Category Archives: Vietnam War

South Vietnam President Duong Van Minh surrenders to North Vietnamese forces 50 years ago this hour (Apr 30 1975)


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 11' (Apr. 30, 1975, at 50:04)

(Wednesday, April 30, 1975, 10:45 a.m. Saigon Standard Time; during the 1975 Spring Offensive of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — South Vietnamese President Duong Van Minh announced today the unconditional surrender of the Saigon Government and its military forces to the Vietcong. Continue reading South Vietnam President Duong Van Minh surrenders to North Vietnamese forces 50 years ago this hour (Apr 30 1975)

Last American troops depart Vietnam 50 years ago this hour (Apr 30 1975)


Video: 'Vietnam The Ten Thousand Day War 12of13 Surrender (Apr. 30, 1975, at 41:44)

(Sunday, April 30, 1975, 7:53 a.m. Saigon Standard Time; during the 1975 Spring Offensive of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — The last ten Marine security guards and their commander (Major Kean) at the U.S. Embassy in Saigon, South Vietnam, were evacuated on a Marine Corps helicopter this morning, concluding the United States presence in Vietnam. Total U.S. casualties for the war: 58,303 dead and 303,644 wounded. Continue reading Last American troops depart Vietnam 50 years ago this hour (Apr 30 1975)

U.S. Ambassador Graham Martin flees Vietnam 50 years ago this hour (Apr 30 1975)


Video: 'Vietnam The Ten Thousand Day War 12of13 Surrender (Apr. 30, 1975, at 39:55)

(Sunday, April 30, 1975, 4:58 a.m. Saigon Standard Time; during the 1975 Spring Offensive of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — U.S. Ambassador Graham Martin boarded a Marine Corps helicopter this morning in Saigon and was flown to the USS Blue Ridge. Continue reading U.S. Ambassador Graham Martin flees Vietnam 50 years ago this hour (Apr 30 1975)

U.S. begins withdrawing Americans from Saigon by helicopter 50 years ago this hour (Apr 29 1975)


Video: 'Vietnam : A Television History ep.12 "End of the Tunnel, 1973-1975"' (Apr. 28, 1975, at 44:54)

(Tuesday, April 29, 1975, 2:00 p.m. Saigon Standard Time; during the 1975 Spring Offensive of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — U.S. President Gerald Ford ordered the emergency evacuation today of all Americans remaining in South Vietnam. Continue reading U.S. begins withdrawing Americans from Saigon by helicopter 50 years ago this hour (Apr 29 1975)

Saigon’s Tan Son Nhut airport comes under rocket fire 50 years ago this hour (Apr 29 1975)


Video: 'Vietnam : A Television History ep.12 "End of the Tunnel, 1973-1975"' (Apr. 29, 1975, at 44:37)

(Tuesday, April 29, 1975, around 4:00 a.m. Saigon Standard Time; during the 1975 Spring Offensive of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — Saigon’s Tan Son Nhut airport came under the heaviest rocket attack of the war early this morning, preventing passenger planes from taking off, as North Vietnamese troops assaulted parts of the city’s suburbs. But U.S. ambassador, Graham Martin was still reluctant to begin a full-scale helicopter evacuation. Continue reading Saigon’s Tan Son Nhut airport comes under rocket fire 50 years ago this hour (Apr 29 1975)

Minh replaces Huong as South Vietnamese president 50 years ago this hour (Apr 28 1975)


Video: 'Vietnam : A Television History ep.12 "End of the Tunnel, 1973-1975"' (Apr. 28, 1975, at 44:07)

(Monday, April 28, 1975, 5:00 p.m. Saigon Standard Time; during the 1975 Spring Offensive of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — General Duong Van Minh, known widely as “Big Minh,” was sworn in as president of South Vietnam today, as Communist forces moved to within barely a mile of Saigon’s city limits. Continue reading Minh replaces Huong as South Vietnamese president 50 years ago this hour (Apr 28 1975)

North Vietnamese commandos at gates of Saigon 50 years ago this morning (Apr 28 1975)


Video: 'Vietnam : A Television History ep.12 "End of the Tunnel, 1973-1975"' (Apr. 28, 1975, at 43:46-44:07)

(Monday, April 28, 1975, daybreak; during the 1975 Spring Offensive of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — At daybreak today, South Vietnamese troops faced North Vietnamese commandos at the Newport Bridge. They were at the gates of Saigon. Continue reading North Vietnamese commandos at gates of Saigon 50 years ago this morning (Apr 28 1975)

North Vietnamese rockets hit Saigon for first time since 1973 ceasefire 50 years ago this hour (Apr 27 1975)


Video: 'Vietnam The Ten Thousand Day War 12of13 Surrender (Apr. 27, 1975, at 30:00)

(Sunday, April 27, 1975, 4:00 a.m. Saigon Standard Time; during the 1975 Spring Offensive of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — Five rockets dropped into a densely populated Saigon slum today, leaving 5,000 homeless. Continue reading North Vietnamese rockets hit Saigon for first time since 1973 ceasefire 50 years ago this hour (Apr 27 1975)

President Ford declares Vietnam War is ‘finished as far as America is concerned’ 50 years ago this hour (Apr 23 1975)


Video: 'Address at a Tulane University Convocation April 23, 1975'

(Wednesday, April 23, 1975, 8:07-8:33 p.m. CDT; during the 1975 Spring Offensive of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — Speaking to an audience of students at Tulane University in New Orleans, U.S. President Gerald Ford announced that “Today, America can regain the sense of pride that existed before Vietnam. But it cannot be achieved by re-fighting a war that is finished as far as America is concerned.” Continue reading President Ford declares Vietnam War is ‘finished as far as America is concerned’ 50 years ago this hour (Apr 23 1975)

100,000 North Vietnamese troops advance on Saigon 50 years ago today (Apr 23 1975)


Video: 'Vietnam The Ten Thousand Day War 12of13 Surrender' (Apr. 23, 1975, at 23:30)

(Wednesday, April 23, 1975; during the 1975 Spring Offensive of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — 100,000 North Vietnamese communist forces, less than 30 miles from Saigon, began an advance from five directions today with orders to penetrate and occupy the South Vietnamese capitol within a week.