Vietnam Babylift Personal Stories
April 1975, Saigon, Operation Baby Lift in full swing,
Call from the Command Center,
"A bus load of Orphans are on their way in, I'll explain"
"Never mind they just drove up"
Carrying three and four babies at a time,
Laying them side by side on the paper covered Pool Table.
Hot, sick and dehydrated from the long trip from the Province.
Trying to get some water into them,
Holding four bottles at a time.
No crying, no whimpering, no complaining,
Just waiting for a touch.
All dressed up in Little White Dresses going to America,
Purple gentian violet to treat the impetigo staining the new dresses.
Feeding the little toddlers,
One jar of baby food, one spoon,
Going from mouth to mouth, then another jar.
So much wanting to be touched,
Clinging to anything they could grab onto.
Finally getting them on a plane then breathing a silent prayer;
"Dear God, please find someone to love and care for them".
Then turning to the next task as the little blue bus goes for another load.
And always remembering the Little White Dresses.
***EDITOR'S NOTE: Sally Vinyard is a true American hero. Her pivotal role and heroism during Babylift saved the lives of many of the children.
Sally worked at the Defense Attache Office in Viet Nam, directly under General Homer G. Smith's Command. General Smith authorized all Babylift flights.
During the final 10 days of the Viet Nam War she never left Tan Son Nhut Airport. On one day, April 23, 1975, Sally processed 7,000 refugees leaving Viet Nam for the United States.
Sally holds the final civilian woman's passport stamped by South Viet Nam, as she remained in Viet Nam until April 29, 1975.
She is an extraordinary human being, and deserving of our appreciation.
I hope that everyone involved in Babylift who reads her poem will take a moment to write a brief thank you to Sally.
Please send your notes to:
and I will forward them to her.***