On April 4, 1975, chaos erupted in Saigon, a city soon to be renamed Ho Chi Minh City. The Vietnam War was nearing its end, and North Vietnamese forces had surrounded the city, causing panic among the South Vietnamese and their American allies. Thousands were trying to escape, fearing for their lives.
In the midst of this turmoil, a significant mission was underway. Operation Babylift aimed to evacuate over 100,000 individuals linked to the South Vietnamese government, including many orphaned children. Among them were Amerasian infants, children born to Vietnamese mothers and American soldiers. These children were set to be adopted by families in the United States and beyond.
One of the planes involved in this operation was a large C-5A military transporter. Flight nurse Regina Aune described how the children were secured in the aircraft. Some were strapped into seats, while others lay on blankets in the cargo hold, tied down for safety. Many of the Vietnamese mothers were heartbroken, handing over their children to strangers who spoke a language they could not understand.
Just after takeoff from Tan Son Nhut airport, disaster struck. The rear loading ramp malfunctioned, causing the plane to decompress at 23,000 feet. Aune narrowly escaped being sucked out of the aircraft. The pilots, realizing they could not return to the airport, aimed for a nearby rice paddy. The plane crashed, skidding before breaking apart on impact. Aune sustained injuries but managed to help rescue the surviving children.
Tragically, the crash resulted in the deaths of 138 people, including 78 children. This incident marked the first flight of Operation Babylift and drew international attention to the mission. Following the crash, thousands of potential adoptive parents in the U.S. signed up to adopt children from Vietnam. Over three weeks, more than 3,000 children were evacuated, some of whom were orphans, while others were given up by families fearing for their safety.
Despite the initial goodwill surrounding the operation, concerns soon emerged. Some Vietnamese mothers claimed they were misled about the fate of their children. Reports surfaced of improper adoption practices, with children being placed with unfit families. Many adoptees faced challenges in reconnecting with their birth families due to lost or forged paperwork.
In the years following the evacuation, many adoptees grew up in the U.S., often feeling disconnected from their Vietnamese roots. Some, like Saul Tran Cornwall and Canh Oxelson, embarked on long journeys to find their birth families. Their experiences highlight the struggles and triumphs of reconnecting with their heritage.
Fifty years later, the legacy of Operation Babylift remains mixed. While it was a humanitarian effort that saved many lives, it also raised important questions about consent and the complexities of adoption. As adoptees and their families reflect on their experiences, they continue to navigate their identities and the impact of the past on their lives today.