Normal performance of duty or a large number of combat missions does not in itself justify the award. Do not disclose to other personnel. They were evacuated to Bangkok on 1 August 1976. I was awarded the VSM as well as the humanitarian service medal. Normal performance of duty or in a large number of combat missions does not in itself justify the award. During the fixed-wing evacuation 50,493 people (including 2,678 Vietnamese orphans) were evacuated from Tan Son Nhut. . An award will not be made to a unit for actions of one or more of its component parts, unless such unit performed as a total team in a manner justifying the award. Major Kean advised that the LZ would be well lit and had vehicles moved around the parking lot LZ with their engines running and headlights on to illuminate the LZ. Note: Personnel in clandestine or special operations such as reconnaissance and SEAL teams are eligible when the risk of enemy fire was great and was expected to be encountered. The U.S. Air Force played a key role in Operation FRE-QUENTWIND. Despite receiving sporadic PAVN AAA fire, USAF and USN aircraft made no attacks on AAA or SAM sites during the evacuation. 1st Anti-Tank Bn, 1st Mar Div, 27Mar66 to 20Sep69, 3rd Anti-Tank Bn, 3rd Mar Div, 12Jul65 to 20Sep69, For the Period of 08 February 1962 to 28 March 1973, Headquarters, US Military Assistance Command, Vietnam AND SUBORDINATE COMMANDS IN DIRECT SUPPORT are eligible to participate in the award only during the period actually served ashore in the Republic of Vietnam, Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Commendation, Civil Action, 1st Class with Palm and Frame. All of my awards were issued also. 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. [33], The Cessna O-1 Bird Dog that Major Buang landed on USS Midway is now on display at the National Museum of Naval Aviation at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. When the evacuation is ordered, the code will be read out on Armed Forces Radio. Attached to or regularly for operations for which no other U.S. campaign medal is Operation FREQUENT WIND 29 Apr 75 to 30 Apr 75 At 07:00 the AC-119 was firing on PAVN to the east of Tan Son Nhut when it too was hit by an SA-7 and fell in flames to the ground. [2]:92. English: Map showing the disposition of U.S. Navy ships at the start of "Operation Frequent Wind", in April 1975. [21]:67 From the billowing incinerator on the embassy roof floated intelligence documents and US currency, most charred; some not. Company G occupied the eastern section of the Annex, while Company H assumed control of the western section. [14]:63, After the evacuation signal was given, the buses began to pick up passengers and head to the DAO Compound. [6]:81 Some RVNAF aircraft stayed to continue to fight the advancing PAVN. [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. This meant that scattered clouds existed below their flight path while a solid layer of clouds more than two miles above their heads obscured the sun. [10]:183 At 08:00 Lieutenant General Minh, commander of the RVNAF and 30 of his staff arrived at the DAO compound demanding evacuation, signifying the complete loss of RVNAF command and control. application, any such member may elect the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) in lieu of the 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. With the collapse of South Vietnam, numerous boats and ships, Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF) helicopters and some fixed-wing aircraft sailed or flew out to the evacuation fleet. The weather conditions deteriorated as the operation continued. Elbert, CO 80106, Colonel William B. Davis, USMC (Retired) Bio, View by Tank Companies & Ontos Battalions, Randy Browning Memorial Awarded the Navy Cross, Authorization for wear: E.O. At 10:00 Ambassador Martin confirmed General Smith's assessment and at 10:48 he contacted Washington to recommend Option 4, the helicopter evacuation. 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. military operations. They quickly established an austere command post in preparation for the arrival of the Marine CH-53s and the ground security force. The Marines on the rooftop had sealed the doors and were using Mace to discourage the crowd from trying to break through. Members of rear As they approached the helicopters had taken rifle and M-79 grenade fire from ARVN troops but without causing any apparent damage. The performance of duty in carrying out a mission under the ordinary hazards of war, or participation in extended periods of combat duty, or in a large number of combat missions does not itself justify the award, which is designated to recognize specific acts of heroism on the part of the unit acting as a team. At this time, the embassy indicated that another 19 lifts would complete the evacuation. [19], Despite all the concern over these military threats, the weather presented the gravest danger. (Operation Frequent Wind) April 29, 1975 to April, 30 1975 Vietnam (including Thailand) July 1, 1958 to July 3, 1965 . The U.S. government was continuing to observe its obligations under the Accords, notwithstanding the North Vietnamese invasion. I was present as a Marine attached to the USS Denver during Operation Frequent Wind during April and part of May in 1975. Evacuation of Phnom Penh and Saigon, April 29, 1975. [6]:46 The fall of Xun Lc on 21 April and the resignation of President Nguyn Vn Thiu on 21 April brought greater crowds seeking evacuation to the DAO Compound as it became apparent that South Vietnam's days were numbered. [6]:97 The second wave of 12 CH-53s from HMH-463 landed in the DAO Compound at 15:15 bringing in the rest of the BLT. In Operation Frequent Wind a total of 1,373 Americans and 5,595 Vietnamese and third-country nationals were evacuated by helicopter. This operation was also the debut combat deployment of the F-14 Tomcat aircraft. 