1975: Reservists support Vietnam refugees

  • Published
  • By Dolphin Digest - May 1975
  • 919th Special Operations Group
Duke Field, Fla. --  (Editor's Note: This story is republished as a historic tribute to the 919th Special Operations Wing's Midnight Express newspaper, which goes out of print beginning this month.)

For thousands of homeless Vietnamese refugees, Eglin AFB is a sanctuary ... Their first step towards a new life. 

Execution awaited many if they stayed in Saigon. But here, they receive the minimal requirements to carry on a normal life. Food - prepared by Americans, but designed to their customs; bland with large quantities of rice, vegetables, and fruits. Shelter - canvas tents with wooden floors. Clothing - donated by thousands of residents of Northwest Florida who responded to the need. 

Until the Vietnamese refugees can find an American sponsor, they wait at Eglin ... And while they wait, hundreds of military men and women and volunteers from every community work together to make their stay a little more endurable. 

Almost unnoticed are many members of the 919th Tactical Airlift Group who are participating in the operation ... Airlifting much needed supplies and equipment, working with the news media, donating clothes and toys, sponsoring Vietnamese families, and volunteering their off-duty time to help in any and every way possible. 

Before the first Vietnamese refugees arrived, the unit was airlifting much of the necessary equipment to construct their tents ... 55,000 pounds of tent kits from Byrd Field, Richmond, Virginia. 

At Field No. 2, the 919th TAGp information officer was establishing a press center and escorting all of the national and local news media who arrived before the first Vietnamese. Sometimes 30-40 newsmen a day who represented the networks, wire services, news magazines, and major newspapers. 

Later, unit aircraft were again called upon to airlift all official military photographs - both motion picture and still - to TAC Headquarters and the Pentagon for public release.
MSgt Al Gregory, of the 919th TAC Clinic, became one of the first local families to sponsor a Vietnamese family ... a young mother, who speaks no English and her three daughters. They are now living with th Gregory family, which includes five children, in Pensacola. The father, a male nurse, became separated from his family during the exodus of Saigon, but they are scheduled to be reunited soon. 

Just as important, though, members of the Reserve unit are volunteering their off duty time to assist the refugees. Some are working as tent monitors to help the Vietnamese families get settled. Others assist the Red Cross and Refugee Liaison Office. The unit's personnel officer helped set up the Volunteer Coordination Center. 

But more volunteers are still needed. Anyone wishing to assist at the refugee center can call 882-2504. And clothing is still being accepted at the 919th TAGp Headquarters building and the Eglin AFB west gate. 

For at leas 90 days the refugee center will be in operations, but here is a fear. It was best expressed by a Refugee Liaison Officer during the initial briefing to over 100 volunteers. 

"Today, with all of the publicity, we have enough volunteers. But what about next week ... and the week after ... and the week after that. That is when we will need the help."