>> This week marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, which is also known as the fall of Saigon the conflict killed several million Vietnamese and 60,000 American service members.

Vietnam marked the anniversary of the war's and with a parade to promote peace and unity and Chicagoans are also commemorating the event.

Joining us now to share their experiences are Roger McGill, a Vietnam veteran who served in the U.S. Army and a co-organizer for Chicago's 1986.

Welcome home parade.

Dale Tippett, a Vietnam veteran who served in the U.S. Navy and helped evacuate the city of Saigon as part of Operation frequent wind.

Meng Yuan, an evacuee who escaped from Vietnam and van when executive director at the Vietnamese Association of Illinois.

Thanks to all of you for joining us.

Dale Tippett.

Let's start with you, please.

What is operation frequent wind and what was your role in it?

Well, operation frequent wind was the evacuation of South Vietnam.

There armada of ships stationed off the coast of South Vietnam War had been deteriorating for many months.

>> Orders have been put out there for us to get in position in the likely event that an evacuation would occur.

And President Ford eventually on April 29th when things totally, you know, came apart with the north coming into Saigon said start the evacuation.

So we have I don't even know how many ships that are out there.

There was a bunch of us and but it was a humanitarian mission.

I never want to put up.

>> You were you were a Ford was 18 years old.

I was my first what we call the westpac crews.

I just excited about out there being part of the military being part of the Navy's something I wanted to do.

And this all just coincided with just that moment in history.

So I just got off work couple hours later.

All of a sudden drills stop being drills and it became a real active operation.

So I was on and to be cargo ship, we carried Marines and their light equipment.

So we of what you would see is a typical cargo ship.

That's what I was on.

Only.

They had lot space for cargo, but our cargo holds were empty.

Basically.

And we started to bring those evacuees and he had cots and so forth set up for them.

>> you were one of those evacuees.

Tell us how you got out of Saigon.

>> I this style Vietnam, actually, I will Saigon.

2 days before Hilary, a April, I went see my husband in this out because he said that they may my my Saigon.

So I left and then I went to see my husband and then.

Next, they we that from area April.

We left from there.

And you got into the American ship waiting the so one of the ships the deal was talking about you were you were evacuated in the and your husband as well.

>> My husband in with my teeth.

Get your 3 children.

>> You are married at the time.

Your husband was, you are able to leave with your family.

What was life like for you?

Once you arrive to Chicago?

>> You know that time.

I did not know.

But >> it sees live weapon when we yet.

We worked for and that he did.

We get to us.

>> And you now on a coffee shop in North Center, how up a coffee shop that money insured.

Vietnamese coffee is probably your specialty.

Not it.

Amazing American cut I was hopeful Roger, you saw a hand to hand combat in Vietnam.

What was it like for you returning to the United States after war?

When I came be about 18 hours to get home from.

We left Saigon.

By plane.

>> And we flew all the way we stopped.

Japan and then we flew non-stop, too.

Oakland, California got off the plane, everybody to get off the plane got down and kissed the ground.

We're glad to be.

And by 5 of us, we're going to stay overnight and see San Francisco and stuff like that out there for a while.

And there were 4 of us.

We're in a hotel room.

Pretty close to and airfield.

we all fell asleep.

We ate at a restaurant there.

And we often so we've been up them to raise and so one of the, the does.

Against the headboard.

And within seconds, all 4 of us were on the ground in the room.

And we all decided right then and there that we're going on.

So the next morning came went over Oakland report got on a flight came home to Chicago.

I came home, got in cab.

There was an African-American cab driver driving the cabin esb where you're coming from soldier a said He said what's it like you said?

I said I don't know what they're telling year, but it's terrible over there and he welcoming home.

And that was the first.

Part of my welcome home.

>> Van Vietnamese Association of Illinois located in sometimes what's called a Jean Argyle or Little Saigon in Chicago's Edgewater, Uptown Ish communities.

Why is this neighborhood so important to keeping the history and culture of Vietnam alive in Chicago?

>> Yeah, I think us mentioned, you know, a lot of the binneys refugees when they first came resettled on Argyle.

And so, you know, took it as an opportunity to rebuild that neighborhood.

And the people share stories about what it was like in the 70's and 80's.

Just a very you know, I that community a lot of violence and under-resourced communities after that for, you know, is refugees who had to rebuild to come into an area like that, you know, rebuild with essentially nothing building, you know, network of mutual aid and community support for each other table to seek affordable housing to people seek, you know, the services that they need.

And I can imagine that folks didn't speak English, for example, you know, some folks are educated.

Others were able to connect them with the resources that were available in Chicago and to be able build a thriving community that we see today.

I think that's, you know, huge milestone for the community.

>> the Saturday, the organization you are hosting a 50 years, a Vietnamese American Community Building event.

Briefly, tell us what folks can expect there.

>> Yeah, I'm so this an opportunity for us to commemorate the 50th anniversary since the fall of Saigon and also to celebrate, you know what the community has been able to build in the last 50 years.

And, you know, you mentioned have right now is doing a celebration of reunification.

And I think that's a not a narrative that we share amongst obese Americans.

You know, it's a very difficult history.

think people often framed as them losing their country, really losing the fight.

And, you know, for democracy, which I think is a cause that a lot of people have believed and to fight for.

So this event itself is here to commemorate all of aspects of the been second community.

So to represent the experiences of Dennis a refugees, but also the families that have come since then and also the perspective of young people.

I think to hear waters experience from, I think that's a history that not a lot of young people are even aware of.

And so we have, you know, veterans that are doing a color march and then also interfaith service prayer for obviously the noise of lives that were lost during the war.

>> Roger know that you all that you hold weekly meetings every Tuesday morning for 100 or so Vietnam veteran.

So obviously you're keeping that conversation going before we run of time.

I want to know what it means to you when you you know, when you look back at a war that was 50 years ago that you are a part of it's.

>> When the fall of Saigon came in.

75, was very disturbing to a lot of us because we had flocked there tried to get freedom for to South Vietnamese people that didn't work out.

So I I reflected awful lot on it.

And then I I didn't do anything.

Never talk about a 9.

I came home from work.

One time was a manager for the phone company.

I call my wife.

I'm going to DC to the wall.

There's 21 guys on the wall that I served with.

There's 10 for my parish right here, northwest side that were killed in Vietnam.

So there was a lot of input after that.

And then I got involved.

And then 3 of us started to have coffee.

And it started from there.

We had a one of our veterans cards made something that was it sounds like it was once upon a time.

Very difficult to talk about and they want you all are slowly able to do I'm gonna give you the last word almost out of time.

>> What does it mean to you to look back on that day that you were evacuated from Vietnam 50 years ago?

>> It surely man.

the very the Pickle for Me, Too Act.

Because it happened so many people.

young.

But good thing when I thing the was towing key to that to us.

>> This is no free country.

We work.

And we can with it very, there.

You know, he's guy that.

>> We're glad that you're here.

Thank you for your