The War That Is Still With Us

During 2016 and 2017, I spent a lot of time in Vietnam. Figuratively, that is; I was researching and writing two novels about the Cameron brothers, Andrew and Jake, who both fought in that conflict. My books Memories of Jake and Man with No Yesterdays are about the impact of Vietnam on their lives and the lives of those they loved.

The Vietnam War became, in a way, my war. Those two years were a dark journey into a stain on our nation’s history that remains to this day. It was a difficult, emotional, soul-searing journey, but at the end I was able to find glimmers of light that sometimes emerged from the darkness.

One of the best things to come from this venture was connecting with the remarkable Vietnam Veterans in our local chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America. I am honored and humbled to now call some of these heroes “friend.” Connecting with retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Charles Vincent was another. Col. Chuck was generous enough to act as my military consultant for the books, and again, I am honored to now consider him a friend.

Near the end of my research I stumbled upon a military operation which I had not previously been aware of, and wonder how many other Americans are not as well. A recent exchange with a new reader who has enjoyed my current mystery series books reinforced the emotion I experienced when learning about Operation Frequent Wind.

My character Jake Cameron is injured in a helicopter crash, and I wanted a photo of such a crash for the back cover of Man with No Yesterdays. An internet search led me to the stunning photo, and a further search made it possible for me to contact the photographer. Dr. Bertram Zarins, now an orthopedic surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, took the photo during the fall of Saigon. He generously permitted me to use the picture.

The short version is that Task Force 76 ships waited in the South China Sea to accept evacuees who were ferried by helicopter from various points in Saigon. Americans and South Vietnamese were rescued while the North Vietnamese Army was marching relentlessly toward the city. Sadly, many South Vietnamese did not make it out. But the valiant efforts of the helicopter pilots … who flew continuously for some twenty-four hours …resulted in some seven thousand lives being saved.

Devi Allen responded to a post on my Facebook author page about Man with No Yesterdays with this comment:

“Looking forward to your Vietnam story. Since I was a protester at Berkeley when hubby had already served his time, we don't discuss it. But we did both find this display at the USS Midway Museum in San Diego touching. A note from a Vietnamese pilot, tossed onto the deck of the Midway as the evacuation took place. Written on one of the fabric maps they used for navigation. There is an accompanying audio-video of the event spoken by an officer on deck. Spoiling the plot, this pilot subsequently landed on deck, and his pregnant wife and 4 or 5 children spilled out of the one-seater plane onto the flight deck. Gave me chills.”

Reading this gave me chills as well. There were too many helicopters for the ships to handle, and a number had to be abandoned. Which is what resulted in Dr. Zarins dramatic photo … a chopper being ditched into the South China Sea. Others were flown onto the ships and pushed off, which is what I believe happened in Devi’s story … a South Korean pilot saving his family.

OPERATION FREQUENT WIND. A fitting finale to our helicopter war. A light in the darkness.

Man with No Yesterdays is available on Amazon, Kindle and paperback. See my website for additional information and links to all my books. www.susanmoorejordan.com

NOTE: there are a number of gripping videos on YouTube showing this operation, as well as excellent information on line.