Tears Before the Rain

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CBS cameraman Mike Marriott was on the last plane to escape Danang in spring 1975, witnessing chaos as thousands of Vietnamese rushed the airliner, soldiers shot at civilians, and refugees were trampled. Standing at the open door of the plane, he recalls seeing five Vietnamese fall off the steps as the aircraft took off. "What was going through my head was, I've got to survive this, and at the same time, I've got to capture this on film." This moment marked the beginning of the fall of a country and a significant historical event. In a compelling oral history, Larry Engelmann compiles testimonies from seventy eyewitnesses, both American and Vietnamese, including nurses, pilots, media figures, and military personnel. Their accounts provide a vivid portrayal of the final weeks before Saigon's collapse, from President Thieu's disastrous withdrawal to the frantic airlift of Americans from the embassy. The perspectives reveal the urgency and despair of those involved, capturing the essence of a pivotal moment in history. Touching and harrowing, these narratives illuminate the profound impact of the Vietnam War, with Ed Bradley of 60 Minutes noting its lasting significance: "Nothing else in my lifetime was as important as that."