,480 --> 00:20:57,120 along the perimeters of tonsen tonsen 398 00:20:57,120 --> 00:21:00,039 Airbase several colleagues and myself 399 00:21:00,039 --> 00:21:03,360 from the CIA as well as the CIA station 400 00:21:03,360 --> 00:21:06,640 Chief collected uh limousines I was 401 00:21:06,640 --> 00:21:08,760 armed to the teeth because I had visions 402 00:21:08,760 --> 00:21:10,919 of what had happened to Zam in 403 00:21:10,919 --> 00:21:14,240 1963 ordered out of the car cut down by 404 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:15,279 Young 405 00:21:15,279 --> 00:21:17,840 Turks it was rather amusing to think 406 00:21:17,840 --> 00:21:19,919 back on it because we certainly couldn't 407 00:21:19,919 --> 00:21:21,960 have defended ourselves with the the 408 00:21:21,960 --> 00:21:25,120 AK47 under my seat the snubnose 38 409 00:21:25,120 --> 00:21:27,360 strapped on my hip it was a great 410 00:21:27,360 --> 00:21:29,640 adventure and I looked in the the rear 411 00:21:29,640 --> 00:21:31,960 view mirror at T's eyes and they were 412 00:21:31,960 --> 00:21:33,880 glistening with tears at that point as 413 00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:36,520 we as we passed through the air base on 414 00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:37,960 the way to the airplane that was to 415 00:21:37,960 --> 00:21:40,159 whisk him out of the country T leaned 416 00:21:40,159 --> 00:21:44,720 over the seat and he said thank you for 417 00:21:44,720 --> 00:21:45,720 all you've 418 00:21:45,720 --> 00:21:48,279 done and it came to me thank you for 419 00:21:48,279 --> 00:21:51,760 what for the 50,000 American lies that 420 00:21:51,760 --> 00:21:54,000 have been given here in Vietnam and I I 421 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:56,720 thought about saying that but being the 422 00:21:56,720 --> 00:22:00,320 big or the the loyal bureaucrat I was I 423 00:22:00,320 --> 00:22:02,960 kept my mouth shut shook his hands the 424 00:22:02,960 --> 00:22:05,440 man was crying I guess he didn't need 425 00:22:05,440 --> 00:22:07,400 that final 426 00:22:07,400 --> 00:22:09,880 humiliation he ran up to the airplane 427 00:22:09,880 --> 00:22:11,600 there were cameras banging on various 428 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:14,840 lapels the suitcases were whis aboard 429 00:22:14,840 --> 00:22:16,880 and there was Ambassador Martin 430 00:22:16,880 --> 00:22:19,679 immaculately tailored he was wearing his 431 00:22:19,679 --> 00:22:23,000 horn Rim uh glasses I believe looking 432 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:26,480 very much like a a professor nothing 433 00:22:26,480 --> 00:22:28,480 like an ambassador bidding Fair well to 434 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:31,960 the last V vesage of 435 00:22:31,960 --> 00:22:36,200 the American experiment in 436 00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:43,480 Vietnam politically it is 437 00:22:43,480 --> 00:22:46,559 over the boards his flight into Exile 438 00:22:46,559 --> 00:22:48,720 carrying a lasting bitterness toward 439 00:22:48,720 --> 00:22:52,000 America they have abon they have they 440 00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:54,799 have a s out to us they have a stab on 441 00:22:54,799 --> 00:22:58,039 their back on on our back it's it's true 442 00:22:58,039 --> 00:23:01,880 this is clear they have a bet 443 00:23:02,159 --> 00:23:05,559 R now over 3,000 people are leaving the 444 00:23:05,559 --> 00:23:08,000 capital 445 00:23:10,520 --> 00:23:14,559 daily embassies begin to 446 00:23:16,440 --> 00:23:19,080 empty American Personnel are preparing 447 00:23:19,080 --> 00:23:22,240 final evacuation 448 00:23:22,880 --> 00:23:25,480 plans the rich and influential South 449 00:23:25,480 --> 00:23:29,880 Vietnamese have already gone 450 00:23:32,039 --> 00:23:33,679 April 23rd 451 00:23:33,679 --> 00:23:36,640 1975 Communist forces less than 30 mi 452 00:23:36,640 --> 00:23:39,679 from Saigon begin an advance