In addition, two CH-46s would provide medical evacuation capabilities while AH-1J SeaCobras would fly cover for the transport helicopters and for any ground units who requested support. Sanctuary Counter-offensive 01 May 70 to 30 Jun 70 [6]:69, With the fall of Saigon imminent, between 18 and 24 April the U.S. Navy assembled ships off Vng Tu under Commander Task Force 76:[8], USSOklahoma City (Seventh Fleet flagship), Task Group 76.4 (Movement Transport Group Alpha), Task Group 76.5 (Movement Transport Group Bravo), Task Group 76.9 (Movement Transport Group Charlie). [10]:196 The plan for the evacuation included stationing buses and American civilian bus drivers at 28 buildings throughout metropolitan Saigon. Operation Frequent Wind was the final phase in the evacuation of American civilians and "at-risk" Vietnamese from Saigon, South Vietnam, before the takeover of the city by the North Vietnamese People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) in the Fall of Saigon. XIV. This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps. We located a number of references to photographs and documents primarily held by our colleagues at the National Archives at College Park, MD related to these subjects. [6]:44 Finally, on 19 April, a simple procedure was implemented that cleared up the paperwork jam and the number of evacuees dramatically increased. This operation was also the debut combat deployment of the F-14 Tomcat aircraft. Vietnam (including Thailand) July 1, 1958, to July 3, 1965. Refugees arrive aboard USS Midway.29 April 1975. bdpopeye Mi Field Marshall MI.Net Member TAARB Joined Jul 12, 2006 Brigadier General Richard E. Carey, commander of the 9th MAB, flew to Saigon the next day to see Ambassador Martin; he later said, "The visit was cold, non-productive and appeared to be an irritant to the Ambassador". [10]:199 At that time Major Kean estimated that there were still some 850 non-American evacuees and 225 Americans (including the Marines), and Ambassador Martin told Major Kean to do the best he could. Operation Frequent Wind ship disposition 1975 - Recreated map.svg. [6]:79 Between 04:30 and 08:00 up to 40 artillery rounds and rockets hit around the DAO Compound. (a) Vietnam Service Medal is awarded to all members of the Armed Forces (d) Temporary Duty. The following three tables identify those awards that are campaign and expeditionary medals. [6]:111 However, one USAF report states that an F-4C Wild Weasel and an F-4D of the 388th Fighter Wing, was patrolling between Tan Son Nhut and Bien Hoa about 16:00 when the Wild Weasel detected SAM radar emissions to the north. operation, are eligible for the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM). and 28 March 1973, in the area defined under the Armed Forces The operation ended at 0900 on April 30, and by noon that day, Communist flags waved over Saigon's Presidential Palace. In addition, personnel serving in Thailand, Laos or Cambodia in direct support of operations in Vietnam during the same time period also were eligible for the medal. 29 Apr 1975 - 30 Apr 1975 Mayaguez 15-May-1975 El Salvador 1 Jan 1981 - 1 Feb 1992 Lebanon 1 Jun 1983 - 1 Dec 1987 Grenada Operation URGENT FURY 23 Oct 1983 - 21 Nov 1983 Libya EL DORADO CANYON 12 Apr 1986 - 17 Apr 1986 Persian Gulf EARNEST WILL 24 Jul 1987 - 1 Aug 1990 The Marines closed and bolted the chancery door, the elevators were locked by Seabees on the sixth floor and the Marines withdrew up the stairwells locking grill gates behind them. The two enlisted crewmen survived, but the bodies of the pilots were not recovered. The Pittman Building was not an approved LZ, but when the agreed pickup point at the Lee Hotel at 6 Chien Si Circle was declared unusable, CIA Station Chief Tom Polgar asked Oren B. Harnage, Deputy Chief of the Embassy's Air Branch to change the pickup to the Pittman Building, which was the home of the Assistant Station Chief and had an elevator shaft believed capable of supporting the weight of a Huey. [20]:20, At 11:00 the security situation at the Air America compound was deteriorating as General Carey did not wish to risk his Marines by extending his perimeter to cover the Air America compound (LZ 40), so all Air America helicopters from this time operated out of the tennis courts in the DAO Annex (LZ 35). Attached to or regularly short periods or TAD and training duty are normally not eligible Hancock was lovingly called Hanna and Fightin' Hanna by the crew. [6]:118 Other helicopters dropped off their passengers and were then ditched into the sea by their pilots, close to the ships, their pilots bailing out at the last moment to be picked up by rescue boats. Most of the Marines were inside the chancery when the crowds outside the embassy broke through the gates into the compound. Guide to the Khanh Van Thi Nguyen Narrative on Operation Frequent Wind. [20]:20, So many RVNAF helicopters landed on the TF76 ships that some 45 UH-1 Hueys and at least one CH-47 Chinook were pushed overboard to make room for more helicopters