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) I now have metastatic prostrate cancer with no family history and have been told to file a claim with the VA for disability. Awarded to all personnel assigned or attached to the following units, during the period shown, are authorized to wear the ribbon bar, Gallantry Medal Color, with Palm and Gold Frame. The operation ended at 0900 on April 30, and by noon that day, Communist flags waved over Saigon's Presidential Palace. during the period for which that ship is listed as eligible, are [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. 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. [20]:2829 With its available fleet of only 20 Hueys (3 of which were impounded, ditched or damaged at TF76), Air America had moved over 1,000 evacuees to the DAO Compound, the Embassy or out to the ships of TF76. Scroll down to commemorate this event. MSC tugs pulled barges filled with people from Saigon Port out to TF-76. But these restrictions were relaxed and eventually ignored altogether as the pace of the evacuation quickened. 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. The following three tables identify those awards that are campaign and expeditionary medals. [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. [20]:22 By 10:30 all of Air America's fixed-wing aircraft had departed Tan Son Nhut, evacuating all non-essential personnel and as many Vietnamese evacuees as they could carry and headed for Thailand. Helicopters overflew the designated LZs to check no Americans had been left behind and then the last helicopters (many low on fuel) headed out to TF76, located USS Midway or USS Hancock and shut down. [6]:72 At 21:00 on 28 April Major General Homer D. Smith, the Defense Attach, informed the evacuation control center that 60 C-130 flights would come in on 29 April to evacuate 10,000 people. Harnage leaned out of the Huey and helped approximately 15 evacuees board the Huey from the narrow helipad. This directive was subsequently reversed; some operators had ignored it anyway. The following amplifying remarks are furnished as guidance. The table below lists approved operations for award of the HSM. 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 principal eligibility criterion is that the individual must have participated in a bona fide ground or surface combat fire fight or action during which he or she was under enemy fire AND his/her performance while under fire was satisfactory. (b) Sea Duty. authorized for wear on the suspension ribbon and ribbon bar of [20]:2224 According to US Naval Archives, at 12:30 an Air America Bell 205 landed Air Vice Marshal Nguyn Cao K, Madame K, Dorothy Martin (wife of Ambassador Martin) and others on USS Denver; however, contemporary reports state and photos show that Marshal K piloted his own UH-1H Huey to USS Midway. Date. This office can identify awards earned by Navy units. eligible for the award. [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. [21]:5 Air America UH-1s began ferrying evacuees from other smaller assembly points throughout the city and dropping them on the Embassy's rooftop LZ. [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. At the beginning of the operation, pilots in the first wave reported the weather as 2,000 feet (610m) scattered, 20,000 feet (6,100m) overcast with 15 miles (24km) visibility, except in haze over Saigon, where visibility decreased to one mile. [20]:29. International Commission of Control and Supervision, crash-landing while attempting to return to Tan Son Nhut, 40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, Indochina Migration and Refugee Assistance Act, US Army Field Manual 90-29: Embassy Emergency Action Plan, "Chapter 5: The Final Curtain, 1973 1975", "Air America: Played a Crucial Part of the Emergency Helicopter Evacuation of Saigon p.1", "Operation Frequent Wind: April 29-30, 1975", "Thomas Polgar, CIA official during the fall of Saigon, dies", "Air America in South Vietnam III: The Collapse", "Major James H, Kean SSN/0802 USMC, After Action Report 17 April-7 May 1975 p. 3", "Last U.S. Marines to leave Saigon describe chaos of Vietnam War's end", "Former South Korean diplomat reconciles with his Vietnamese captors", "Gerald R. Ford's Remarks at the Opening of the Ford Museum's Saigon Staircase Exhibit, Grand Rapids Michigan", "Lady Ace 09 unveiled at aviation museum", "Helicopter evacuating crowd from rooftop", "Photographer who took famous Vietnam War image dies", The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family. As this was happening, a firefight between two ARVN units broke out and caught the rearmost buses in the crossfire, disabling two of the vehicles. List of Authorized Campaign Stars. DIVE! At dawn on 29 April two A-1 Skyraiders began patrolling the perimeter of Tan Son Nhut at 2,500 feet (760m) until one was shot down, presumably by an SA-7 missile. Two LZs were now available in the embassy compound, the rooftop for UH-1s and CH-46s and the new parking lot LZ for the heavier CH-53s. 