on all 453 00:23:39,679 --> 00:23:42,480 sides Hanoi had calculated on a final 454 00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:45,400 offensive lasting perhaps 2 years but 455 00:23:45,400 --> 00:23:47,159 only 7 weeks have passed since the 456 00:23:47,159 --> 00:23:49,679 offensive 457 00:23:50,640 --> 00:23:53,799 began the battle plan sends 100,000 458 00:23:53,799 --> 00:23:56,320 troops hurtling at Saigon from five 459 00:23:56,320 --> 00:23:58,760 directions their orders are to penetrate 460 00:23:58,760 --> 00:24:01,970 and occupy Saigon within a 461 00:24:01,970 --> 00:24:03,559 [Music] 462 00:24:03,559 --> 00:24:06,039 week the sounds of battle can be heard 463 00:24:06,039 --> 00:24:07,000 in the 464 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:10,000 city hundreds of thousands seek 465 00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:12,600 Escape many fear they will be executed 466 00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:15,480 by the Victorious communist their only 467 00:24:15,480 --> 00:24:17,640 hope is the American Embassy and an 468 00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:20,240 airlift to the United 469 00:24:20,240 --> 00:24:22,760 States on the same day as the North 470 00:24:22,760 --> 00:24:25,520 Vietnamese Advance President Gerald Ford 471 00:24:25,520 --> 00:24:28,320 in a speech in New Orleans declares the 472 00:24:28,320 --> 00:24:31,159 war is over 473 00:24:31,159 --> 00:24:35,640 today America can regain the sense of 474 00:24:35,640 --> 00:24:39,440 Pride that existed before Vietnam but it 475 00:24:39,440 --> 00:24:41,120 cannot be 476 00:24:41,120 --> 00:24:44,480 achieved by refighting a war that is 477 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:48,880 finished as far as America is 478 00:24:56,760 --> 00:24:59,010 concerned 479 00:24:59,010 --> 00:25:01,559 [Applause] 480 00:25:01,559 --> 00:25:04,919 hano's divisions race into position now 481 00:25:04,919 --> 00:25:07,080 there is no fear of American bombers 482 00:25:07,080 --> 00:25:10,200 which turned back previous 483 00:25:10,200 --> 00:25:12,279 offensives the Communists sweep through 484 00:25:12,279 --> 00:25:15,080 the rubber plantations east of Saigon 485 00:25:15,080 --> 00:25:17,640 the South Vietnamese greatly outnumbered 486 00:25:17,640 --> 00:25:20,520 only briefly 487 00:25:22,080 --> 00:25:24,840 resist Soviet built amphibious tanks 488 00:25:24,840 --> 00:25:27,760 easily Bridge the rivers then Roll Along 489 00:25:27,760 --> 00:25:29,960 the US built highways leading to the 490 00:25:29,960 --> 00:25:32,520 capital infantry convoys mop up 491 00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:35,240 resistance in villages and 492 00:25:35,240 --> 00:25:37,880 outposts long range artillery disables 493 00:25:37,880 --> 00:25:41,399 Saigon's main airport The Siege is fully 494 00:25:41,399 --> 00:25:44,710 in place Saigon is in 495 00:25:44,710 --> 00:25:47,760 [Music] 496 00:25:47,760 --> 00:25:50,760 circle within the city 30,000 South 497 00:25:50,760 --> 00:25:53,559 Vietnamese troops await ERS but many 498 00:25:53,559 --> 00:25:55,470 senior officers have 499 00:25:55,470 --> 00:25:56,679 [Music] 500 00:25:56,679 --> 00:25:58,720 deserted 501 00:25:58,720 --> 00:26:01,200 Saigon has a new government it appeals 502 00:26:01,200 --> 00:26:03,039 for peace talks and a 503 00:26:03,039 --> 00:26:06,240 ceasefire this goes 504 00:26:06,240 --> 00:26:11,159 unanswered now 72 hours remain Until the 505 00:26:11,159 --> 00:26:14,200 End Saigon's armor attempts to seal off 506 00:26:14,200 --> 00:26:17,000 the main highways tens of thousands of 507 00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:19,000 refugees try to board the last 508 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:22,799 helicopters leaving the city 509 00:26:24,440 --> 00:26:26,720 outskirts but soldiers flee the 510 00:26:26,720 --> 00:26:28,960 battlefield comeing endear the Choppers 511 00:26:28,960 --> 00:26:32,039 and