Where and what were you doing on March 29, 1973 when the war ended in Vietnam?

2016-03-29T19:04:00-04:00

March 29, 1973. Two months after signing the Vietnam peace agreement, the last American combat troops leave South Vietnam, and Hanoi frees the remaining American prisoners of war held in North Vietnam. American intervention in Vietnam had come to an end! To those who served in Vietnam, thank you for your service! Your acts of valor are not forgotten.

Where & what were you doing?

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Mar 29 at 2016 7:12 PM

2016-03-29T19:12:06-04:00

I was in high school in 11th grade just outside of Philadelphia, PA COL Mikel J. Burroughs. I had already planned to enlist after I turned 18 in October 9. 1974.

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Mar 29 at 2016 7:14 PM

2016-03-29T19:14:53-04:00

Let's see... March of 1973.... Probably learning to go potty in the bathroom instead of my diaper....... :)

Response by LTC Marc King made Mar 29 at 2016 7:16 PM

2016-03-29T19:16:04-04:00

Just starting a 3 year tour in the 11th ACR, Fulda, Germany patrolling the border between NATO and the Warsaw Pact. Serving as a Cold War warrior hell bent on bringing the Iron Curtin down. It took a while but American leadership and Americsn servicemen and women and their families made it happen.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Mar 29 at 2016 7:18 PM

2016-03-29T19:18:43-04:00

I was finishing up my Sophomore year in High School!

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Mar 29 at 2016 7:29 PM

2016-03-29T19:29:10-04:00

On board the USS Sturgeon (SSN-637) drilling holes in the ocean.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Mar 29 at 2016 7:37 PM

2016-03-29T19:37:57-04:00

I was in my second year following separation from the Army, learning a new career in advertising and public relations. I fell into a small agency in Fort Collins, CO apprenticing under an ad manager from General Electric, a PR maven who had conceived and directed America's most view public service program (The National Driver's Safety Test), an art director trained at the Royal Academy of Art in Stockholm and an alumnus of the America's largest agencies in NY and Chicago, and a former research photographer from Eastman Kodak. I learned a lot in those three years before heading to California to start my own agency

Response by Sgt David G Duchesneau made Mar 29 at 2016 7:50 PM

2016-03-29T19:50:42-04:00

In my cruiser patrolling I-95 thanking God that I made it home back to the World in one piece and that damn War was finally over!

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Mar 29 at 2016 7:52 PM

2016-03-29T19:52:32-04:00

I was in the process of buying my first home and sweating out the mortgage having left the Army back in 1968 and Vietnam in1967

Response by Sgt Tammy Wallace made Mar 29 at 2016 7:53 PM

2016-03-29T19:53:26-04:00

waking my parents in the middle of the night for 3 am feedings :)

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 29 at 2016 7:55 PM

2016-03-29T19:55:12-04:00

That is about the time I started my last job while on active duty.

Response by SPC Napoleon Ebarle made Mar 29 at 2016 8:04 PM

2016-03-29T20:04:42-04:00

I was 13 years old in the Philippines...I think what was memorable for me was, not so much the end of the war that March but the return of the POWs at Clark Air Base in February. Martial Law had just been declared 5 months earlier. And my dad had just petitioned for me and my sister to join him in the US. It was moving to see on TV these soldiers, airmen, marines and sailors as they got off the plane. I saw their pride in America as they saluted and their joy as they embraced those of their family who were there.

So when I went to the court to take my oath as a citizen, we were told that we can omit the part of the oath that says we would bear arms to defend America. I thought, "How strange." I did not omit that part. I remembered those men on the tarmac at Clark Air Base 8 years earlier.

And 3 years later, as I took my oath as a soldier, I remembered those men and felt the awesome responsibility I was taking on. By God's grace, I served with honor.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 29 at 2016 8:33 PM

2016-03-29T20:33:17-04:00

iwas 13 yro i vividley remember balck and white tv with the roll call of those kia or mia, see the pics of people fleeing, choppers pushed off carrier decks into the ocean so more could land, had a friend a few years older than me, was there, usmc his story was'nt preety

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Mar 29 at 2016 8:57 PM

2016-03-29T20:57:24-04:00

I was in OCS, COL Mikel J. Burroughs!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 29 at 2016 9:09 PM

2016-03-29T21:09:08-04:00

I wasn't born yet.
:'(
Lol

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made Mar 29 at 2016 9:09 PM

2016-03-29T21:09:28-04:00

In 4th grade with a major crush on my teacher. When she got married i was crushed...LOL

Response by LTC Michael Inman made Mar 29 at 2016 9:14 PM

2016-03-29T21:14:51-04:00

Senior in college about to go on active duty.

