There are so many interesting stories of the people of Hamilton. Local dentist, Simon Nguyen serves at the 178th Wing of the Ohio Air National Guard. Lt. Col. Nguyen is the Chief of Dental Services at the 178th and runs his own dental practice as a civilian. This is a story told by Simon Nguyen, local dentist, in his own words addressed to his children:
It is like so many throughout history where a new beginning is born out of a violent end. It is from my five-year-old eyes with some historical facts and the recollections of your Ong-Ba Noi (grandparents).
By the end of March 1975, it was becoming more evident that the South Vietnamese Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN), could lose the Vietnam War. Your Ong Noi, a First Lieutenant in the ARVN was based in Saigon. The base was adjacent to Tan Son Nhut Air Base. By 28 April 1975, the North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong were less than 19 miles from Saigon.
Around 1400 hours on 29 April 1975, your Ong Noi (grandfather), had made the decision to get his family out of Saigon. He knew that the American evacuations would not last much longer and the thought of living under a communist regime was impossible. He had already reported to his unit that morning to find it in disarray and no clear command structure remained.
With apprehension and uncertainty, he picked up his family along with his brother-in-law and another family. There was a total of 15 men, women, and children packed into an army jeep heading for Tan Son Nhut Airport.
The airport was mostly shut down due to damage caused on the runways from attacks. Operation Frequent Wind had begun to evacuate any remaining Americans and “at risks” South Vietnamese from Saigon using helicopters. It would be the largest helicopter evacuation in history to that point.
The evacuation primarily took place at the Defense Attache Office Compound in Tan Son Nhut, defended by U.S. Marines. By early evening, we were given passage through the gate and formed lines awaiting the rotations of in-coming American helicopters to ferry evacuees onto U.S. Navy ships in the South China Sea, Task Force 76.
Ong Noi’s initial intention was to leave your grandmother with their five children to catch a flight out and he would return to any remaining ARVN units still fighting. His hope was to return at the very last possible moment to evacuate as well.
If it were not for a brave and level-headed U.S. Marine Captain, your Ong Noi would have gone back out through the gate. The he stopped Ong Noi to persuade him to join the family and leave together. He told your Ong Noi that the last evacuations were happening now, and things would shut down soon. With great reluctance, fear, and sorrow, your Ong Noi removed his uniform, disarmed, and joined his family.
As we crotched down, I remember watching the helicopters coming in, kicking up a lot of dust and the distinct wop-wop sounds of the rotors. When ours came, the tailgate opens down fully and my family along with at least 40 others, packed into the helicopter. Almost as quickly as it landed, we were back up into the Saigon night sky towards sea. I remember hearing gun fire from inside. It was a door-gunner placing suppressive fire in the direction of tracer rounds coming up from the ground.
We landed on one of the available carriers of Task Force 76 in the transport group. All I can remember were people jammed together and darkness. The ships with thousands of refugees sailed for Guam and the Philippines. We went to Guam and stayed about one month. The next stop was Camp Pendleton in Southern California, where the Marine Corps provided refuge for over 50,000 Vietnamese. From Camp Pendleton, we were relocated to Texas, with the help and sponsorship of the Catholic Church in San Antonio.
Fast forward 42 years later, June 2017, while on assignment with the Ohio Air National Guard on the Big Island of Hawai’i, I heard the distinct WOP-WOP sound of rotors breaking though the air. It was like a light switch in my brain. I recognized that particular WOP-WOP sound. As I gazed into the blue sky, I saw three CH-53E Super Stallion (Sikorsky S-65) circling in formation over the base. Their predecessors were the same helicopters that airlifted your Ong Noi and his family out of Saigon on 29 April 1975.
The next day the three Super Stallions were parked on the flight line. I requested a tour. These birds belonged to a Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, known as “Pegasus”, out of Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. The young Marines charged with their maintenance were very proud of them.
I attempted to briefly tell the Marines about the first and last time I was ever in this type of helicopter, as a small boy being evacuated out of Saigon. Their respectfulness was admirable, but even more amazing was their intimate knowledge of the squadron’s lineage. The Marines quickly informed me that their unit was one of the squadrons flying the evacuations out of Saigon that day.
A few days later, I fly around the Big Island with HMH-463, Pegasus. Circles of life.
There are rare moments in my life that I have felt God was trying to tell me something. This was a moment that I felt He winked at me. Words can not fully convey the feeling in my heart. I have a deep a realization of a complete circle in my life. I am blessed to have a second life in the United States of America and to wear the uniform today.
Had it not been the for all the particular people in place, I would not have this story to tell. You would not exist in this family if it were not for these people. We all exist to love our Creator and make a difference for one another. Pay it forward.
Do you know an interesting person in Hamilton whose story should be shared? Contact dclemens53@gmail.com.