Retreat into the 512 00:26:35,420 --> 00:26:35,600 [Music] 513 00:26:35,600 --> 00:26:38,750 [Applause] 514 00:26:38,840 --> 00:26:41,279 capital the refugee flood is greatest on 515 00:26:41,279 --> 00:26:43,640 the main artery from the East a four 516 00:26:43,640 --> 00:26:47,880 lane Highway wants the pride of American 517 00:26:47,880 --> 00:26:50,120 Engineers civilians and retreating 518 00:26:50,120 --> 00:26:52,120 soldiers sweep aide check points in 519 00:26:52,120 --> 00:26:56,080 their haste to escape the onrush of 520 00:26:56,600 --> 00:26:59,600 battle 521 00:27:03,919 --> 00:27:06,159 for the Communist forces the main 522 00:27:06,159 --> 00:27:08,640 problem is the speed of their Advance 523 00:27:08,640 --> 00:27:11,360 the troops are moving so quickly it is 524 00:27:11,360 --> 00:27:14,159 difficult to supply 525 00:27:22,930 --> 00:27:24,280 [Music] 526 00:27:24,280 --> 00:27:26,240 [Applause] 527 00:27:26,240 --> 00:27:29,880 them so gorillas act as guides providing 528 00:27:29,880 --> 00:27:31,600 maps and pointing out weaknesses in 529 00:27:31,600 --> 00:27:34,080 government 530 00:27:39,880 --> 00:27:41,720 [Applause] 531 00:27:41,720 --> 00:27:45,039 defenses by now 20,000 communist troops 532 00:27:45,039 --> 00:27:49,120 are within 12 Mi of the city 30,000 more 533 00:27:49,120 --> 00:27:51,720 are moving 534 00:27:56,039 --> 00:27:59,039 in in his dispatches the Communist field 535 00:27:59,039 --> 00:28:01,960 commander General zung Likens his forces 536 00:28:01,960 --> 00:28:05,960 to a Divine Hammer held Aloft Saigon's 537 00:28:05,960 --> 00:28:08,480 Army he wrote trembled in Fright 538 00:28:08,480 --> 00:28:11,440 watching The Hammer 539 00:28:19,630 --> 00:28:21,640 [Applause] 540 00:28:21,640 --> 00:28:24,320 descend but at a key bridge called dang 541 00:28:24,320 --> 00:28:27,000 naai on the main Eastern approach the 542 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:29,480 South Vietnamese put up a fierce 543 00:28:29,480 --> 00:28:31,760 resistance the bridge changes hands 544 00:28:31,760 --> 00:28:33,440 several times before the Communists 545 00:28:33,440 --> 00:28:34,600 secure 546 00:28:34,600 --> 00:28:38,279 it a major route into Saigon is now open 547 00:28:38,279 --> 00:28:41,039 to the attacking 548 00:28:42,159 --> 00:28:44,760 force with three nights remaining the 549 00:28:44,760 --> 00:28:47,360 Communist intensify the fighting 550 00:28:47,360 --> 00:28:49,519 infantry and artillery assault the city 551 00:28:49,519 --> 00:28:52,730 perimeter but here they 552 00:28:52,730 --> 00:28:53,550 [Applause] 553 00:28:53,550 --> 00:28:56,399 [Music] 554 00:28:56,399 --> 00:28:59,230 halt 555 00:28:59,230 --> 00:29:02,519 [Music] 556 00:29:05,080 --> 00:29:07,360 in captured areas communist cameramen 557 00:29:07,360 --> 00:29:09,360 record the population tearing down 558 00:29:09,360 --> 00:29:11,840 symbols of their former government and 559 00:29:11,840 --> 00:29:14,720 celebrating in the 560 00:29:16,399 --> 00:29:20,000 streets in Saigon 2 the Streets fill 561 00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:22,799 here the emotion is fear the large 562 00:29:22,799 --> 00:29:26,320 Catholic population is especially 563 00:29:26,320 --> 00:29:29,039 nervous gather to hear former prime 564 00:29:29,039 --> 00:29:32,000 minister NN K Kei he denounces his 565 00:29:32,000 --> 00:29:34,120 countrymen who have fled armed 566 00:29:34,120 --> 00:29:38,559 resistance can bring negotiations he 567 00:29:40,040 --> 00:29:43,320 [Music] 568 00:29:43,320 --> 00:29:46,159 says the best way is to hold the line in 569 00:29:46,159 --> 00:29:47,519 the 570 00:29:47,519 --> 00:29:50,519 military because if the collapse 571 00:29:50,519 --> 00:29:55,200 continue disintegration continue and 572 00:29:55,200 --> 00:29:59,320 then there's no need for 573 00:30:00,480 --> 00:30:02,760 negotiation but the Communists send a 574 00:30:02,760 --> 00:30:05,640 grim warning five rockets Dro into a 575 00:30:05,640 --> 00:30:10,720 crowded Saigon slum