Operation Babylift Veterans receive retroactive benefits through VA help - VAntage Point

Excellent news share brother, thank you.

SSG Robert Mark Odom This is good news

I was 12 growing up at Clark Air Force Base, Philippines and knew a C-5 was flying to Vietnam on 4APR75 because I played with the sons of one of the pilots. Clark AFB was one of the collection points for the baby orphans upon return. It was also a collection point for those who were badly injured in Vietnam. As a military community we had a vested interest of the wounded and felt the Babylift was a redemption of sorts.

On that day a C-5, tail # 68-0218, landed in Vietnam. Later that day it took off for Clark AFB. I believe hydraulic problems caused the ramp door to open. It made an emergency landing in a large rice paddy and crashed. Crew members, nurses, and orphans died in the crash, but not all of them. I lived 7 miles from the flight line and new when C-5s landed as they would shake the ground, but none landed that day. Collectively we were all saddened and a pervasive sorrow had fallen on the military community. The C-5 with tail # 68-0218 would never return.