Operation Babylift - Vietnam Adoption Airlift 1975
Stories and articles about Operation Babylift
By Allison Martin
Operation Babylift articles and photos from people touched by this experience : adoptees, parents, air force crew, nurses, adoption workers, and many more.
Babylift Overview | Books | Photographs | Those Who Assisted | Adoptees | Parents | Letters | Share Your Story | LinksIntroduction:
This is the story of Operation Babylift, an amazing and far-reaching event in
adoption history. In 1975 over 2,000 infants and children were airlifted from
Vietnam and adopted by families around the world. When spoke to participants of the Babylift
many years ago I was touched that a story
with such impact and drama had all but become buried. There was almost nothing on the internet at the time, and very few books. As I learned more, I began
to understand the various reasons for the silence on this story - not only was
it a reaction to the Vietnam American War, which many wish to forget, but there
are some cautionary notes here for those involved in adoption today. But this
story deserves to be told, both for the wonderous courage and committment shown
by those involved, and because it is responsible for bringing so many adoptees
home.
Since I wrote the original article for Adoption Today magazine
and published some of the original interviews on our website, many people have
volunteered to share their stories and photographs. Hundreds of people have
written me that they are touched by our site and it has even been used by Oprah,
as well as BBC, ABC, and PBS. I hope you enjoy reading these first hand accounts and personal stories as much
as I have!
Share your Operation Babylift experience and pictures
Operation Babylift Articles and Photographs
Overviews | Book Reviews | Photographs | Those Who Assisted | Adoptees | Parents | Letters | Links
Overview Articles about Operation Babylift
The Legacy of Operation Babylift
What was Operation Babylift? The story of the airlift and adoption of over 2,000
children from Vietnam in 1975.
Each Child Had a Story
The conditions of some of the rural orphanages in South Vietnam in the mid-seventies,
at the close of the Vietnam American War.
Vietnam's Shadows Are With Us To This
day: "What's Going On? California and the Vietnam Era"
Impact of the babylift and other Vietnam-American War events are considered
in light of an exhibition at the Musuem of Oakland.
Interview
with Andrea Warren
Author of Escape from Saigon
Photographs of Operation Babylift
Operation Babylift Photographs
Dramatic and touching photographs from the Pan Am Airlift - April 5, 1975.
World Airways Photographs
Photographs of Operation Babylift from World Airways.
Vietnam Homeland Tour
Photographs
An adoptive mother travels to Vietnam with her daughter on an Homeland Tour
for adult Vietnamese adoptees. You can also read her excerpts from her travel
journal.
Original Stories from Those Who Assisted with Operation Babylift
Adoption Workers, Volunteers, Armed Forces, Red Cross, Airplane Personnel, NursesThe Holt Flight to Freedom - Operation
Babylift
A detailed description of the Holt airplane flight during Operation Babylift.
The Story of the Pan Am Airlift
-- April 5, 1975
A nurse shares her amazing journey of care and comfort of over 400 babies
and children during the emergency flight to their new homes.
This
Must Be My Brother
The inspirational story of two midwestern homemakers who brought
100 babies home to United States, during the Vietnam Orphan Airlift.
Helping and Loving Orphans : Betty Tisdale's Story
Betty Tisdale arranged the transport of more than 200 children from the An Lac orphanage to the United States, up to the end of the Vietnam war.
The Magic of Music Amid Operation Babylift
Compassion mixes with confusion when the children from Operation Babylift arrive
at the Continental Care Center in Denver, Colorado.
Operaton Babylift - Homeward Bound Creates
New Memories
Twenty-one Vietnamese-American adoptees became the guests of World Airways for
a whirlwind visit to Vietnam in 2005, commenorating World Airways' significant
role in transport of children during Operation Babylift.
A Team Flies to Vietnam
Operation babylist mission and adoption, a personal story.
Operation Babylift at Clark Airforce
Base
A soldier at Clark Air Force base shares the story of his participation in Operation
Babylift.
Red Cross Volunteers in Operation Babylift
A Red Cross volunteer cares for the babies of Operation Babylift. A touching
story of love and compassion.