Response by LTC John Shaw made Mar 29 at 2016 9:52 PM

2016-03-29T21:52:50-04:00

I was in 2nd grade of Saint Gabriel Catholic school in Fern Creek, KY. I was hoping to become a cub scout as my oldest brother had earned his Eagle scout award. Scouting lead to my interest in the military.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 29 at 2016 10:32 PM

2016-03-29T22:32:01-04:00

I was at Ft. Rucker, AL preparing my unit to move from there to Ft. Bragg. I had completed 2 tours in Vietnam (2/67-2/68 & 1/69-1/70) as a helicopter pilot.

Response by TSgt Richard Logan made Mar 29 at 2016 11:21 PM

2016-03-29T23:21:27-04:00

In tech school getting ready to go Korat AB Thailand.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Mar 30 at 2016 12:02 AM

2016-03-30T00:02:43-04:00

COL Mikel J. Burroughs - Well, to be honest... I think I was getting ready to go to kindergarten (but, that would have been August '73).

Response by COL Charles Williams made Mar 30 at 2016 12:05 AM

2016-03-30T00:05:08-04:00

Middle School in NJ...

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Mar 30 at 2016 12:21 AM

2016-03-30T00:21:56-04:00

In Pittsburgh designing medical equipment.

Response by SFC William Farrell made Mar 30 at 2016 12:43 AM

2016-03-30T00:43:17-04:00

Still on active duty and stationed at Fort Hood, Texas COL Mikel J. Burroughs. Had about seven more months to go before I was discharged to join the reserves. It was around this time, maybe before or shortly afterwards even before that I saw this identical picture that I had taken in Hue, Vietnam on the front pages of the Killeen, Texas newspaper, only this time the North Vietnamese flag was flying! It made me wonder about my service in Vietnam.

Response by SFC Rollie Hubbard made Mar 30 at 2016 3:21 AM

2016-03-30T03:21:53-04:00

1st tour in Germany 3rd Inf Div Dailey Barracks, Bad Kissingen, in SVC BTRY 2/41st Arty.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 30 at 2016 4:02 AM

2016-03-30T04:02:49-04:00

I was 4.5 months old. I was shivering in the adirondack winter learning to crawl.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Mar 30 at 2016 6:37 AM

2016-03-30T06:37:01-04:00

If it during the week, more then likely I was in school.

Response by SSG Michael Hartsfield made Mar 30 at 2016 11:25 AM

2016-03-30T11:25:04-04:00

I was 17 months old, attached to my mother's hip like a tick

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Mar 30 at 2016 11:40 AM

2016-03-30T11:40:39-04:00

I was nine years old living on Johnson Air Force base in Japan...a housing annex for Yakota Air Force Base where my father was stationed.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Mar 30 at 2016 11:48 AM

2016-03-30T11:48:43-04:00

Assigned to 316 Tac Airlift Wing, 38 Tac Airlift Sqdn, Langley AFB VA. Probably doing one of my additional duties; maybe flying.

Response by Cpl Mark McMiller made Mar 30 at 2016 2:05 PM

2016-03-30T14:05:39-04:00

Honestly, I was just a few months short of turning 12 years old and don't even remember it. Vietnam was the first war that was not anything like previous wars; it was just something in a remote country happening on the evening news and really didn't seem to have any impact on my life or the lives of anyone I knew. I grew up on Air Force bases and I can remember that my Boy Scout troop leader was a Air Force captain who flew B52's. He would fly over to Vietnam and drop his bombs and then be back home helping us build a dogsled.

Response by CPO Ronnie Townes made Mar 30 at 2016 3:34 PM

2016-03-30T15:34:04-04:00

I was a year old.

Response by CWO2 John Markiewicz made Mar 30 at 2016 4:01 PM

2016-03-30T16:01:27-04:00

Station Security Officer at Naval Master Communications Station Guam.

Response by PO1 Robert Fast made Mar 30 at 2016 4:34 PM

2016-03-30T16:34:13-04:00

I was 9, 4th grade my favorite teacher of all time Ms. Hannika

Response by Sgt Ken Crouse made Mar 30 at 2016 4:50 PM

2016-03-30T16:50:53-04:00

Col. Burroughs: I was in high school in Woodland, CA and joined the Marine Corps three months later. I guess the Paris Peace Accords were more like calling a time-out for the NVA, though, as the War did not end for them on March 29, 1973 - it ended on April 30, 1975, a date they now celebrate as Reunification Day. Respectfully, s/f Ken Crouse, Marine Security Guard Detachment, AmEmb Saigon, RVN April 30, 1975

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Mar 30 at 2016 5:36 PM

2016-03-30T17:36:26-04:00

Last Yr of Jr High, First yr of High School. That was along time ago even for a retired Navy Lifer and Grandpa of 5.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 30 at 2016 6:35 PM

2016-03-30T18:35:48-04:00

...was not even a twinkle in my parents' eye...