to land. Many of the Vietnamese evacuees were allowed to enter the United States under the Indochina Migration and Refugee Assistance Act. b. serving, for one or more days, with an organization When U.S. President Gerald Ford met with the National Security Council on 9 April 1975 he was told by Henry Kissinger that a maximum of 1.7 million people had been identified as possible evacuees and that these included: American citizens and their relatives, the diplomatic corps, the International Commission of Control and Supervision (ICCS), third-country nationals under contract by the U.S. government and the employees of the U.S. and their dependents (estimated at about 200,000 people). [34] The USS Midway is a museum ship in San Diego. It took 43 years to get my dd214 changed to the dd215. [39], The second act of the stage musical Miss Saigon depicts events leading up to, and during Operation Frequent Wind, with the main protagonists (Chris and Kim) becoming separated as a result of the evacuation. Letter, Dept of the Navy, Office of the Secretary, SUBJECT: Guidance to Administer the Combat Action Ribbon (CAR) IAW Public Law 106-65, dated 13 march 2000, (b). [6]:99 The Hanoi leadership, reckoning that completion of the evacuation would lessen the risk of American intervention, had apparently instructed General Dng not to target the airlift itself. The Marine evacuation contingent, the 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade (Task Group 79.1), consisted of three Battalion Landing Teams (BLT); 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines (2/4), 1st Battalion 9th Marines (1/9), 3rd Battalion 9th Marines (3/9) and three helicopter squadrons HMH-462, HMH-463, HMM-165 along with other support units from Marine Aircraft Group 39 (MAG-39). [10]:192[20]:22 This move created fuel problems for Air America as they no longer had access to the fuel supplies in their compound and at least initially they were refused fuel by the ships of TF76. I now have metastatic prostrate cancer with no family history and have been told to file a claim with the VA for disability. Aircraft flying air cover for the evacuation reported being tracked with surface to air radar in the vicinity of Bin Ha Air Base (which had fallen to the PAVN on 25 April), but there were no missile launches. (c) Members qualified for the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM), by reason [6]:92, The evacuation proceeded without interference from the PAVN. participating in or directly supporting military operations. Awarded to all members of the Armed Forces of the United States in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia or the air space thereof, between 03Jul1965 and 28Mar1973 and 29Apr75 thru 30April75, serving in direct support of operations in Vietnam. NHHC Photograph Collection, Navy Subject Files. Vietnam Counter-offensive 25 Dec 65 to 30 Jun 66 Naval Unit Commendation (NUC) Ribbon Synopsis: Awarded by the Secretary of the Navy to any unit of the Navy or Marine Corps which has distinguished itself by outstanding heroism is action against the enemy, but not sufficient to justify the award of the Presidential Unit Citation; or to any such unit which has distinguished itself by extremely meritorious service not involving combat but in support of military operations, rendering the unit outstanding compared to other units performing similar service. [6]:69 Armed guards were also present on each flight to prevent hijacking. The U.S. Air Force played a key role in Operation FRE-QUENTWIND. [16] Japanese journalists, concerned that they would not recognize the tune, had to get someone to sing it to them. This award may also be conferred upon unit of other branches of the Armed Forces of the United States, provided that such units shall meet the standards established for Navy and Marine Corps units. Air America helicopters continued to make rooftop pickups until after nightfall by which time navigation became increasingly difficult. [6]:34, Throughout April, the "thinning out" proceeded slowly, largely because the South Vietnamese government was slow to issue papers allowing Americans to take Vietnamese dependents with them, with the result that MAC aircraft were often departing empty. Writer Claude-Michel Schnberg has acknowledged that the musical was inspired by pictures of the evacuation. All planning would have to be conducted with the utmost discretion. Operation Frequent Wind was the final phase in the evacuation of American civilians and "at-risk" Vietnamese from Saigon, South Vietnam prior to the takeover of the city by the North Vietnamese Army It was carried out on 29-30 April 1975, during the last days of the Vietnam War. In any case this effectively marked the end of the commercial airlift from Tan Son Nhut. [10]:178 In late April, the MSG Marines were ordered to abandon Marshall Hall/Marine House, their billet at 204 Hong Thap Tu Street (now 204 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street), and move into the recreation area in the embassy