leaving 5,000 576 00:30:10,720 --> 00:30:15,399 homeless now fears of a bloodbath 577 00:30:19,600 --> 00:30:22,679 increase the next day April 28th the 578 00:30:22,679 --> 00:30:26,000 ring around Saigon tightens Saigon 579 00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:27,960 troops rush to the Newport bridge on the 580 00:30:27,960 --> 00:30:28,880 city 581 00:30:28,880 --> 00:30:31,399 outskirts North Vietnamese Commandos 582 00:30:31,399 --> 00:30:34,640 hold the far side of the 583 00:30:38,880 --> 00:30:41,679 bridge the bridge attack increases fears 584 00:30:41,679 --> 00:30:45,679 of a military showdown in the city 585 00:30:46,960 --> 00:30:49,679 itself the Communists broadcast demands 586 00:30:49,679 --> 00:30:53,760 for total surrender within 24 587 00:30:56,240 --> 00:30:59,360 hours the deadline abruptly ends hopes 588 00:30:59,360 --> 00:31:01,399 for a political settlement and it 589 00:31:01,399 --> 00:31:06,000 activates evacuation plans for 3,000 590 00:31:06,880 --> 00:31:09,399 Americans with the Newport Bridge attack 591 00:31:09,399 --> 00:31:11,480 Saigon's discipline 592 00:31:11,480 --> 00:31:14,080 breaks as the army of South Vietnam 593 00:31:14,080 --> 00:31:16,720 makes a final stand civilians loot the 594 00:31:16,720 --> 00:31:18,880 nearby American 595 00:31:18,880 --> 00:31:23,360 commissary deserting soldiers join 596 00:31:26,159 --> 00:31:28,039 in 597 00:31:28,039 --> 00:31:31,039 looting spreads throughout the city it 598 00:31:31,039 --> 00:31:34,279 is the last of the old life the last 599 00:31:34,279 --> 00:31:37,760 hours and the death of a 600 00:31:44,370 --> 00:31:47,450 [Music] 601 00:31:56,159 --> 00:31:59,159 Nation 602 00:32:18,440 --> 00:32:20,360 the Communists now attempt to close the 603 00:32:20,360 --> 00:32:21,799 last main 604 00:32:21,799 --> 00:32:24,360 exit five captured planes with North 605 00:32:24,360 --> 00:32:29,720 Vietnamese Pilots bomb Saigon t sanod 606 00:32:31,039 --> 00:32:33,679 airport a few hours later long range 607 00:32:33,679 --> 00:32:36,200 shells and Rockets wrecked the air strip 608 00:32:36,200 --> 00:32:38,200 leaving no choice for Ambassador Graham 609 00:32:38,200 --> 00:32:42,440 Martin and I picked up the phone and um 610 00:32:42,440 --> 00:32:45,320 told secretary Kissinger to inform the 611 00:32:45,320 --> 00:32:47,559 president that I had decided that we 612 00:32:47,559 --> 00:32:50,159 would have to go to option four to the 613 00:32:50,159 --> 00:32:53,120 helicopter airlift for the for the 614 00:32:53,120 --> 00:32:55,159 remaining Americans and for such 615 00:32:55,159 --> 00:32:59,039 Vietnamese as we could get out 616 00:32:59,720 --> 00:33:02,039 waiting off the southern coast is an 617 00:33:02,039 --> 00:33:04,240 evacuation task force of three American 618 00:33:04,240 --> 00:33:06,919 aircraft carriers with support ships and 619 00:33:06,919 --> 00:33:09,320 combat 620 00:33:14,880 --> 00:33:19,399 Marines noon April 29th the final Exodus 621 00:33:19,399 --> 00:33:22,000 is about to 622 00:33:22,600 --> 00:33:25,639 begin The Ballad I'm dreaming of a white 623 00:33:25,639 --> 00:33:28,080 Christmas is the code signal for the 624 00:33:28,080 --> 00:33:30,760 final American departure as it plays 625 00:33:30,760 --> 00:33:33,000 over the American Service radio 626 00:33:33,000 --> 00:33:35,639 officials businessmen and journalists 627 00:33:35,639 --> 00:33:38,399 gather at the embassy some Americans 628 00:33:38,399 --> 00:33:41,159 have spent a decade in Vietnam they have 629 00:33:41,159 --> 00:33:44,159 only hours to 630 00:33:45,840 --> 00:33:48,440 leave thousands of Vietnamese tried to 631 00:33:48,440 --> 00:33:51,000 join the evacuation they threatened to 632 00:33:51,000 --> 00:33:54,080 overwhelm Embassy 633 00:33:55,960 --> 00:33:57,600 guard 634 00:33:57,600 --> 00:34:00,000 for years the symbol of a wide ranging 635 00:34:00,000 --> 00:34:03,039 War the helicopters can now only land on 636 00:34:03,039 --> 00:34:07,360 the embassy roof or in its secluded 637 