Response by SPC Mark McClenny made Mar 31 at 2016 12:01 AM

2016-03-31T00:01:49-04:00

I was three months from conception!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 31 at 2016 8:53 AM

2016-03-31T08:53:37-04:00

I wasn't even a lustful thought in my daddy's mind at that point in history

Response by SPC William Richardson made Mar 31 at 2016 1:06 PM

2016-03-31T13:06:53-04:00

was in Baumholder Germany 293rd Engr. Bn. D Co. anyone on here that was there would like to hear from you

Response by GySgt William Hardy made Mar 31 at 2016 8:07 PM

2016-03-31T20:07:31-04:00

I was on Okinawa in March of 1973. A bunch of us veterans went out that night to celebrate not having to go back.

Response by PO1 Kerry French made Apr 1 at 2016 5:07 PM

2016-04-01T17:07:05-04:00

Probably starting kindergarten

Response by SGT Michael Thorin made Apr 2 at 2016 9:38 PM

2016-04-02T21:38:23-04:00

I was born on March 29th, 1973. I remember our Vietnam Veterans Day every year.

Response by PFC Joseph Levi made Apr 3 at 2016 2:07 AM

2016-04-03T02:07:37-04:00

Not even a twinkle in anyone's eye!

Response by Maj Marty Hogan made Apr 3 at 2016 7:34 PM

2016-04-03T19:34:55-04:00

I was 8 and my guess is getting ready for the up coming baseball season. I really don't recall the war on TV or anything. My mom must have kept us away from it. We also did not watch much TV so was not really exposed to it that way either.

Response by SGT Roberto Mendoza-Diaz made Apr 3 at 2016 10:37 PM

2016-04-03T22:37:25-04:00

Inside a crib.... Probably

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 4 at 2016 1:04 PM

2016-04-04T13:04:01-04:00

Gestating. I came into the world shortly after.

Response by SGT Frank Oliver made Apr 7 at 2016 2:39 PM

2016-04-07T14:39:09-04:00

I was working at the gas station at Fort Devens, MA, pumping gas, washing windshields and checking fluids.

Response by Sgt James Simmons made Apr 7 at 2016 2:53 PM

2016-04-07T14:53:57-04:00

I was SP stationed at Minot Air Force Base

Response by MAJ Judd Clemens made Apr 28 at 2016 2:26 PM

2016-04-28T14:26:28-04:00

I had finished my second tour a year before (71-72, helicopter pilot) and was in the middle of a 21 month "tour" at Auburn University, finishing up my degree in Aviation Management. My first tour (67-68) was as an XO/CO of a Special Forces A Team.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2016 2:37 PM

2016-05-25T14:37:20-04:00

Assigned to AFEES or what now is known as MEPS in Dallas, TX. With 8 months until ETS/reenlistment.

Response by SrA Alan Dirk Scott made Nov 8 at 2017 5:55 PM

2017-11-08T17:55:46-05:00

At McClellan AFB Command Post Control encryptography, coordinating bombings, underground bunker . Just finished the month before with Roseville Bombs going off

Response by SrA Alan Dirk Scott made Nov 27 at 2017 8:27 PM

2017-11-27T20:27:22-05:00

Was in under ground Command Post McClellan AFB Sacramento CA

Response by PO3 Grant Skiles made Nov 27 at 2017 8:58 PM

2017-11-27T20:58:02-05:00

I was 10 and probably playing baseball or sitting in school looking out the window at the farmers tilling or spreading manure on their fields.

Response by Sgt Bob Leonard made Nov 28 at 2017 6:09 PM

2017-11-28T18:09:59-05:00

Yes, the war ended for ground troops in Nam, but that didn’t spell the end of all military operations in SEA. I was stationed at UTapao Airbase in Thailand. Shortly after the documents were signed in Paris, and all ground troops were gone, we began B-52 operations over Cambodia.

We were working 7/12s, flying nonstop saturation bombing missions over and around the Ho Chi Minh Trail until Sep or Oct of 73. I don’t think it did anything to change the inevitable ending of the Vietnam Conflict. It did however destabilize the civil government in Phnom Penh, which gave the murderous Khmer Rouge the opportunity they needed to overtake the country, which led to the Killing Fields.

Interestingly, it was Vietnam that invaded and deposed Pol Pot, ending his reign of terror, which then allowed international teams to come into the country with humanitarian aid for the surviving population.

Response by LTC John Griscom made Dec 4 at 2017 11:19 AM

2017-12-04T11:19:33-05:00

Had finished my tour in Nam in September 1972 and was stationed in Germany.

Response by SFC Kenneth Hunnell made Mar 17 at 2021 6:08 PM

2021-03-17T18:08:24-04:00

I was twelve years old and in school. I watched the news about Vietnam every night