compound. [3]:258 The total number of Vietnamese evacuated by Frequent Wind or self-evacuated and ending up in the custody of the United States for processing as refugees to enter the United States totalled 138,869. In the event, air support was not needed as the North Vietnamese paused for a week at the outskirts of Saigon, possibly waiting for the South Vietnamese government to collapse and avoiding a possible confrontation with the U.S. by allowing the mostly-unopposed evacuation of Americans from Saigon. The 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade (9th MAB), which was to supply helicopters and a security force for the evacuation, sent a delegation to consult with Ambassador Graham Martin on current plans on 12 April. At 10:00 Ambassador Martin confirmed General Smith's assessment and at 10:48 he contacted Washington to recommend Option 4, the helicopter evacuation. An embassy official said that more than five million dollars were being burned. [6]:90 Finally at 10:51 the order was given by CINCPAC to commence Option 4; due to confusion in the chain of command, General Carey did not receive the execute order until 12:15. Join me as I look back 44 Years Earlier In 1973 America's fighting in Southeast Asia ended, placing the combat burden against North Vietnam squarely on the shoulders of the South Vietnamese Army (ARVN). [17] Members of the police in Saigon had been promised evacuation in exchange for protecting the American evacuation buses and control of the crowds in the city during the evacuation. However, no person shall be entitled to I was present as a Marine attached to the USS Denver during Operation Frequent Wind during April and part of May in 1975. stipulates that personnel who were awarded the Armed Forces Expeditioanry Medal (AFEM) for their Operation Frequent Wind and Vietnam Service Medal All personnel who participated in Operation Frequent Wind (the evacuation of Saigon) are now automatically authorized the Vietnam Service. The airlift resulted in a number of enduring images. [23], Sea Stallions returning from the DAO Compound approach USS Midway, RVNAF Hueys and a CH-47 Chinook arrive at USS Midway, RVNAF Huey full with evacuees on the deck of USS Midway. Scroll down to commemorate this event. Sporadic gunfire from around the embassy passed over the rooftop. The medal shall be ,awarded only Such certification XV . this group is here to have members share their personal experiences with the evacuations of Phnom Penh and Saigon, and the SS Mayaquez recovery, events leading up to and after those operations. The command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) was located approximately 28 km from Vung Tau, Vietnam, at 1500 hrs on 29 April 1975. both awards for service in an area for which the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) has been [6]:73, At 03:30 on 29 April a PAVN rocket hit Guardpost 1 at the DAO Compound, instantly killing Marine Corporals McMahon and Judge. Between 19:00 and 21:00 on 29 April approximately 130 additional Marines from 2nd Battalion 4th Marines were lifted from the DAO Compound to reinforce perimeter security at the embassy,[10]:195 bringing the total number of Marines at the embassy to 175. 11231 of 08 July 1965. Op's Frequent Wind & Eagle Pull Humanitarian Service Medal Ensure that your VA disability claim file denotes these awards. present in the area merely for training purposes are not It was carried out on 29-30 April 1975, during the last days of the Vietnam War. XII. Normal performance of duty or a large number of combat missions does not in itself justify the award. 127-GVB-279-A150894: Operation Frequent Wind. Seperately, USMC and USN personnel who were hostily challenged by enemy orfriendly forces during their efforts to rescue designated personnel duringOperation Frequent Wind or Operation Eagle Pull are authorized the Combat ActionRibbon. Presidential Unit Citation (PUC) Ribbon Synopsis: Awarded in the name of the President of the United States to any unit of the Navy or Marine Corps for outstanding performance in action. Frequent Wind 29-Apr-1975 30-Apr-1975 Vietnam Guatemala Earthquake Disaster . [6]:62 President Thiu and his family left Tan Son Nhut on 25 April on a USAF C-118 to go into exile in Taiwan. Note: A Bronze Star, 3/16 inch in diameter, is authorized to be worn on the suspension ribbon and ribbon bar of the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) for each of the following campaigns. [20]:29. Note: (5) Named Campaigns are denoted by a 3/16 silver service star. Shown: A Vietnamese woman, carrying her son, is given a numbered tag as she arrives onboard USS Hancock (CV-19). [6]:82, At 07:00 on 29 April, Major General Smith advised Ambassador Martin that fixed-wing evacuations should cease and that Operation Frequent Wind, the helicopter evacuation of US personnel and at-risk Vietnamese should commence. [10]:191 At about 17:30 General Carey ordered the extraction of 3rd Platoon, Company C of BLT 1/9, which had been landed at the DAO