00:34:18,960 --> 00:34:21,200 compound hundreds of Americans and 638 00:34:21,200 --> 00:34:23,520 Vietnamese officials wait in priority 639 00:34:23,520 --> 00:34:26,240 groups the Marines briefly returned to 640 00:34:26,240 --> 00:34:29,240 Vietnam to keep 641 00:34:37,879 --> 00:34:40,399 order some Embassy staff spend their 642 00:34:40,399 --> 00:34:43,599 last moment shredding 643 00:34:44,599 --> 00:34:47,159 documents each Chopper takes an hour to 644 00:34:47,159 --> 00:34:49,440 reach the evacuation 645 00:34:49,440 --> 00:34:53,000 Fleet only a relative few can make 646 00:34:53,000 --> 00:34:57,280 it one is former prime minister key I 647 00:34:57,280 --> 00:35:01,599 landed on the Midway aircraft 648 00:35:01,599 --> 00:35:04,839 carrier and the Admiral captain of the 649 00:35:04,839 --> 00:35:07,680 ship received 650 00:35:07,680 --> 00:35:10,599 me and he left his 651 00:35:10,599 --> 00:35:13,880 office with his stop and just leave me 652 00:35:13,880 --> 00:35:18,119 alone so I I stood there for 15 or 25 653 00:35:18,119 --> 00:35:20,280 minutes just crying by myself I I 654 00:35:20,280 --> 00:35:24,000 couldn't stop it even I said to myself 655 00:35:24,000 --> 00:35:28,800 oh no I'm a sous never cry 656 00:35:28,839 --> 00:35:31,200 but it 657 00:35:39,720 --> 00:35:42,880 happened by now hundreds of Vietnamese 658 00:35:42,880 --> 00:35:44,640 civilians are attempting to crash the 659 00:35:44,640 --> 00:35:47,079 embassy 660 00:35:55,800 --> 00:35:56,880 Gates 661 00:35:56,880 --> 00:35:59,969 [Music] 662 00:36:02,230 --> 00:36:05,340 [Applause] 663 00:36:06,440 --> 00:36:08,280 only the most persistent break through 664 00:36:08,280 --> 00:36:11,240 and get a chance to 665 00:36:14,620 --> 00:36:20,650 [Laughter] 666 00:36:25,720 --> 00:36:28,720 escape 667 00:36:31,440 --> 00:36:33,520 in previous weeks a 100,000 South 668 00:36:33,520 --> 00:36:36,079 Vietnamese have bought their way out but 669 00:36:36,079 --> 00:36:38,119 the sudden American evacuation still 670 00:36:38,119 --> 00:36:41,319 leaves behind many long serving 671 00:36:41,319 --> 00:36:45,240 Vietnamese senior Cia analyst Frank snip 672 00:36:45,240 --> 00:36:47,160 I was sitting by the radios the top 673 00:36:47,160 --> 00:36:49,319 floor of the embassy monitoring the the 674 00:36:49,319 --> 00:36:52,560 flow of intelligence as it continued to 675 00:36:52,560 --> 00:36:55,440 come in from various places I listened 676 00:36:55,440 --> 00:36:57,880 to the radios and I would hear people 677 00:36:57,880 --> 00:37:00,880 calling in over our radios agents and 678 00:37:00,880 --> 00:37:02,680 employees who had been abandoned at 679 00:37:02,680 --> 00:37:05,640 various evacuation points I'm Mr laon I 680 00:37:05,640 --> 00:37:08,079 have served you for years save 681 00:37:08,079 --> 00:37:10,760 me I am Mr 682 00:37:10,760 --> 00:37:13,319 High save me and there was no way to 683 00:37:13,319 --> 00:37:15,760 save them then that I believe was the 684 00:37:15,760 --> 00:37:17,000 most 685 00:37:17,000 --> 00:37:20,119 tragic thing for me on that final day 686 00:37:20,119 --> 00:37:23,440 the voices over the radios and I still 687 00:37:23,440 --> 00:37:27,000 sleep I have nightmares and those voices 688 00:37:27,000 --> 00:37:29,079 still play in 689 00:37:29,079 --> 00:37:31,880 them an alternate evacuation plan is 690 00:37:31,880 --> 00:37:35,440 departure from Saigon by 691 00:37:36,839 --> 00:37:39,760 barge though in circling the city the 692 00:37:39,760 --> 00:37:41,560 Communists make it known they want an 693 00:37:41,560 --> 00:37:43,000 uncomplicated 694 00:37:43,000 --> 00:37:45,440 end they briefly delay their final 695 00:37:45,440 --> 00:37:48,480 assault to allow all Americans to leave 696 00:37:48,480 --> 00:37:51,680 one of the last to do so Frank snip I'd 697 00:37:51,680 --> 00:37:54,079 gone out with the last CIA contingent I 698 00:37:54,079 --> 00:37:55,599 got on the 699 00:37:55,599 --> 00:37:58,520 helicopter stumbled up the roof of uh up 700 00:37:58,520 --> 00:38:01,200 