The Final Countdown

Eddies66 · 04-29-2019, 09:10 AM

44 years today the final stages of the evacuation of the American Embassy in Saigon was underway. Over 6000 Vietnamese and 1000 Americans had safely departed. Only the Marine Security Guards remained. Cpl. Charles McMahon and Lance Cpl. Darwin Judge — early April 29 while they stood guard at the defense attache compound at Tan Son Nhat Airport were killed by artillery bombardment. They would be the last U.S. servicemen to die in a war that killed some 58,000 Americans. I was lucky enough to have served as an "Ambassador in Blue" with a number of these Marines during that time and found their stories to be no less than heroic.

jmcarter · 04-29-2019, 09:40 AM

Every American should visit the Memorial in DC. Along with Arlington (changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier another “must do”) and the Lincoln Memorial you can see the triumph as well as the tragedy that marks our history. I once worked with a young manager who had immigrated to the US when Saigon fell. Turns out he was on one of C5’s that carried out hundreds of kids. He was very fortunate and would gladly attest to that.

Eddies66 · 04-29-2019, 12:22 PM

Eddies66 · 04-29-2019, 12:25 PM

SStockDart · 04-29-2019, 01:57 PM

God bless you, Marines.

Greg Reimer 7376 · 04-30-2019, 09:33 AM

Eddie, you are the most thoughtful person I've ever met. Thank you for calling attention to these brave very young Americans who were faithful to the end. Everybody needs to see the Vietnam wall or the traveling wall that tours the country occasionally. It's the most somber sight you will ever see.Darwin Judge was born two years after I was. They didn't draft guys born in '54, although we registered for the draft. That means he had to have been an enlisted man.

04-29-2019, 09:10 AM	#1
Eddies66 VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Rancho Mirage, CA Posts: 1,308 Likes: 300 Liked 881 Times in 452 Posts	The Final Countdown 44 years today the final stages of the evacuation of the American Embassy in Saigon was underway. Over 6000 Vietnamese and 1000 Americans had safely departed. Only the Marine Security Guards remained. Cpl. Charles McMahon and Lance Cpl. Darwin Judge — early April 29 while they stood guard at the defense attache compound at Tan Son Nhat Airport were killed by artillery bombardment. They would be the last U.S. servicemen to die in a war that killed some 58,000 Americans. I was lucky enough to have served as an "Ambassador in Blue" with a number of these Marines during that time and found their stories to be no less than heroic. Last edited by Eddies66; 04-29-2019 at 09:49 AM.

04-29-2019, 09:40 AM	#2
jmcarter VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Richmond Hill GA (and Port Ludlow WA) Posts: 4,295 Likes: 2,381 Liked 3,174 Times in 971 Posts	Re: The Final Countdown Every American should visit the Memorial in DC. Along with Arlington (changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier another “must do”) and the Lincoln Memorial you can see the triumph as well as the tragedy that marks our history. I once worked with a young manager who had immigrated to the US when Saigon fell. Turns out he was on one of C5’s that carried out hundreds of kids. He was very fortunate and would gladly attest to that. __________________ Jim Carter 2340 Super Stock 2340 SST/2340 Stock Set another place at the table

04-29-2019, 12:22 PM	#3
Eddies66 VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Rancho Mirage, CA Posts: 1,308 Likes: 300 Liked 881 Times in 452 Posts	Re: The Final Countdown

04-29-2019, 12:25 PM	#4
Eddies66 VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Rancho Mirage, CA Posts: 1,308 Likes: 300 Liked 881 Times in 452 Posts	Re: The Final Countdown

04-29-2019, 01:57 PM	#5
SStockDart VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Arizona, Texan forever Posts: 1,176 Likes: 879 Liked 574 Times in 212 Posts	Re: The Final Countdown God bless you, Marines. __________________ Gary Hansen - SS/FA 4911, B/SA 4911

04-30-2019, 09:33 AM	#6
Greg Reimer 7376 VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Glendora,Calif. Posts: 1,135 Likes: 172 Liked 705 Times in 219 Posts	Re: The Final Countdown Eddie, you are the most thoughtful person I've ever met. Thank you for calling attention to these brave very young Americans who were faithful to the end. Everybody needs to see the Vietnam wall or the traveling wall that tours the country occasionally. It's the most somber sight you will ever see.Darwin Judge was born two years after I was. They didn't draft guys born in '54, although we registered for the draft. That means he had to have been an enlisted man.