Nurse Recruitment and Nurse Retention

Operation Babylift

The Story Behind Operation Babylift

Audio: President Ford’s Message

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As a volunteer for Friends of Children of Vietnam in 1975, LeAnn helped raise money and supplies for the war orphans. In April she agreed to escort 6 babies from Saigon to their adoptive homes in the USA. By the time she arrived in Vietnam, bombs were dropping outside the city! She was greeted with, “Have you heard the news? President Ford has okayed Operation Babylift. You’ll help take out not 6, but 300 babies!”

FCVN Center, Saigon – Babies were gathered from FCVN foster homes throughout the city and brought to the FCVN Center in preparation for the Airlift.	Babies and workers at the Center
Babies and workers at the Center	And in the midst of the chaos, her son chose her! LeAnn gazes at Mitch in loving disbelief.
LeAnn helped load 22 babies in a VW van. She is signaling that there is ‘room for more’.	After being transported to the airport in vans and buses, babies were hastily loaded onto an Air Force cargo jet for their rescue.
Boxes of babies strapped to the floor of the cargo jet	Toddlers rest on the plane’s bench seat