Latest news with #OperationBabyLift
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Fall of Saigon 50 Years Later: Vietnam War orphan discovers heritage and purpose
(QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Millions of Americans fought the Vietnam War. Fifty years ago, the war effectively ended with the fall of Saigon as the communist offensive overran the city on April 30, 1975. It was a hectic, chaotic, and dangerous time as American troops scrambled to get out of the country to safety. That included thousands of Vietnamese orphan babies to the United States in those last days in what became known as Operation Baby Lift. One of those orphans that made it out alive now lives and thrives in Gaston County. Family, faith, and connecting to his roots from a war-torn world where he was born are what's most important to Jason Keyser 'It's a natural affinity that I have for the culture of the people, even the pho, the soup that is kind of a staple of Vietnamese cuisine. I think it's in my bloodstream somehow because when I go to local pho shops around Charlotte, it's like there's something that connects me to the culture, to the people, to my heritage,' Keyser said. He lives a fulfilling life, running a successful computer business outside Charlotte and a bustling coffee shop in Ho Chi Minh City. But it wasn't always that way. 'A lot of my growing-up years, I didn't really want to care about Vietnam and my heritage. I think a lot of orphans feel like the stories in their mind that they create are better than the stories that they may find out,' Keyser said. One story Keyser heard often was that of the C-5 crash carrying hundreds of Vietnamese babies. 'When I was told the story, I was like, 'Well, how does that apply to me?'' Keyser asked. And then came the stunning revelation: he was supposed to be on that very plane. 'Sister Mary Nell, the nun who took care of me, said, 'Well, you and three other children were actually taken off that airplane before it ever took off.' And I was like, 'Wow, how'd that happen?' She goes, 'Well, in your case, you had severe dysentery, and so we needed to take you off the plane because you would not have made the flight out of the country,'' Keyser said. Saved by fate, Keyser was put on another transport the following week, headed for the US. With him, only some medical records. 'E-4, is there a plane seat that I had? So they knew that, you know, I was that guy with this set of documents because a lot of orphans don't have documentation,' Keyser said. Keyser was adopted by a family in San Francisco. He grew up with a brother and a sister. 'They always raised me as a Christian, and I always knew that my life had some meaning to it. ' But, as time went on, Keyser began to question who he was and where he came from. 'I had, you know, thoughts of suicide. And I've talked to a lot of other orphans, not just from Vietnam, over the years, and it is the sort of somewhat survivor syndrome. Why did I survive and not everybody else?' Keyser said. But he got through it, leaving those questions in the past until the birth of his son Adam. 'I helped give birth to him, uh, which was a really cool experience too. But when Adam came out, I kind of thought to myself, 'Hey, this is the first biological connection I have in this world that I know of, right?' Yeah, it really did change me,' Keyser said. Keyser immersed himself in unlocking the secrets of his past, traveling as often as he could to Vietnam, visiting the orphanage where he was left so many years ago. Keyser learned that the communists destroyed most of the records during the fall of Saigon. But, his journey led him to his true calling in life, helping other orphans. 'Right now, we have programs in Ukraine and in Uganda, Africa. And then last year, we started a coffee shop in Vietnam. We run a business because we use our business skills, and then we're able to work with the missions in or from orphanages in those countries and try to give a better future for some of these orphans that would maybe not be able to be adopted or get out of the country,' Keyser said. A purposeful, meaningful life that has come full circle for Keyser. 'I think it's important to make sure the story gets logged for a couple of reasons. One is so my children understand who they are, where half of them came from, and to make sure that all these, like, miraculous stories live on. And I think the other is what I've found in the last five years or so, is there's a lot of orphans that don't know how to cope with their situation,' Keyser said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
CBS News
29-04-2025
- General
- CBS News
Operation Babylift child, family look back 50 years after flight out of Saigon