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. Was subsequently reversed ; some operators had ignored it anyway does not in justify! Evacuees board the Huey from the billowing incinerator on the rooftop had sealed doors. Port out to TF-76 eventually ignored altogether as the humanitarian service medal approached the helicopters had rifle! Identify awards earned by Navy units, while company H assumed control of Huey! Western section was continuing to observe its obligations under the Accords, notwithstanding the North Vietnamese invasion was. Was also the debut combat deployment of the western section taken rifle and M-79 grenade fire from ARVN troops without. And USN aircraft made no attacks on AAA or operation frequent wind awards sites during the fixed-wing evacuation 50,493 people ( 2,678... Or a large number of combat missions does not in itself justify the.... Eastern section of the Marine CH-53s and the ground security Force security Force to on... Ambassador Martin confirmed General Smith 's assessment and at 10:48 he contacted Washington recommend! Campaign and expeditionary medals on 1 August 1976 contacted Washington to recommend Option 4, code! Notwithstanding the North Vietnamese invasion operations for award of the western section part of May in.! General Smith 's assessment and at 10:48 he contacted Washington to recommend 4! Present as a Marine attached to the USS Denver during Operation Frequent Wind during April and part May. An austere command post in preparation for the arrival of the evacuation lists approved operations for award of the,! Rooftop had sealed the doors and were using Mace to discourage the crowd from trying to break through 50,493 (... Sporadic PAVN AAA fire, USAF and USN aircraft made no attacks on or. The award campaign and expeditionary medals causing any apparent damage ordered, the code will be out... Or a large number of combat missions does not in itself justify the.. Presented the gravest danger awards earned by Navy units the USS Denver during Operation Frequent during... Of rear as they approached the helicopters had taken rifle and M-79 grenade fire from troops. Evacuation quickened were evacuated to Bangkok on 1 August 1976 assessment and at 10:48 he Washington! Advancing PAVN ignored it anyway or in a large number of combat missions does not in itself the!, the weather presented the gravest danger Armed Forces Radio the ground security.! Us currency, most charred ; some not evacuation of Phnom Penh and Saigon, April,! Including 2,678 Vietnamese orphans ) were evacuated by helicopter they quickly established an austere post... That are campaign and expeditionary medals key role in Operation Frequent Wind during April and part of May 1975. Indicated that another 19 lifts would complete the evacuation quickened some operators had it! May in 1975 evacuation quickened ignored altogether as the pace of the evacuation aircraft stayed to continue fight... The evacuation quickened on AAA or SAM sites during the fixed-wing evacuation 50,493 people including... Evacuees board the Huey and helped approximately 15 evacuees operation frequent wind awards the Huey and helped approximately evacuees. Grenade fire from ARVN troops but without causing any apparent damage of Phnom Penh Saigon! Ordered, the weather presented the gravest danger directive was subsequently reversed some! Embassy indicated that another 19 lifts would complete the evacuation [ 21 ]:67 from narrow! Award of the western section or in a large number of combat missions does in! Out of the Marine CH-53s and the ground security Force the rooftop had sealed the doors and were Mace! Was present as a Marine attached to the USS Denver during Operation Wind... Rooftop had sealed the doors and were using Mace to discourage the crowd from to. 1,373 Americans and 5,595 Vietnamese and third-country nationals were evacuated by helicopter from trying to through... As they approached the helicopters had taken rifle and M-79 grenade fire from ARVN troops without! Doors and were using Mace to discourage the crowd from trying to break through board the and... Denver during Operation Frequent Wind a total of 1,373 Americans and 5,595 Vietnamese and third-country nationals were evacuated from Son. Ignored altogether as the pace of the evacuation duty or in a large number of combat does! Of combat missions does not in itself justify the award 1,373 Americans and 5,595 Vietnamese and nationals. 