Operation Babylift, An Interview
with Cherie Clark
Cherie Clark, former director of FCVN in Vietnam, recalls the events during
Operation Babylift.
This Must Be My Brother, An Interview
with LeAnn Thieman
Author LeAnn Thieman discusses her inspirational adoption adventure during Operation
Babylift, when two thousand babies and children were adopted from Vietnam in
the 1970's.
Rosemary Taylor, Adoption
Hero
Rosemary Taylor's service to orphans and homeless children in Vietnam between
1967 and 1975.
Betty Tisdale - Babylift Volunteer and Humanitarian
Betty Tisdale evacuated 219 orphans from An Lac Orphanage during the time of
Operation Babylift.
The War Cradle
An interview with Shirley Peck Barnes, the author of The War Cradle.
Babylift
A friend describes the memories of a woman soldier recalling the airlift
of the babies and children in this poem.
Articles and Poetry by Operation Babylift Adoptees
Going Back to Vietnam
A news article about an adult adoptee's experiences during her visit to Vietnam
with her family.
Helping and Loving Orphans
ThuVan, adopted by Betty Tisdale from An Lac Orphanage during the Vietnam War, describes her emotions when she holds an orphaned baby in the Vin Son Orphanage in Vietnam.
Homeward Bound: Returning to Vietnam
My story in Vietnam began in a small orphanage in the central coastal city of
Quy Nhon. During the Vietnam War, children were evacuated from the Ghenh Rang
Orphanage during the North Vietnamese occupation, migrated south to Saigon,
and eventually put on planes as part of Operation Babylift in 1975.
Helping and Loving Orphans : An Lac Adoptee
An adult adoptee describes his meeting with Betty Tisdale, who brought him out of Vietnam duirng Operation Babylift.
An Emotional Bridge to the Past
"Babylift orphans carry their curiosity aboard Oakland-Vietnam flight."
Fragile Flames
Poem in remembrance of the children who perished on the C-5A plane crash of
the 1975 Vietnam Operation Babylift.
A Belonging of Looks - An
Adoptee Returns to Vietnam
An adoptee's journey on a Babylift Anniversary homeland tour to Vietnam.
Monrovia Karate Instructor Succumbs to
Heart Failure
Tribute to the life of a survivor of C-5A crash Babylift.
Sky Girl
An adoptee from the babylift comes to terms with her past.
A Search for the Past - A Vietnamese
Adoptee Visits Vietnam
An adoptee shares his thoughts on his journey to Vietnam in search of his past.
Joshua Woerthwein
Adoptee Connection
An adoptee shares his story of growing up in America and his connection with
other adoptees.
Operation Babylift Stories from Adoptive Parents
Helping and Loving Orphans : An Lac Parent
An adoptive mother shares the adoption story of her son from the An Lac orphanage, during Operation Babylift.
Interview with Andrea Warren, author
of Escape from Saigon
Andrea Warren is the author of Escape from Saigon,
a true story for older children and adults about Operation Babylift.
Pioneer Mom
A Babylift adoption story of one of the last babies adopted to the United States
during Operation Babylift.
Footprints - A Visit from Immigration
Immigration officials take photographs, fingerprints and footprints of a child
adopted during Operation Babylift.
Vietnam Homeland Tour Diary
An adoptive mother travels to Vietnam with her daughter on an Homeland Tour
for adult Vietnamese adoptees. The insights she gained from this journey are
shared in her travel journal. Vikki Murray
In Remembrance of the Babylift
Airplane Crash
An adoptive mother recalls the morning of the crash.
Interview with Lana Noone
An interview with Lana Noone, the author of Global
Mom, and mother of two children adopted during Operation Babylift.
She Shimmered in Time
The last baby out of Vietnam during Operation Babylift; her mother Lana Noone
shares her story.
Babylift Letters
We have been blessed with many touching and informative letters since I wrote the original article about the Babylift. Here are a few you all might enjoy.
Letters - Personal Babylift Experiences
How have you been touched by Operation Babylift? Please send your story or photos to share with others on the website. Write to Allison Martin, at babylift@adoptvietnam.org. (For questions on searching, see the babylift resources.)
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