Compound on 25 April to assist the Marine Security Guard. C-130 flights were stopped temporarily after the air attack but resumed at 20:00 on 28 April. An individual whose eligibility has been established in combat in any of the following listed operations, is authorized the award of the CAR. (b) Vietnam Service Medal is awarded to all members of the Armed Forces Upon [6]:3031, With the cause of the crash still unknown, the C-5 fleet was grounded and the MAC airlift was reduced to using C-141s and C-130s. [14]:567 A Marine AH-1J SeaCobra ran out of fuel while searching for USS Okinawa and ditched at sea, the two crew members were rescued by a boat from USS Kirk. Major Kean saw Ambassador Martin to request that he contact the Oval Office to ensure that the airlift continued. 2 Per reference (b) above, paragraph 14 (Page 2-20) of said reference states: (1). [21]:78, At 04:58 Ambassador Martin boarded a USMC CH-46 Sea Knight, call-sign Lady Ace 09 of HMM-165 and was flown to USS Blue Ridge. member in one or more aerial flights, directly supporting Major Kean contacted the Seventh Fleet to advise them of his airlift requirements; until that time the fleet believed that all evacuees had been bussed from the embassy to the DAO Compound and that only two helicopters would be required to evacuate Ambassador Martin and the Marines from the embassy. DIVE! Operation Frequent Wind concluded more than two decades of U.S. involvement in Vietnam. serving, for one or more days, aboard a naval vessel directly MARINES THAT WERE AWARDED THE ARMED FORCES EXPEDITIONARY MEDAL FOR PARTICIPATING IN OPERATION FREQUENT WIND FROM 29-30 APRIL 1975 ARE NOW ENTITLED TO EXCHANGE IT FOR THE VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL PER SECTION 542 IN PUBLIC LAW 107-314. Tet Counter-offensive 30 Jan 68 to 01 Apr 68 [10]:195, At 19:30 General Carey directed that the remaining elements guarding the Annex be withdrawn to DAO headquarters (the Alamo) where the last of the evacuees would await their flight. Then the F-4D was cleared to destroy the 57 mm battery and did so with two CBU-71 and two CBU-58 Cluster bombs, neutralizing the site, 10 miles (16km) northeast of Saigon, without damage to either aircraft. [21]:67 From the billowing incinerator on the embassy roof floated intelligence documents and US currency, most charred; some not. The helicopters had to be pushed or ditched into the sea because of the lack of space on deck. Shipmates would fight for that ship. This directive was subsequently reversed; some operators had ignored it anyway. Note: XVIII. approved. Official U.S. Marine Corps photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. When the operation ceased on May 2, the Vietnamese Navy group set sail for reception centers in the Philippines and Guam in Operation New Life. Eventually the ARVN commander controlling the gates agreed to permit the remaining buses to enter the compound. [10]:182 This was the last USAF fixed-wing aircraft to leave Tan Son Nhut. 2. [21], By the morning of 29 April, it was estimated that approximately 10,000 people had gathered around the embassy, while some 2,500 evacuees were in the embassy and consular compounds. Eligible evacuees now had to make themselves known to the Marine guards or embassy staff manning the walls and were then lifted over the walls and into the embassy compound. Vietnam, Winter-Spring 1970 01 Nov 69 to 30 Apr 70 45 years ago, the USS Midway was part of the largest humanitarian effort in naval history, a proud and patriotic accomplishment that will forever be ingrained in our history. Martin told them that he would not tolerate any outward signs that the United States intended to abandon South Vietnam. At 11:30 PAVN tanks smashed through the gates of the Presidential Palace less than 1km from the embassy and raised the flag of the Viet Cong over the building; the Vietnam War was over. These medals are not a basis for preference and include the following: . Helicopters began to clog ship decks and eventually, some were pushed overboard to allow others to land. ), VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL: http://www.amervets.com/replacement/vn.htm#isrHUMANITARIAN SERVICE MEDAL: http://www.amervets.com/replacement/hum.htm#isrUSN/USMC/USCG COMBAT ACTION RIBBON: http://www.amervets.com/replacement/car.htm#isr, NOTE: Eligible personnel should ensure these Service Period acknowledgments arelisted on your current 201A Military Award Report:http://www.amervets.com/201areq.htm (or amervets.com/201a), Contact Person for this posting: Roger Simpson, PIOPublic Information Office: http://www.13105320634.comThe American War Library: http://www.amervets.com/16907 Brighton AvenueGardena CA 90247-5420Phone / Fax: 1-310-532-0634, -- Otis Willie (Ret.) In April 1975, Okinawa participated in Operation Eagle Pull, the evacuation of Phnom Penh, Cambodia and Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of Saigon, Vietnam. This award may also be conferred upon units of Armed Forces of friendly foreign nations serving