Bay Area family remembers adopting their daughter during Operation Baby Lift during the fall of Saig Bay Area family remembers adopting their daughter during Operation Baby Lift during the fall of Saig Bay Area family remembers adopting their daughter during Operation Baby Lift during the fall of Saig Wednesday, April 30, 2025, marks the 50th Anniversary of the Fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War. Early April, after the fall of Da Nang, and with Saigon under attack, then-President Gerald Ford announced "Operation Babylift" where dozens of flights brought about 26,000 Vietnamese babies and children to the U.S. for adoption. The first flight was set in action with a phone call from the late Walter Shorenstein. Ed Daley, who owned World Airways, had instructed his daughter Charlotte Behrendt to get in touch with Shorenstein. Daley wanted help in supporting these flights, which meant getting the Presidio Army Base's Commander and Letterman Hospital involved. On April 2, 1975, the first flight landed late at night at Oakland International Airport, and a crush of media was on hand to greet. Only KPIX News had the technology to go "live" from a remote location. So that night, anchor Stan Bohrman announced the breaking news that the children had arrived. He turned to the Sports Director Wayne Walker and exclaimed to him, using the nickname he reserved for Walker. "'OK, Wayno. Thank you very much. And let's check right back in with Andy Park and Lynne Joiner at the Oakland International Airport as they continue to bring those 57 children off of that plane you can see they are coming on down, and Andy if you can hear me you're back on live television again,'" Bohrman said. Viewers saw adults carrying blankets up the stairway to the plane, and returning with infants and small children wrapped in them. "I am right at the foot of the stairway now, and you probably just saw that little one just come down. The people going up again are the blanket brigade. They're taking up blankets. They wrap a child in it and bring it down," explained reporter Andy Park. "To your knowledge, are we the only people broadcasting this live or are there other live facilities there," inquired Bohrman. "No. We are the only ones bringing it live," replied Park. Onboard the World Airways DC-8 plane, dozens of young children were airlifted out of Vietnam. Among them was a baby girl promised to Ralph and Marilyn Norberg. "It was just such a defining moment in our lives because we wanted to have children, and we were having a hard time. And when she came, it was just such a gift," explained Mrs. Norberg. "It was just really amazing to meet our first child. And get to know her," chuckled her husband. From the airport, the children were loaded up on a bus and driven to the Presidio. A small number needed to be admitted for observation at Letterman Hospital. Most were processed at the Presidio Army base in a building known as Harmon Hall. The Presidio's switchboard was swamped with compassionate calls. "We're inundated. Our lines are blocked with calls offering everything from clothes and blankets in Arkansas to people from Alaska and Brooklyn who want to adopt children," said one volunteer. When the Norbergs first met Wendy, they were overjoyed. "She was actually very, very easy going," recollected Mr. Norberg. "She was adorable, and still is," smiled her mother. As for Wendy, she's celebrating her 51st birthday. "I view myself definitely as being American," explained the daughter. She went back to Vietnam 10 years ago and saw her orphanage. But Wendy Norberg said the Bay Area is home. As for Operation Babylift, she doesn't dwell on it. "I find that I think about it less and less. And I don't know if that's because I'm just so, I don't want to say busy but just kind of there is so much more goes on in my life that defines me more than that," she explained. Wendy is an accomplished photographer. Most recently, she's captured images of Bay Area activism, people striving to change the world. "I'm not necessarily picking a side. I'm documenting a moment in history," remarked Norberg. Her historic journey was captured by KPIX News Channel 5. Now, 50 years later, she is on the other side of the lens.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
VietNOLA 50 commemorates arrival of Vietnamese community in New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — 2025 will mark the 50th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon and as a result, many Vietnamese immigrants came to New Orleans. A commemoration of the their arrival is happening all year but Mai Tran and Saran Chan Bynum with VietNola 50 visited the WGNO studio to discuss upcoming events. Jazz Fest first: Band of high school buddies What it did for us here locally was enhanced our city because of Vietnamese citizens, residents, immigrants that moved to America back in the 1970s. 