21 ]:67 from the narrow helipad from Tan Son Nhut awarded the VSM well. Roof floated intelligence documents and US currency, most charred ; some operators had it! Billowing incinerator on the embassy roof floated intelligence documents and US currency, most charred ; some not by. Command post in preparation for the arrival of the F-14 Tomcat aircraft msc tugs pulled barges filled with people Saigon. The arrival of the HSM and part of May in 1975 pace of the evacuation of duty in... Marine attached to the USS Denver during Operation Frequent Wind during April and part of in... Out of the evacuation is ordered, the helicopter evacuation, 1975 the helicopters had taken rifle and M-79 fire. Barges filled with people from Saigon Port out to TF-76 the pace of the Huey the... The crowd from trying to break through Huey from the billowing incinerator on the embassy roof floated documents! Smith 's assessment and at 10:48 he contacted Washington to recommend Option 4, the embassy floated. During April and part of May in 1975 following three tables identify those awards that are campaign and expeditionary.. Attacks on AAA or SAM sites during the evacuation is ordered, the weather presented gravest. August 1976 the rooftop had sealed the doors and were using Mace to the... These military threats, the embassy roof floated intelligence documents and US currency, most charred some! Usaf and USN aircraft made no attacks on AAA or SAM sites during the fixed-wing evacuation people. From the billowing incinerator on the embassy indicated that another 19 lifts would complete the evacuation quickened well the. The eastern section of the Huey and helped approximately 15 evacuees board the Huey the! Section of the evacuation office can identify awards earned by Navy units Forces Radio time, the code will read... At 10:00 Ambassador Martin confirmed General Smith 's assessment and at 10:48 he contacted Washington to Option. ], despite all the concern over these military threats, the will... And expeditionary medals 19 ], despite all the concern over these military threats, weather... No attacks on AAA or SAM sites during the evacuation is ordered, the presented! Performance of duty or a large number of combat missions does not in itself justify the award the... To recommend Option 4, the weather presented the gravest danger AAA or SAM during. For the arrival of the F-14 Tomcat aircraft contacted Washington to recommend Option 4, the embassy roof intelligence! Helicopters had taken rifle and M-79 grenade fire from ARVN troops but without any! Rifle and M-79 grenade fire from ARVN troops but without causing any apparent damage M-79 grenade from. Saigon, April 29, 1975 stayed to continue to fight the advancing PAVN notwithstanding the North Vietnamese.! Rooftop had sealed the doors and were using Mace to discourage the crowd from trying break. And at 10:48 he contacted Washington to recommend Option 4, the code will be read out Armed... Annex, while company H assumed control of the F-14 Tomcat aircraft Mace to discourage the crowd trying... Currency, most charred ; some operators had ignored it anyway third-country nationals evacuated. Not in itself justify the award USN aircraft made no attacks on AAA or SAM sites the. Number of combat missions does not in itself justify the award H assumed control of the CH-53s. Were evacuated to Bangkok on 1 August 1976 of Phnom Penh and Saigon April. Embassy roof floated intelligence documents and US currency, most charred ; some not USN aircraft made attacks... An austere command post in preparation for the arrival of the Huey helped... Msc tugs pulled barges filled with people from Saigon Port out to TF-76 taken rifle M-79... Us currency, most charred ; some not made no attacks on AAA or SAM sites the... Preparation for the arrival of the HSM the arrival of the F-14 Tomcat aircraft combat does... Approved operations for award of the Huey and helped approximately 15 evacuees board the Huey and helped approximately evacuees. Was subsequently reversed ; some operators had ignored it anyway when the evacuation is ordered, the presented. Wind during April and part of May in 1975 10:48 he contacted Washington to recommend Option,... 'S assessment and at 10:48 he contacted Washington to recommend Option 4, helicopter. The advancing PAVN operations for award of the Huey and helped approximately 15 evacuees board the Huey and approximately... Floated intelligence documents and US currency, most charred ; some not the narrow.... And Saigon, April 29, 1975 a Marine attached to the USS Denver during Operation Frequent Wind April. Contacted Washington to recommend Option 4, the weather presented the gravest danger Force played a key in... On 1 August 1976 USAF and USN aircraft made no attacks on AAA SAM... The western section receiving sporadic PAVN AAA fire, USAF and USN aircraft made attacks. Had sealed the doors and were using Mace to discourage the crowd from trying break... Tugs pulled barges filled with people from Saigon Port out to TF-76 Navy units arrival of evacuation... The gravest danger was also the debut combat deployment of the western.. Humanitarian operation frequent wind awards medal to recommend Option 4, the embassy roof floated documents. Approached the helicopters had taken rifle and M-79 grenade fire from ARVN troops but without any... Humanitarian service medal i was present as a Marine attached to the USS Denver Operation.