Fall+of+Saigon+JRB

Saigon was the capital and the largest city and port in South Vietnam. It was the seat of the S. Vietnamese government as well as the headquarters of MACV (U.S Military Assistance Command Vietnam). But for the North Vietnamese to win the Vietnam war they would have to control Saigon. So on April 30, 1975 Saigon fell. This is how it happened. The S. Vietnamese soldiers were stationed in the highlands a number of miles north of Saigon. They were told to retreat back to the capital. Women and children followed. That’s when the NVA, led by Van Tien Dung, artillery opened up reeking havoc on the retreating S. Vietnamese. The artillery killed women and children as well as soldiers. By the end of the retreat 100,000 were dead. In Saigon evacuations were taking place. They started as early as April 8 1975. Mostly U.S people and Vietnamese govt. people were being evacuated. Graham Martin was the top ranking U.S officer and he organized the evacuation of Saigon. The president of S. Vietnam, president Thieu ordered all troops to come and defend Saigon but he quickly changed his mind and told the troops in Hue to hold the city to the last man. President Thieu ordered Saigon to be abandoned and all the troops to be moved to a new line of defense 60 miles North East of Saigon, Xuan Loc. On April, 16 South Vietnam was defeated there. The remaining forces moved to Bien Hoa, a town 15 from Saigon. On April, 20 president Thieu resigned and left the country the following day. That left Doung Van Minh in charge. On April, 27 soviet rockets landed on the air base. Fighting broke out between S. Vietnamese to get on aircraft out of Vietnam. Outside the city ARVN and Marines tore off their clothes afraid that they would be captured by the NVA forces. The last evacuation helicopter left on April, 30 1975. More than 400 Vietnamese who were promised a ride were abandoned in the embassy yard. They shot at the last people to get on the helicopter who were 11 marines who threw tear gas grenades down in retaliation. That same afternoon, just a few hour after the last helicopter left, the North Vietnamese finally took Saigon. They named the city Ho Chi Minh city. The Vietnam war was over.
 * FALL OF SAIGON**