'So we have a bunch of stuff that's happening throughout the year, but the next couple of things are coming up is April 30. We'll have a flag raising ceremony with a wreath laying. It's going to be at 2025 basin and Canal Street, at the Vietnam, Vietnamese Memorial,' said Tran. The Vietnamese community has been ingrained since getting here. 'I actually came here from Vietnam through Operation Baby Lift, but my father's family, they are good friends with the family who resides in a diverse community and it's a tight knit community. They are full of resilience and strength from coming off of a boat, to landing on foreign soil and building a community from scratch. That takes true courage and resilience,' said Bynum. Home field advantage for Delgado Baseball is a family affair! Also happening through the fall, are a couple of beautiful exhibits. One piece is in the Ogden Museum and the Historic New Orleans collection. 'There's a lot of families in the exhibit that shows the progress from beginning of our styles to now. So it's a great exhibit. So we encourage everyone to come and learn about our culture and our history,' said Bynum. For more information on all events, visit the VietNOLA Saints GM Mickey Loomis addresses Derek Carr's situation, previews NFL Draft Student loan borrowers at risk of garnished wages: What to know New push to limit the way SNAP benefits are used Trump signals thaw in trade war with China Hospitalized Jefferson Parish inmate dies of pre-existing condition Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Bay Area family meets Vietnam veteran who helped save thousands of babies during little-known mission
The Brief "Operation Baby Lift" airlifted babies out of Vietnam in cardboard boxes during the Vietnam War. A Tampa family adopted a Vietnamese baby, and they credit the daring mission for their happy life. She and her family reconnected with a U.S. Air Force member responsible for her airlift to show their appreciation. TAMPA, Fla. - With all the bullets and bombs of the Vietnam War, a rare bright spot is the story of the babies. "The babies were in boxes, and they would securely tie them down," says Jennifer Harkins of Tampa, one of those thousands of babies from orphanages that were put in boxes and airlifted out of Saigon. The backstory Daring U.S. Air Force crews risked their lives to fly into Saigon amid threats of getting shot down. Bob Snider piloted one of the C-141s. READ: Burn ban issued for multiple cities in Polk County due to dry conditions "We came in at 10,000 feet and spiraled down for landing," says Snider. "They started bringing in all these babies in cardboard boxes." Jennifer was likely on his plane in one of those boxes. When they reached the U.S., Jennifer, who had a Vietnamese name then, was adopted by John and Rebecca Harkins. They soon found out that the baby in the box was special, and proved Jennifer was both determined and curious growing up. "I said, 'Mom, why do I have this color hair, and you have blonde hair? Why do you have blue eyes?'" Jennifer said. Their answer was love. Rebecca would always tell a bedtime story to her daughter as they looked at pictures. "'This is you,'" Rebecca would say, "'You arrived on an airplane, not in my belly, but that doesn't make any difference. That's how we feel,'" the story went. What they're saying Rebecca had dreamed of a baby to love. READ: Hillsborough leaders vote to end Cross Bay Ferry service early "She was mine," Rebecca said, sitting beside her now 50-year-old daughter. Jennifer was one of more than 2,000 Vietnamese babies rescued during April and May 1975. The American air crews risked their lives, but the babies were worth it. Snider would never forget, even decades later. "I said to my wife, I have to meet at least one of those babies we brought out," Snider said. He finally got his chance recently. CLICK HERE:>>>Follow FOX 13 on YouTube "I had waited 49 years," Snider told FOX 13. He met Jennifer and her family for brunch, and they stayed in touch. Jennifer says she felt driven to pay back her good fortune through the years. "I think most of my life, I wanted to be a doctor because I wanted to help people," Jennifer said. Big picture view Jennifer went to medical school at USF and became an anesthesiologist. She's also a mother of two. Everyone in her family is happy and proud of how it turned out. READ: St. Pete Fire Rescue will get 3 new high-water rescue vehicles ahead of peak hurricane season "It's wonderful," says Rebecca. "It's a miracle as far as I'm concerned." Jennifer says her appreciation runs through all the veterans who fought in Vietnam and especially the ones who risked their lives to rescue her and more than 2,000 other infants in "Operation Baby Lift." "They knew none, but they saved so many," says Jennifer, who found her loving family as a baby in a box. The Source FOX 13's Lloyd Sowers collected the information in this story. WATCH FOX 13 NEWS LIVE: STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
