50 Years After Saigon

Gerry Berry ’67 Recalls His History-Making Mission

Five decades have passed since Colonel Berry, USMC Ret., flew his daring rescue mission to the U.S. Embassy in Saigon in the final days of the Vietnam War. It’s a story he’s shared countless times, and the memories are as vivid as if it all happened yesterday.

“More than anything I remember the chaos and massive amounts of people trying to get out,” said Berry. “Unfortunately, there was no way to get them all out.”

Not What He Expected

As part of Operation Frequent Wind, Berry helped rescue more than 7,000 Vietnamese and Americans over an intense two-day span on April 29-30, 1975. During recent media interviews with CBS Sunday Morning, CNN, BBC and others to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the event, Berry shared anew how the incredible drama played out.

“I thought it was going to be the simplest operation anybody ever had,” said Berry. “My mission was essentially just to go to the embassy and pick up the ambassador [Graham Martin] and take him to the command ship. So, I was pumped about that — I thought it was kind of a nice honor.”

Ambassador Martin had ordered the evacuation of Saigon, as the city came under fierce attack from the North Vietnamese. Berry, flying under the call signal of Lady Ace 09, was the first to arrive at the embassy, landing at 1 p.m. on April 29. But at that time, Martin insisted on staying behind so that thousands of others could be airlifted from the embassy, which had become the impromptu emergency staging area as the Dao Compound near the airport runways became inaccessible.

So, instead of taking Ambassador Martin to safety, Berry’s mission became so much more than he bargained for. He proceeded to airlift more than 300 people to the command ship — making 15 round trips between the ship and the embassy over the next 18 hours, nonstop.

“It’s obviously the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” said Berry. “The mental part is draining when you’re landing on carriers, the weather is not good, and most of the flying is at night.”

Time for More Assertive Action

By 4 a.m., April 30, Berry and his wingman were the only 2 of 71 pilots who began the mission still flying — the others had returned to base long ago. Thoroughly exhausted and growing increasingly concerned about running out of time to safely retrieve the ambassador amidst escalating danger, Berry made a bold move.

Sitting on the embassy rooftop, he called the Marine security guard over and said, “Go tell the ambassador that Lady Ace 09 is not leaving the roof until he’s on board. Then I tell everybody in my best aviator voice, ‘The president sends an order.’”

Finally, the ambassador boarded, and Berry brought him to safety, making one of the last flights out of Vietnam. Berry jokes about the power play, noting that President Ford and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger could have ordered the ambassador out, but they didn’t.

“I always tell people that the ambassador to Vietnam was ordered out by that roguishly handsome global soldier Gerry Berry from Des Moines, Iowa — and Simpson College.”

Degree to Distinction

Little did Berry realize when he earned his history degree from Simpson that he himself would become such a profound part of history. He remains grateful for all that Simpson did to prepare him for a remarkable 25-year military career that included earning three Distinguished Flying Crosses.

“I always tell people that I got the greatest education I could ask for at Simpson. Dr. [Joe] Walt was kind of my sponsor there and being captain of the football team really helped to shape me.”

Berry had a public relations job lined up after Simpson, but after getting his draft notice, his plans had to change. One of his friends suggested he take a test in Des Moines for the Marine Corps officer program. After passing the test, he noticed a giant poster of a marine standing by an F4 Phantom jet, which instantly inspired his future.

“I asked the OSO [Operational Support Officer], ‘Could I do that?’’ The OSO said it would require passing another test, which Berry did. “So, they sent me to Great Lakes Naval Station for a physical. I passed that, and the rest is why you and I are talking. I flew for 25 years, but it’s just by accident. I never thought about it.”