to the rooftop evacuation plaid got into 701 00:38:01,200 --> 00:38:04,560 the helicopter and pulled in uh several 702 00:38:04,560 --> 00:38:06,520 of the Vietnamese agents we' managed to 703 00:38:06,520 --> 00:38:09,480 get inside the embassy walls and the 704 00:38:09,480 --> 00:38:11,720 helicopter began lifting up off the top 705 00:38:11,720 --> 00:38:13,720 of the roof of the embassy and the tail 706 00:38:13,720 --> 00:38:16,839 Gunner was crouched over his weapon the 707 00:38:16,839 --> 00:38:19,160 back of the helicopter was open and 708 00:38:19,160 --> 00:38:21,800 suddenly green lights radar lights began 709 00:38:21,800 --> 00:38:23,720 blinking inside the 710 00:38:23,720 --> 00:38:26,599 cabin and the helicopter arched up over 711 00:38:26,599 --> 00:38:28,480 over the city and for a moment I could 712 00:38:28,480 --> 00:38:31,520 see framed in one of the windows Mimi's 713 00:38:31,520 --> 00:38:33,839 bar one of the most famous bars in 714 00:38:33,839 --> 00:38:36,720 Saigon where many American GI had lost 715 00:38:36,720 --> 00:38:38,359 his shirt as well as his 716 00:38:38,359 --> 00:38:40,839 innocence and I remember as we touched 717 00:38:40,839 --> 00:38:43,800 down on that deck people all around me 718 00:38:43,800 --> 00:38:45,839 were crying one Vietnamese woman we 719 00:38:45,839 --> 00:38:48,800 brought out was holding her child in her 720 00:38:48,800 --> 00:38:52,000 arms we managed to get her and her child 721 00:38:52,000 --> 00:38:54,480 over the the wall of the embassy but 722 00:38:54,480 --> 00:38:56,560 we'd failed to get her husband her life 723 00:38:56,560 --> 00:38:59,240 life would be forever altered and we had 724 00:38:59,240 --> 00:39:03,040 abandoned so many we should have rescued 725 00:39:03,040 --> 00:39:04,920 and gotten out on the final 726 00:39:04,920 --> 00:39:08,440 day on the last day the helicopters fer 727 00:39:08,440 --> 00:39:11,400 7,000 to the evacuation Fleet weapons 728 00:39:11,400 --> 00:39:14,920 are thrown overboard to prevent 729 00:39:19,160 --> 00:39:21,960 trouble dozens of helicopters flown by 730 00:39:21,960 --> 00:39:25,319 South Vietnamese Pilots arrive Uninvited 731 00:39:25,319 --> 00:39:28,480 the 250 ,000 machines are ditched to 732 00:39:28,480 --> 00:39:31,640 make room for those still 733 00:39:52,080 --> 00:39:54,560 [Music] 734 00:39:54,560 --> 00:39:57,000 arriving Ambassador Martin wants to 735 00:39:57,000 --> 00:39:59,920 extend the evacuation Washington rejects 736 00:39:59,920 --> 00:40:03,119 the recommendation as too risky I then 737 00:40:03,119 --> 00:40:07,640 drove to my house to pick up my wife uh 738 00:40:07,640 --> 00:40:11,400 I think the Marine guard uh log showed 739 00:40:11,400 --> 00:40:13,880 that I was there for 11 minutes she 740 00:40:13,880 --> 00:40:17,280 packed one bag and walked out she had 741 00:40:17,280 --> 00:40:19,400 left everything that we had because 742 00:40:19,400 --> 00:40:23,280 again to provide this Aura of stability 743 00:40:23,280 --> 00:40:25,760 we had not packed anything uh because 744 00:40:25,760 --> 00:40:28,920 the minute we had picked up one thing to 745 00:40:28,920 --> 00:40:30,720 send out it would have been known all 746 00:40:30,720 --> 00:40:31,760 over 747 00:40:31,760 --> 00:40:35,200 Saigon U so she paid the sort of a 748 00:40:35,200 --> 00:40:37,160 higher penalty than I did in the sense 749 00:40:37,160 --> 00:40:39,680 of losing some of the treasured 750 00:40:39,680 --> 00:40:42,400 possessions of a lifetime Martin is 751 00:40:42,400 --> 00:40:45,319 among the very last to leave at 4:30 752 00:40:45,319 --> 00:40:48,119 a.m. saigan time the senior American 753 00:40:48,119 --> 00:40:51,200 official in Vietnam gets a final 754 00:40:51,200 --> 00:40:54,079 order this young helicopter pilot came 755 00:40:54,079 --> 00:40:57,640 into my office with this scroll on the 756 00:40:57,640 --> 00:41:02,280 back of a pad that um um I never forget 757 00:41:02,280 --> 00:41:04,640 it I mean the name of the helicopter was 758 00:41:04,640 --> 00:41:08,400 the lazy Ace I think um and the 759 00:41:08,400 --> 00:41:10,440 president of the United States directs 760 00:41:10,440 --> 00:41:13,880 that Ambassador Martin come out on this 761 00:41:13,880 --> 00:41:17,280 helicopter well what do you do then I 762 00:41:17,280 --> 00:41:20,640 mean do you try to emulate Admiral 763 00:41:20,640 --> 00:41:22,440 Nelson and put your Blind Eye out of the 764 00:41:22,440 --> 00:41:24,119 telescope you know I mean you didn't 765 00:41:24,119 --> 00:41:27,640 hear you didn't get it or and then for 766 00:41:27,640 --> 00:41:31,000 45 years I had been a disciplined 767 00:41:31,000 --> 00:41:33,800 officer of the United States government 768 00:41:33,800 --> 00:41:35,880 and that I would not sort of spoil it in 769 00:41:35,880 --> 00:41:38,960 the end by any Act of Disobedience and 770 00:41:38,960 --> 00:41:41,550 so I got on the choer and came 771 00:41:41,550 --> 00:41:45,000 [Music] 772 00:41:45,000 --> 00:41:49,560 out at 7:53 a.m. April 30th the last 773 00:41:49,560 --> 00:41:53,200 American troops leave 15 years of US 774 00:41:53,200 --> 00:41:55,240 military presence 775 00:41:55,240 --> 00:41:58,119 ends 776 00:41:58,119 --> 00:42:00,000 the Communists Converge on the capital 777 00:42:00,000 --> 00:42:02,880 in a five prong assault they overrun 778 00:42:02,880 --> 00:42:05,720 Saigon airport occupy the military and 779 00:42:05,720 --> 00:42:08,000 police headquarters then move through 780 00:42:08,000 --> 00:42:11,920 the garbage lied streets past a days 781 00:42:11,920 --> 00:42:14,160 population the final hours are 782 00:42:14,160 --> 00:42:17,040 mercifully 783 00:42:23,040 --> 00:42:25,440 bloodless a symbolic Target is the 784 00:42:25,440 --> 00:42:27,240 Presidential Power 785 00:42:27,240 --> 00:42:30,079 a single tank provides the battle finale 786 00:42:30,079 --> 00:42:32,760 storming through the iron gates it is 787 00:42:32,760 --> 00:42:35,119 11:00 788 00:42:37,280 --> 00:42:40,119 a.m. a lone soldier runs forward to 789 00:42:40,119 --> 00:42:43,200 raise the Communist 790 00:42:46,720 --> 00:42:50,480 Flag by noon hano's troops fill the city 791 00:42:50,480 --> 00:42:53,480 their flags are everywhere at the palace 792 00:42:53,480 --> 00:42:55,200 they arrest South Vietnam's last 793 00:42:55,200 --> 00:42:58,359 president General dang van Min he is 794 00:42:58,359 --> 00:43:00,319 ordered to broadcast a message to his 795 00:43:00,319 --> 00:43:03,319 remaining troops lay down your weapons 796 00:43:03,319 --> 00:43:06,520 and surrender 797 00:43:07,440 --> 00:43:09,440 unconditionally the Communist field 798 00:43:09,440 --> 00:43:11,880 commander General zung writes of these 799 00:43:11,880 --> 00:43:15,160 final Victory hours Our Generation had 800 00:43:15,160 --> 00:43:17,640 known many Victorious mornings but there 801 00:43:17,640 --> 00:43:19,520 had been no morning so fresh and 802 00:43:19,520 --> 00:43:23,760 beautiful as this morning of total 803 00:43:23,760 --> 00:43:26,839 victory for most of saigan the 10,000 804 00:43:26,839 --> 00:43:29,000 day war ends with little immediate 805 00:43:29,000 --> 00:43:32,280 change the black market reopens some 806 00:43:32,280 --> 00:43:34,480 soldiers from the north succumb to The 807 00:43:34,480 --> 00:43:38,920 Temptations reforms soon 808 00:43:40,079 --> 00:43:42,920 follow in Hanoi the sudden Victory after 809 00:43:42,920 --> 00:43:45,640 30 years of war brings immediate 810 00:43:45,640 --> 00:43:48,440 celebration Saigon is renamed hoimin 811 00:43:48,440 --> 00:43:50,680 City honoring the first president of 812 00:43:50,680 --> 00:43:52,660 North 813 00:43:52,660 --> 00:43:55,079 [Music] 814 00:43:55,079 --> 00:43:59,480 Vietnam prime minister fam 815 00:44:00,000 --> 00:44:02,640 vong we fought year after year in 816 00:44:02,640 --> 00:44:05,119 extremely hard conditions which went 817 00:44:05,119 --> 00:44:06,880 beyond all 818 00:44:06,880 --> 00:44:09,480 imagination here I would like to repeat 819 00:44:09,480 --> 00:44:12,240 