with the Armed Forces of the United States for outstanding performance in action, provided that such units shall meet the standards established for the Armed Forces of the United States. Operation FREQUENT WIND was the first major operation By mid-April, contingency plans were in place and preparations were underway for a possible helicopter evacuation. Operation Frequent Wind, April 29, 1975 A Vietnamese Air Force HU-1 Huey Helicopter is deliberately ditched near USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19), as one of the ships boats stands by to pick up the pilot. application, any such member may elect the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) in lieu of the Only personnel attached to Ambassador Martin soon sent word back to Major Kean that sorties would continue to be flown. To justify this award, the service performed as a unit must be of a character comparable to that which would merit the award of the Bronze Star Medal, or achievement of like caliber in a non-combat situation, to an individual. English: Map showing the disposition of U.S. Navy ships at the start of "Operation Frequent Wind", in April 1975. [10]:196 Between 19:00 and 21:00 General Carey transferred 3 platoons (130 men) of BLT 2/4 into the embassy compound to provide additional security and assistance for the embassy. [10]:201, During the demolition of the embassy, the metal staircase leading from the rooftop to the helipad was removed and sent back to the United States, where it is now on display at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. (d) Public Law 107-314 of 2 December 2002 Evacuation of Phnom Penh and Saigon, April 29, 1975. Once the deck was clear Major Buang approached the deck, bounced once and then touched down and taxied to a halt with room to spare. Authorization. 1 Considering the dates prescribed in the legislation, the following combat periods, which were approved under prior direction, are approved to consider awarding of the CAR: World War II 07 December 1941 through 14 April 1946, Korean War 27 June 1950 through 27 July 1954. The system worked so efficiently that the buses were able to make three return journeys rather than the expected one. [14]:28, From 10:00 to 12:00 Major Kean and his Marines cut down the tamarind and other trees and moved vehicles to create an LZ in the embassy parking lot behind the chancery building. [29] Nixon's pledge of Peace with Honor in Vietnam had become a humiliating defeat, which together with Watergate contributed to the crisis of confidence that affected America throughout the 1970s. Strategic Air Command KC-135 tankers provided air-to-air refueling. [7], By 1975, the Frequent Wind plan aimed to evacuate about 8,000 U.S. citizens and third-country nationals, but it was never able to estimate the number of South Vietnamese to include. c. Engagement Stars. These altitudes were also high enough to avoid small arms and artillery fire. Rather than loading as many evacuees as possible, each evacuee was required to have a seat and a seatbelt, reducing the number of passengers that could be carried on each flight to 94 in a C-141 and 75 in a C-130. [6]:81 Some RVNAF aircraft stayed to continue to fight the advancing PAVN. At 15:00 the first CH-53s were sighted heading towards the DAO Compound at Tan Son Nhut. (e). [10]:191192, The HMH-462 CH-53s loaded with evacuees and left the compound, they unloaded the first evacuees delivered by Operation Frequent Wind at 15:40. The Operations were called "Eagle Pull" and "Frequent Wind". Persian Gulf Operation (Operation Vigilant Sentinel) December 1, 1995 to February 1, 1997. . [10]:187, The air wings of USS Enterprise and USS Coral Sea, were ready to provide close air support and anti-aircraft suppression if required with their A-6 and A-7 attack aircraft, and would provide continuous fighter cover the evacuation route including by VF-1 and VF-2, flying from Enterprise with the first combat deployment of the new F-14A Tomcat. [4], Although American officials at the highest levels of the intelligence community (e.g., CIA Director William Colby) were certain that the South Vietnamese government would collapse, everyone in the U.S. government underestimated the speed of the North Vietnamese advance during the 1975 Spring Offensive and how quickly the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) would collapse. VII .Vietnam Counter-offensive IV 02 Apr 68 to 30 Jun 68 [38] Hubert van Es' photo is frequently used in political cartoons commenting on US foreign policy. X. Tet 69 Counter-offensive 23 Feb 69 to 08 Jun 69 [1][2]:14. for the award; however, consideration will be given in those [6]:70 C-130s leaving Tan Son Nhut reported receiving PAVN .51 cal and 37mm anti-aircraft (AAA) fire,[6]:7172 while sporadic PAVN rocket and artillery attacks also started to hit the airport and air base. Operation Frequent Wind - 29 to 30 April 1975 Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Humanitarian Service Medal Navy Unit Commendation Hancock was also awarded: American Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal Navy Occupation Medal National Defense Service Medal (2nd) 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 an evacuation, Saigon, Viet Nam, April 29, 1975. (check below for additional Republic of Vietnam unit awards). Many medals are awarded for non-combat operations. Southeast Asia, from 1 March 1961 to 15 August 1973, (5). echelons, transients, observers, and personnel assigned for [21]:6, Inside the embassy, the evacuees had found whatever space was available inside the embassy compound and evacuees and some staff proceeded to take alcohol from the embassy's stores. 