Ostensibly exploring the practice of law before the internet. Heck, before good highways for that matter.
Monday, June 16, 2025
"We were the last eleven"
Friday, May 2, 2025
Friday, May 2, 1975. Hold outs.
The ARVN surrendered in the Battle of Long Xuyên, An Giang, the last South Vietnamese soldiers to do so.
Heavily criticized throughout the American period of involvement in the war, the ARVN had been engaged in fighting prior to largescale US involvement and while its conscript troops often did lack motivation, it's best units were good. The final fighting in 1972 demonstrated both qualities, with the ARVN coming apart in the northernmost section of South Vietnam, but putting up a stout fight outside of and in Saigon. Frankly, the American Army had enormously declined in quality during the war and by the time the US withdrew in 1972 it was largely an ineffective fighting force.
Henry Kissinger wrote a memo:
25 year old Smokey the Bear, a black bear at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., was retired from service as a living symbol of fire prevention.
Last edition:
Thứ Năm, ngày 1 tháng 5 năm 1975. Chiến tranh Việt Nam kết thúc.* Thursday, May 1, 1975. The conclusion of the Vietnam War. Jeudi 1er mai 1975. Fin de la guerre du Vietnam.
Thursday, May 1, 2025
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Wednesday, April 30, 1975. The Fall of Saigon.
Saigon fell to the NVA.
Gen. Dũng received orders from the Politburo to attack and take Saigon, which was surrounded except on approaches from the sea. Early in the morning NVA sappers tried to take the Newport Bridge but were repulsed by ARVN Airborne. An armored battle ensued, holding the bridge.
NVA armor then attacked Tan Son Nhut, which was defended by ARVN Rangers. An armored battle ensued there as well. A pitch battle broke out, but the NVA overcame the ARVN.
At 10:24 South Vietnamese President Minh surrendered unconditionally, although the ARVN continued to fight at the Newport Bridge, unaware of the surrender. They stopped fighting upon learning of the surrender.
The surrender was announced to the nation at 2:30.
I, General Duong Van Minh, president of the Saigon administration, appeal to the armed forces of the Republic of Vietnam to laydown their arms and surrender unconditionally to the forces of the Liberation Army of South Vietnam. Furthermore, I declare that the Saigon government is completely dissolved at all levels. From the Central government to the local governments must be handed over to the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam.
Duong Van Minh on the transcript written by Bùi Văn Tùng
This was followed by:
We, the representatives for the forces of the Liberation Army of South Vietnam, solemnly declare that the City of Saigon was completely liberated. We accepted the unconditional surrender of General Dương Văn Minh, the president of the Saigon administration.
Bùi Văn Tùng.
In the Mekong Delta, the ARVN actually fought on for a day thereafter. Upon learning of the unconditional surrendered, they abandoned the ARVN or surrendered to VC forces that they outnumbered.
ARVN generals Le Van Hung, 42, Tran Van Hai, 50, Le Nguyen Vy, 42, and Pham Van Phu, 46, committed suicide.
Brig Gen. Pham Duy Tat, the ARVN officer known for his hopelessly naive cheerful attitude in Ken Burn's documentary on the Vietnam War, survived but would serve 17 years in a Communist reeducation camp. Upon being released, he relocated to the United States, passing away in 2019.
ARVN generals, Le Van Hung, Tran Van Hai, Le Nguyen Vy, and Pham Van Phu, committed suicide.
Operation Frequent Wind concluded.
Over 7,000 people were evacuated.
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Tuesday, April 29, 1975. The start of Operation Frequent Wind.
The order was given to carry out Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of Americans and some South Vietnamese from the country.
Monday, April 28, 2025
Monday, April 28, 1975. Ordering the ARVN to hold on.
U.S Consul Francis Terry McNamara met with ARVN Major General Nguyễn Khoa Nam about the plans to evacuate U.S consulate employees, some American civilians and some Vietnamese employees by boat. General Nam didn't want any members of the ARVN to be included, so they could remain and fight.
A North Vietnamese air raid on Tan Son Nhut Air Base caused half of the fixed winged aircraft to be evacuated from the air base.
The RVNAF launched a helicopter attack on VC troops who were attempting to occupy the Newport Bridge, which was followed by a ground attack.
President Dương Văn Minh made an inaugural speech about the struggle of the South Vietnam military and finding ways for the peace to end the war. He ordered the ARVN to hold all remaining ground and urged the South Vietnamese to stay in the country pending a ceasefire which he promised would keep South Vietnam separate from the north.
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Sunday, April 27, 1975. Big Minh takes charge.
Saturday, April 26, 2025
Saturday, April 26, 1975. The attack on Saigon begins.
Friday, April 25, 2025
Friday April 25, 1975. White Christmas.
The U.S. Embassy in Saigon decided that to signal "Evacuation Day" for Americans, the Defense Attaché Office (DAO) radio station would broadcast the phrase "the temperature is 105 degrees and rising" followed by playing Bing Crosby's recording of the song "White Christmas".
The last Australians, including their ambassador, were evacuated by the RAAF.
91.7% of eligible Portuguese voters turned out for the first multiparty election in the country in nearly fifty years. The Socialist Party won 116 of the 250 seats, Social Democrats won 81 and the Portuguese Communist Party 30 seats.
There had been real fears the Communist Party would win.
The Liga Comunista 23 de Septiembre raided a branch of the Banco de Comercio at Villa Coapa, Mexico City, killing six police who were guarding the bank. They killed two more policemen and two bystanders in their escape.
Last edition
Thursday, April 24, 1975. Wings of Freedom
Thursday, April 24, 2025
Thursday, April 24, 1975. Wings of Freedom
The last Pan Am flight out of South Vietnam occured.
Episode 4: Evacuation of Saigon, Wings of Freedom Mission
Six terrorists of the Baader-Meinhof Gang (the "Red Army Faction") seized the West German embassy in Sweden. They took eleven hostages and demanded the release of Andreas Baader and Ulrike Meinhof, which the German government refused. They after killed two of the hostages before a bomb they took in the embassy accidentally exploded, allowing the hostages to escape and fatally injuring two of the terrorists.
The Swedish army took the rest prisoner.
The change in policy on negotiations with terrorists marked the beginning of the decline of domestic terrorism directed at West Germany.
Colorado Attorney General Joyce Murdoch invalidated all six marriage licenses for same-sex marriages that had been issued by Boulder County Clerk Clela Rorex.
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