Iowa veteran credited with ending the Vietnam War 50 years ago shares his story
DES MOINES, Iowa — This year marks 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War. On Wednesday, Iowans came together for the annual Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day. They gathered at the Iowa Vietnam War Memorial on the State Capitol grounds where the names of 868 Iowans who died in service are listed for all to remember.
A decorated helicopter pilot who is credited with 'ending' the war in Vietnam shared his story.
'This is very emotional for me. And I grew up about three miles away from here over on 20th street. So, it was a, uh. This is special. Very special,' said Gerry Berry, a retired Marine Corps Colonel.
The Des Moines native holds a special place in history given his role in Operation Frequent Wind, the U.S. military's evacuation of Saigon in the final days of the war.
'This is Lady Ace 09. We're here to get the ambassador,' Berry remembered saying the day he was tasked with evacuating Ambassador Graham Martin.
Instead of completing his mission in one trip, Berry was told the Ambassador wasn't ready to go. More than 18 hours later, he was one of only two pilots still making evacuation runs. With tanks from the North Vietnamese rolling in, he knew time was running out.
Vietnam Veterans mark 50 years since the war ended
'Go tell the Ambassador that Lady 09 is not leaving the roof until he's on board. And then in my best aviator voice, I said, the President sends. I have no authority to do that, but I did it anyway,' said Berry.
Ordered out of Saigon, not by the President or the Secretary of State or the Admiral of the Navy.
'I always tell people, no, he was ordered out by that roguishly handsome global soldier, the sea captain Gerry Berry from Des Moines, Iowa. So that's how I ended our involvement in Vietnam,' he explained.
Ending a war and fulfilling a duty to his country, yet never forgetting the sacrifice of so many others.
'What I would like never forget is that we had a tremendous amount of anti-war protesters. We had people burning their draft cards. But I'll tell you, we still had that loyal Americans who went to fight for their government and did what they were told. And I think we should always appreciate those who are willing to serve. So, it's a little different. The Vietnam war was very different from everything else we've had,' said Berry.
The husband, father, and grandfather has dozens of medals from his two tours of duty. From three Distinguished Flying Crosses, 46 Air Medals, two single-mission Air Medals, the list goes on.
As Berry returns home to Iowa this time, he can't help feeling a little more sentimental as he marks a milestone to the end of the Vietnam War.
'It's gone too fast, I think, and I look back and think, how could it go that fast?'
Before he returns to Florida, Berry has one more stop this week in Iowa. He will visit the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown where the majority of the residents are fellow Vietnam veterans.
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