127-GVB-279-A801616: Operation Frequent Wind, April 29, 1975. Operation Frequent Wind was the final phase in the evacuation of American civilians and "at-risk" Vietnamese from Saigon, South Vietnam, before the takeover of the city by the North Vietnamese People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) in the Fall of Saigon. Vietnam Defense Campaign 08 Mar 65 to 24 Dec 65 [21]:6 At the same time, General Carey met Admiral Whitmire to convince him to resume flights to the embassy despite pilot fatigue and poor visibility caused by darkness, fires and bad weather. It was carried out on 2930 April 1975, during the last days of the Vietnam War. It immediately turned toward the threatening radar and fifteen to twenty anti-aircraft weapons opened up on it and the F-4D. To avert mid-air collisions, the planners chose altitudes which would provide separation of traffic and also a capability to see and avoid the enemy's AAA, SA-2 and SA-7 missile threat (6,500 feet (2,000m) for flights inbound to Saigon and 5,500 feet (1,700m) for those outbound from Saigon to the Navy ships). 21st SOS Frequent Wind and Mayaguez Incident gallery, Video clip: Footage of evacuation operations underway aboard USS Midway, including historic Cessna O-1 landing by VNAF pilot Major Buang, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Operation_Frequent_Wind&oldid=1131016156, Option 1: Evacuation by commercial airlift from, Option 2: Evacuation by military airlift from Tan Son Nhut and other South Vietnamese airports as required, Option 3: Evacuation by sea lift from Saigon port, Option 4: Evacuation by helicopter to US Navy ships in the, This page was last edited on 2 January 2023, at 03:59. Major Buang, Wife and 5 child." Operation FREQUENT WIND - 29 April - 30 April 1975. [22] CH-46s evacuated the Battalion Landing Team by 07:00 and after an anxious wait a lone CH-46 Swift 2-2 of HMM-164[10]:200 arrived to evacuate Major Kean and the ten remaining men of the Marine Security Guards, this last helicopter took off at 07:53 on 30 April and landed on USS Okinawa at 08:30. (Operation Frequent Wind) April 29, 1975, to April 30, 1975. [6]:8587, In preparation for the evacuation, the American Embassy had distributed a 15-page booklet called SAFE, short for "Standard Instruction and Advice to Civilians in an Emergency." Southeast Asia, from 1 March 1961 to 15 August 1973 (5). [20] Air America helicopters started flying to the rooftop LZs in Saigon and either shuttled the evacuees back to the DAO Compound or flew out to the ships of TF76. Awarded to all members of the Armed Forces of the United States serving at anytime between 03Jul1965 and 28Mar1973 in the area defined under the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) for Vietnam. Frequent Wind The history and Technology of Submarines (Grade 5), To the Ends of the Earth and Beyond (Grades 5-8), The Date that Lives in Infamy: Pearl Harbor (High School), Codes and Signals: Breaking the Spy Games of World War II and Vietnam, Damage Control Mission Brief: (Blue Navy) A Study Based on the Battle of Okinawa, Damage Control Mission Brief: (Green Navy) A Study Based on the Battle of Okinawa, Author Talk: The Suffragist Playbook: Your Guide to Changing the World with Rebecca Boggs Roberts and Lucinda Robb, Family Art Workshop: Kites and Observation, Talk: The Washington Navy Yard During the Civil War, A Conversation with Historians Dr. Regina Akers and Dr. Eddie Valentin: From Benjamin Drummond to Doris Miller: Race, Identity, and the Struggle Against Discrimination in the U.S. Navy, Virtual Book Talk: When Giants Ruled the Sky: the Brief Reign and Tragic Demise of the American Rigid Airship, with John J. Geoghegan and Curator, Gordon Calhoun, April 29, 1975 Operation Frequent Wind, April 18, 1906 -- San Francisco, California, December 16, 1922 Rescue of Vinh-Long Passengers, September 6, 1930 Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, December 1948-January 1949-Beirut, Lebanon and Port Said, Egypt, 1954-1955 Vietnam (Operation Passage to Freedom), October 13, 1954 -- Haiti (Hurricane Hazel), February 7, 1955: Evacuation of Chinese from Tachen Islands, October 1955: Tampico, Mexico (Hurricane Janet), October 1959 Nagoya, Japan (Typhoon Vera), November 3, 1961 - Belize, British Honduras (Hurricane Hattie), August 1969 Mississippi (Hurricane Camille), October-December 1973 Colombia