DONALD R. HEATH U. S. AMBASSADOR TO VIETNAM RADM L. S'. SABIN, USN COMMANDER AMPHIBIOUS GROUP WESTERN PACIFIC LTGEN J. W. o 'DANIEL, USA CHIEF OF MILITARY ASSISTANCE ADVISORY GROUP, INDOCHINA Page (1) Box 141 - PHffiGRPI Serial: 4, January 3,1955 16
Staff planning groups Initial planning was undertaken on short notice for the operation "Passage to Freedom. " Members of this group left to right; CDR. Williamson, CDR. McMullan, CAPT. Dickey, LCDR. Hughes, CDR. Towne, LCDR. Wells. ". The advance group was organized, briefed on the current situation and problems and departed for Indochina 8 Aug. 1954. This group from left to right; CDR. Cone, CDR. Kitch, CDR. Porter, MAJ. Kelly USMC., LT. Allen, LCDR. Rawls and MAJ. Coyle (not shown). '.. Continual planning and re-evaluation of the situation continued thruout the operation. Working on current porblems during the operation are left to right; CDR. Porter, CDR. Burns, CAPT. King, CDR. GrindeU, LCOL. Ritzau, USMC Page (2) Connnand File, Post I January 1946 Box 141 - PHlBGRPI Serial: 4, January 3,1955 15
I Vietnamese refugees are transported by truck convoy to and from the debarkation points at Haiphong and Saigon, Indo China., - Refugees set down their belongings and rest at one of the debarkation centers. Page (3) Command File, Post I January 1946 Box 141 - PHIBGRPI Serial: 4, January 3, 1955 14
t. Evacuees are transported on French LSM's to larger U. S. Navy transports and cargo ships during their passage to freedom. Dusting of refugees with DDT was necessary to maintain prevention of diseases on Navy ships. Page (4) Box 141 - PHlBGRPI Serial: 4, January 3, 1955 13
A Vietnamese woman get a handful of DDT powder during dusting operation. The Vietnamese spent most of their time on deck during their threeday passage to freedom. Page (5) Command File, Post I January 1946 Box 141 - PHIBGRPI Serial: 4, January 3, 1955 12
A refugee gets his portion of rice during feeding time. Many of the refugees brought their own bottles for drinking tea and water. Page (6) Command File, Post I January 1946 Box 141 - PHIBGRP1 Serial: 4, January 3, 1955 11
The evacuees brought many children with them and sometimes the youngsters would have to "double up" in the racks. -. Many pregnant women boarded evacuation ships and many babies were born at sea on Navy ships. Page (7) Box 141 - PHIDGRPI Serial: 4, January 3, 1955 10
,.- The sick refugees receive medical attention from Navy dootors and corpsmen. A Vietnamese priest holds divine services aboard a Navy transport. Nearly all of the refugees were Roman Catholics. Page (8) Box 141 - PHIBGRPI Serial: 4, January 3, 1955 9
An infant refugee who died aboard ship is given buriel at sea. There were 90 births and 48 deaths among the evacuees passengers on board U. S. ships. The children were quick to take to the sailors and the sailors responded by giving them ice cream and candy and playing with them. Page (9) Box 141 - PHlBGRPI Serial: 4, January 3, 1955 8
RADM Sabin greets 100, OOOth refugee and family who were transported to Saigon aboard his flagship, USS Estes (AGC-12). The 100, OOOth refugee and family open gifts aboard ship given to them by Admiral Sabin. '. Page (10) Box 141 - PHIBGRPI Serial: 4, January 3, 1955 7
I The lao, OOOth refugee and family took their meals with the crew of the Estes during regular meal hours. Refugees debark from a Navy transport in Saigon, Page (11) Box 141 - PHlBGRPI Serial: 4, January 3,1955 6
Refugees carry their remaining few possessions with them off the USS Montrail (APA-213), which has brought them South to freedom. -. Gift packages are given to the evacuees upon their debarkation at saigon by Ii. S. Navy sail~s. The packages included soap, toilet articles, Care food packages, ca~y and chewing gum. Page (12) Command File, Post I January 1946 Box 141 - PHIBGRPI Serial: 4, January 3, 1955 5
Refugees are off-loaded from a transport into an LCU which will take them to Cape St. Jacques, a debarkation point in the South. Vietnamese men, women, and children are loaded with their possessions into trucks at Saigon for transportation to a waiting camp outside the city. Page (13) Box 141 - PHlBGRPI Serial: 4, January 3, 1955 4
Vietnamese assist in the construction and preparation of a refugee camp, The refugees busy themselves clearing weeds away from a camp near Saigon. They will wait at these camps until they can be integrated into the local communities. Page (14) Command File, Post I January 1946 Box 141 - PHIBGRP1 Serial: 4, January 3, 1955 3
An aerial view of one of the refugee camp sites. Semi-permanent housing is constructed for refugees in the Saigon area. Page (15) Box 141 - PHIBGRPI Serial: 4, January 3,1955 2
,.1' \ I \ ~ ~ """'._...r--.~ J" v, '\ ( I,..J ----17 CAPE ST JACQUES Enclosure 10 Box 141 - PHlBGRPI Serial: 4, January 3, 1955 1