president hoi min's Words which we 820 00:44:12,240 --> 00:44:14,839 consider as a motto a 821 00:44:14,839 --> 00:44:18,079 banner nothing is more precious than 822 00:44:18,079 --> 00:44:21,240 Independence and 823 00:44:25,000 --> 00:44:28,000 freedom 824 00:44:30,040 --> 00:44:33,079 [Music] 825 00:44:37,720 --> 00:44:39,920 in Saigon the Communist Victory Parade 826 00:44:39,920 --> 00:44:42,520 is held May 7th the anniversary of the 827 00:44:42,520 --> 00:44:45,880 French defeat 21 years 828 00:44:45,880 --> 00:44:47,990 before Ambassador havan 829 00:44:47,990 --> 00:44:49,319 [Music] 830 00:44:49,319 --> 00:44:52,240 La there were a lot of emotions at that 831 00:44:52,240 --> 00:44:55,400 moment everyone could breathe again the 832 00:44:55,400 --> 00:44:58,000 war was over peace 833 00:44:58,000 --> 00:45:00,960 reestablished and above all we became 834 00:45:00,960 --> 00:45:03,800 the true masters of our own country our 835 00:45:03,800 --> 00:45:07,520 own land 836 00:45:09,800 --> 00:45:12,079 independent our first thoughts were of 837 00:45:12,079 --> 00:45:15,200 our venerated president hoi Min who is 838 00:45:15,200 --> 00:45:17,920 not there to see with his own eyes the 839 00:45:17,920 --> 00:45:21,839 most glorious moment in our 840 00:45:24,880 --> 00:45:27,880 history 841 00:45:31,800 --> 00:45:35,200 change comes slowly to zon the Communist 842 00:45:35,200 --> 00:45:37,760 Victors initially treat the people with 843 00:45:37,760 --> 00:45:41,280 discretion but the old regime is purged 844 00:45:41,280 --> 00:45:43,520 200,000 officials and Military Officers 845 00:45:43,520 --> 00:45:46,359 are sent to re-education camps an 846 00:45:46,359 --> 00:45:47,960 estimated million and a half City 847 00:45:47,960 --> 00:45:50,520 dwellers are forcibly moved to the 848 00:45:50,520 --> 00:45:53,319 countryside within 2 years the two 849 00:45:53,319 --> 00:45:54,839 halves of the country are officially 850 00:45:54,839 --> 00:45:57,800 unified as the Socialist Republic of 851 00:45:57,800 --> 00:46:00,040 Vietnam the Vietnamese people's 852 00:46:00,040 --> 00:46:02,319 Liberation Army began as a ragtag 853 00:46:02,319 --> 00:46:03,680 assortment of 854 00:46:03,680 --> 00:46:05,880 volunteers the Soviet equipped North 855 00:46:05,880 --> 00:46:08,000 Vietnamese Army which parades through 856 00:46:08,000 --> 00:46:11,599 Saigon is the fifth largest in the 857 00:46:11,599 --> 00:46:14,319 world this impoverished agrarian Nation 858 00:46:14,319 --> 00:46:17,160 built up a military force exceeded only 859 00:46:17,160 --> 00:46:19,520 by the great Powers this Force has 860 00:46:19,520 --> 00:46:21,440 brought America its longest and 861 00:46:21,440 --> 00:46:22,240 costliest 862 00:46:22,240 --> 00:46:24,800 [Music] 863 00:46:24,800 --> 00:46:28,280 struggle as it ends the majority of 864 00:46:28,280 --> 00:46:31,000 Americans express only belief that it is 865 00:46:31,000 --> 00:46:32,559 finally 866 00:46:32,559 --> 00:46:35,280 over more than 100 countries give 867 00:46:35,280 --> 00:46:37,200 diplomatic recognition to 868 00:46:37,200 --> 00:46:39,720 Vietnam President Carter is initially 869 00:46:39,720 --> 00:46:41,720 sympathetic to establishing 870 00:46:41,720 --> 00:46:45,000 ties a US delegation visits Hanoi in 871 00:46:45,000 --> 00:46:48,559 1977 to pave the way but nothing comes 872 00:46:48,559 --> 00:46:52,000 of it the US considers Vietnam too much 873 00:46:52,000 --> 00:46:54,720 under Soviet 874 00:46:54,800 --> 00:46:56,410 influence 875 00:46:56,410 --> 00:46:59,520 [Music] 876 00:47:00,319 --> 00:47:02,440 the twists of history and the impact of 877 00:47:02,440 --> 00:47:05,160 prolonged War leave Vietnam as a 878 00:47:05,160 --> 00:47:08,319 shattered land but it is one 879 00:47:08,319 --> 00:47:13,599 land the Vietnamese are now one 880 00:47:14,090 --> 00:47:18,389 [Applause] 881 00:47:23,100 --> 00:47:24,720 [Music] 882 00:47:24,720 --> 00:47:27,210 nation 883 00:47:27,210 --> 00:47:30,409 [Applause] 884 00:47:54,720 --> 00:47:57,720 know