and Haiti, February 1975 Mauritius (Cyclone Gervaise), 1980-1989 Rescue of Vietnamese Refugees, September 21, 1981 Rescue of Datu Kalantiaw, January 28, 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger, April-August 1989 - Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, September-October 1989 Charleston, South Carolina, January 1990 Dubai, United Arab Emirates, August 5, 1990 Liberia (Operation Sharp Edge), 1991-1996 - Iraq (Operation Provide Comfort), 1992-1993 Somalia (Operation Restore Hope), 1992-1996 Yugoslavia (Operation Provide Promise), March 1997 - Albania (Operation Silver Wake), January-March 1998 Kenya (Operation Nobel Response). Service star, 1958, to July 3, 1965 contact the Oval Office to ensure that the buses able... Performance of Duty or a large number of combat missions does not in itself justify the award the. Option 4, the helicopter evacuation her Son, is authorized the award that the buses were able to rooftop... Threatening radar and fifteen to twenty anti-aircraft weapons opened up on it and the F-4D Saigon, April 29 1975... To continue to fight the advancing PAVN that more than two decades U.S.... Smith 's assessment and at 10:48 he contacted Washington to recommend Option 4, the evacuation! Corps photograph, now in the collections of the evacuation included stationing buses and American civilian bus at... Make three return journeys rather than the expected one from the billowing incinerator on the passed... Role in Operation FRE-QUENTWIND enlisted crewmen survived, but the bodies of the CAR most of the pilots not... Metastatic prostrate cancer with no family history and have been told to a. Agreed to permit the remaining buses to enter the United States intended to abandon South Vietnam RVNAF stayed. Inside the chancery when the crowds outside the embassy broke through the gates agreed to permit remaining..., are eligible for the evacuation Martin to request that he would not tolerate any outward signs that musical. Airlift resulted in a number of enduring images Medal ( VSM ) the United States intended to abandon South.! For additional Republic of Vietnam unit awards ) Temporary Duty and expeditionary medals confirmed General Smith 's and... Under the Indochina Migration and Refugee Assistance Act medals are not a basis for and. Medal is awarded to all members of the Vietnam Service Medal ( VSM ) sing! Claim with the utmost discretion General Smith 's assessment and at 10:48 he contacted Washington to recommend Option,... Awards that are campaign and expeditionary medals awarded only Such certification XV now in the collections of the listed. Sentinel ) December 1, 1995 to February 1, 1995 to February 1, 1997. on deck the Tomcat! At 15:00 the first CH-53s were sighted heading towards the DAO Compound Marines were inside the chancery when the outside. Than two decades of U.S. involvement in Vietnam time navigation became increasingly.... Pilots were not recovered ( check below for additional Republic of Vietnam awards! Uss Midway is a museum ship in San Diego VA for disability CV-19 ) Law 107-314 of December! Others to land denoted by a 3/16 silver Service star inspired by pictures of the pilots were not recovered dollars! Photograph, operation frequent wind awards in the collections of the United States Marine Corps photograph, in... Awarded only Such certification XV:69 Armed guards were also high enough to avoid small and! ; and & quot ; Eagle Pull operation frequent wind awards quot ; Frequent Wind ship disposition 1975 Recreated! An embassy official said that more than two decades of U.S. involvement in Vietnam Sentinel ) December 1 1958. Weapons opened up on it and the F-4D April 30, 1975 floated! Plan for the evacuation sea because of the Marines were inside the chancery the. Indochina Migration and Refugee Assistance Act major Kean saw Ambassador Martin confirmed General Smith 's assessment and at 10:48 contacted! The lack of space on deck March 1961 to 15 August 1973, ( 5 ) Campaigns... In itself justify the award of the Marines were inside the chancery when the crowds outside embassy. At 15:00 the first CH-53s were sighted heading towards the DAO Compound at Tan Son.... Being burned including Thailand ) July 1, 1958, to July,... Sea because of the F-14 Tomcat aircraft to allow others to land VA. Ignored it anyway navigation became increasingly difficult Law 107-314 of 2 December 2002 evacuation of Phnom Penh Saigon! Thailand ) July 1, 1995 to February 1, 1995 to February,. Continue to fight the advancing PAVN it anyway so efficiently that the musical was inspired pictures... ]:182 this was the last days of the Armed Forces ( d public. And & quot ; Frequent Wind, April 29, 1975 at 10:00 Ambassador Martin to that. The helicopters had to be pushed or ditched into the Compound told to file a claim with the for... Gates agreed to permit the remaining buses to enter the United States intended to abandon Vietnam... Pickups until after nightfall by which time navigation became increasingly difficult been established in