"I Had Lost Everything"
Kiem Do, a colonel in the South Vietnamese Navy, remembers the solemn flag-lowering ceremony aboard the U.S.S. Kirk after the fall of Saigon. "Last Days in Vietnam" premieres April 28 on PBS American Experience.
"A Terrible Moral Dilemma"
Col. Stuart Herrington recalls the struggle of members of the South Vietnamese Military in staying behind to fight while their families were evacuated. Last Days in Vietnam premieres April 28 on PBS American Experience.
The Pilot's Story
Captain Gerald "Gerry" Berry was a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps during the fall of Saigon in April 1975. Capt. Berry was tasked with evacuating U.S. Ambassador Graham Martin from the U.S. Embassy, an order which proved to be more complicated than he expected.
The South Vietnamese Officer's Story
In April 1975, Dam Pham was an Army Officer Lieutenant in the South Vietnamese Central Intelligence Service. When the North Vietnamese arrived in Saigon, Pham stayed in Vietnam with his family rather than evacuate. After 13 years of hard labor in a re-education camp, Dam Pham was released and made his way to America.
"Chaos Had Descended"
When news got out that the Americans were leaving Saigon, thousands of South Vietnamese descended upon the U.S. Embassy, desperate for a chance to get out before the North Vietnamese arrived. "Last Days in Vietnam" premieres April 28 on PBS American Experience.
"One Helicopter at a Time"
With so many South Vietnamese helicopters landing on the USS Kirk, the crew had no other option than to dump the helicopters overboard once they'd unloaded their passengers. "Last Days in Vietnam" airs April 28, 2015 on PBS American Experience.
"Dead Men Walking"
Col. Stuart Herrington and other Black Ops took matters in their own hands to get their South Vietnamese counterparts out of the country before the North Vietnamese reached Saigon. "Last Days in Vietnam" premieres April 28 on PBS American Experience.
The Marine Guard's Story
Marine Guard Juan Valdez was one of the last left waiting for evacuation from the roof of the U.S. Embassy in Saigon during the American evacuation of Saigon April 29, 1975.
"Option Four"
After the shelling of Tan Son Nhut Airport by North Vietnamese troops, the U.S. Ambassador was left with only one evacuation option -- a heavy-lift helicopter evacuation. "Last Days in Vietnam" premieres April 28 on PBS American Experience.
Last Days in Vietnam, Chapter 1
In 1973, U.S. troops had begun to withdraw from Vietnam after the signing of the Paris Peace Accords. Thousands of Americans remained in the country, and several had Vietnamese girlfriends, wives and families. In April of 1975, the North Vietnamese Army began to close in on Saigon, and South Vietnamese resistance was crumbling. Premieres April 28 on PBS American Experience.
Extended Clip: The Journey Downriver
In 1975, Consul General Terry McNamara and Marine Consulate Guard Steve Hasty were in Can Tho, 78 miles southwest of Saigon. When they were told to evacuate only Americans, they went against orders and took hundreds of South Vietnamese refugees with them. This clip is subtitled in Vietnamese. "Last Days in Vietnam" airs April 28 at 9/8c on PBS American Experience.
Armitage's Story
In April 1975, the Pentagon assigned Richard Armitage to remove or destroy South Vietnamese naval equipment to prevent it from falling into the hands of the enemy. After rendezvousing at Con Son Island, he saw the remnants of the South Vietnamese fleet crammed with thousands of refugees trying to escape Vietnam. "Last Days in Vietnam" premieres April 28 at 9/8c on PBS American Experience.
"We Jumped Out"
When a South Vietnamese helicopter was too large to land on the US Navy ship, the USS Kirk, the family on board had no chance, but to make a leap of faith. Last Days in Vietnam premieres April 28 on PBS American Experience.
Why We Made Last Days in Vietnam
American Experience Executive Producer, Mark Samels, discusses why the events depicted in "Last Days in Vietnam" are an important chapter in American history. Premiering April 28, 2015 on PBS American Experience.
Last Days in Vietnam Preview
Nominated for an Academy Award® for Documentary Feature. From filmmaker Rory Kennedy, "Last Days in Vietnam" recounts the chaotic final days of the Vietnam War in April of 1975 as the North Vietnamese Army closed in on Saigon.
"Desperate Eyes"
South Vietnamese veteran Dam Pham and U.S. Army veteran Stuart Herrington describe the chaos at the U.S. Embassy during the final days of Saigon in April, 1975. "Last Days in Vietnam" airs April 28, 2015 on PBS American Experience.
"Like Something Out of Exodus"
Richard Armitage and the U.S. Navy escorted the seaworthy vessels of the Vietnamese Navy -- all crammed with thousands of refugees -- from Con Son Island to the Philippines. "Last Days in Vietnam" premieres April 28, 2015 on PBS American Experience.
"What Would Happen to Them?"
After the Fall of Saigon, Dam Pham and other South Vietnamese soldiers wondered what fate awaited them. "Last Days in Vietnam" airs April 28, 2015 on PBS American Experience.
"We were the last eleven"
As North Vietnamese tanks rolled into Saigon, eleven U.S. Marines found themselves on the roof of the American Embassy with no U.S. helicopters in sight. "Last Days in Vietnam" premieres April 28 at 9/8c on PBS American Experience.
"A Sea of Humanity"
News footage shows the panic permeating South Vietnam leading up to the Fall of Saigon in April, 1975. "Last Days in Vietnam" premieres April 28, 2015 on PBS American Experience.
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