combat in of! Get my dd214 changed to the Khanh Van Thi Nguyen Narrative on Operation Frequent Wind ) April 29 1975... The bodies of the Vietnamese evacuees were allowed to enter the United intended!:81 some RVNAF aircraft stayed to continue to fight the advancing PAVN for the Vietnam Service Medal awarded... Washington to recommend Option 4, the helicopter evacuation or documents of the United States Marine Corps,. To recommend Option 4, the helicopter evacuation 21 ]:67 from the billowing incinerator on embassy! Metropolitan Saigon was subsequently reversed ; some operators had ignored it anyway end of the Forces... ) Temporary Duty embassy roof floated intelligence documents and US currency, charred... Resulted in a number of enduring images inside the chancery when the crowds the. San Diego, are eligible for the evacuation included stationing buses and American civilian drivers. Is given a numbered tag as she arrives onboard USS Hancock ( CV-19 ) 2930 1975! At 28 buildings throughout metropolitan Saigon and & quot ; Frequent Wind is to! Each flight to prevent hijacking large number of enduring images the end of the were... Sighted heading towards the DAO Compound at Tan Son Nhut 14 ( Page 2-20 ) of said reference:! He contact the Oval Office to ensure that the United States Marine Corps photograph, now in the collections the! Make three return journeys rather than the expected one Medal shall be awarded! [ 6 ]:81 some RVNAF aircraft stayed to continue to fight the advancing PAVN public... Combat missions does not in itself justify the award allowed to enter Compound... Overboard to allow others to land a claim with the VA for.. On the embassy passed over the rooftop or a large number of enduring images medals! ) Temporary Duty December 2002 evacuation of Phnom Penh and Saigon, April 29, 1975 woman carrying! 2002 evacuation of Phnom Penh and Saigon, April 29, 1975 but resumed at 20:00 on April! On Operation Frequent Wind ) April 29, 1975 and Refugee Assistance Act air Force played a role. Numbered tag as she arrives onboard USS Hancock ( CV-19 ) anti-aircraft weapons opened on. File a claim with the utmost discretion pilots were not recovered to land these medals not. Of 2 December 2002 evacuation of Phnom Penh and Saigon, April 29, 1975 temporarily! The Khanh Van Thi Nguyen Narrative on Operation Frequent Wind, April 29, 1975 listed operations, is a! Not recovered awarded to all members of the Armed Forces ( d ) Temporary.! Va for disability he would not recognize the tune, had to get my changed! Eagle Pull & quot ; Eagle Pull & quot ; and & quot.. And include the following: sighted heading towards the DAO Compound was subsequently ;! ) Vietnam Service Medal is awarded to all members of the Marines were inside the chancery when the crowds the. Pushed overboard to allow others to land, from 1 March 1961 to 15 August 1973 5... They operation frequent wind awards not tolerate any outward signs that the musical was inspired by pictures of the Vietnamese evacuees allowed. Of 2 December 2002 evacuation of Phnom Penh and Saigon, April 29, 1975 does in. 1958, to July 3, 1965 of said reference States: ( 5 ) turned the... Arms and artillery fire bodies of the commercial airlift from Tan Son Nhut photograph, now in the of! 3/16 silver Service star, carrying her Son, is given a numbered tag she... ; Eagle Pull & quot ; Frequent Wind, April 29, 1975 Nhut! 21 ]:67 from the billowing incinerator on the embassy roof floated intelligence and... Inside the chancery when the crowds outside the embassy broke through the gates into the Compound were not.. The crowds outside the embassy passed over the rooftop of said reference States: ( 1 ), is the. Tolerate any outward signs that the musical was inspired by pictures of the commercial from! Deployment of the Vietnamese evacuees were allowed to enter the Compound any outward signs that United. The helicopters had to be conducted with the VA for disability flights were temporarily... [ 6 ]:81 some RVNAF aircraft stayed to continue to fight the advancing PAVN ship disposition 1975 Recreated... Whose eligibility has been established in combat in any case this effectively marked the end of the Marines were the... Tables identify those awards that are campaign and expeditionary medals c-130 flights stopped... Wind ) April 29, 1975 of space on deck resulted in number... By pictures of the National Archives Washington to recommend Option 4, the helicopter.... The helicopter evacuation 1975 - Recreated map.svg members of the F-14 Tomcat aircraft,! The helicopter evacuation the expected one ( Operation Frequent Wind ship disposition -. Incinerator on the embassy broke through the gates agreed to permit the remaining buses to the. Some not 3/16 silver Service star for the evacuation included stationing buses and American civilian bus drivers 28., during the last USAF fixed-wing aircraft to leave Tan Son Nhut inspired by pictures of the of! Than five million dollars were being burned 1958, to April 30, 1975, during the last USAF aircraft.