Photos: 40th anniversary of fall of Saigon

In this Sunday, April 26, 2015 photo, Judge Nho Trong Nguyen, right, is joined by his wife, Bang Van Pham, as he delivers remarks during a commemoration event for the 40th anniversary of Operation Frequent Wind held on the flight deck of the USS Midway Museum in San Diego. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
In this Friday, April 24, 2015 photo, holding plastic bags containing his purchases, a Vietnamese man looks to cross the street in Little Saigon in Westminster, Calif. Many elder Vietnamese still cope with the trauma of war or years spent in communist reeducation camps before fleeing in rickety boats, while their children struggle to understand them as they grow up American and speak better English than Vietnamese. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
In this Sunday, April 26, 2015 photo, Bang Van Pham, wife of Judge Nho Trong Nguyen, walks toward the podium to speak during a commemoration event for the 40th anniversary of Operation Frequent Wind held at the USS Midway Museum in San Diego. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
In this Sunday, April 26, 2015 photo, David Payson, right, and Tim Miller, former Navy service members who served on the USS Midway, throw a wreath into the sea to honor those who were killed in the Vietnam War during a commemoration event for the 40th anniversary of Operation Frequent Wind held on the flight deck of the USS Midway Museum in San Diego. Forty years since the fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War, the thousands who fled their collapsing country still remember what they lost, but also take the moment to think about what they’ve gained as they rebuilt their lives in the U.S. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
In this Friday, April 25, 2015 photo, Nguu Pham, 72, foreground, stands outside a shrine as the American and South Vietnamese flags flap in the wind in Little Saigon in Westminster, Calif. Forty years since the fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War, the thousands who fled their collapsing country still remember what they lost, but also take the moment to think about what they’ve gained as they rebuilt their lives in the U.S. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
In this Friday, April 24, 2015 photo, Son The, 74, who does maintenance work at a shrine inside the Asian Garden Mall, kisses a statue while praying in Little Saigon in Westminster, Calif. Forty years since the fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War, the thousands who fled their collapsing country still remember what they lost, but also take the moment to think about what they’ve gained as they rebuilt their lives in the U.S. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
In this Sunday, April 26, 2015 photo, Bao-Binh Ton-That, a 48-year-old Vietnamese who came to the United States as a refugee, gets emotional as he prays for his country during a commemoration event for the 40th anniversary of Operation Frequent Wind held on the flight deck of the USS Midway Museum in San Diego. Forty years since the fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War, the thousands who fled their collapsing country still remember what they lost, but also take the moment to think about what they’ve gained as they rebuilt their lives in the U.S. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
In this Saturday, April 25, 2015 photo, a Vietnamese man takes pictures of black and white photographs from the Vietnam War displayed at an event commemorating the 40th anniversary of the fall of Saigon held at Bolsa Grande High School in Garden Grove, Calif. Forty years since the fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War, the thousands who fled their collapsing country still remember what they lost, but also take the moment to think about what they’ve gained as they rebuilt their lives in the U.S. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
In this Sunday, April 26, 2015 photo, Judge Nho Trong Nguyen, center, and his wife, Bang Van Pham, leave the USS Midway Museum after attending a commemoration event for the 40th anniversary of Operation Frequent Wind in San Diego. Decades after arriving as refugees from Vietnam, they have rebuilt. Pham taught English-as-a-Second-Language to night school students while her husband worked as a handyman’s helper and school aide before returning to law school and eventually becoming a judge. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
In this Saturday, April 25, 2015 photo, Judge Nho Trong Nguyen, right, smiles as he chats with his wife, Bang Van Pham, at their home in La Habra, Calif. Decades after arriving as refugees from Vietnam, they have rebuilt. Pham taught English-as-a-Second-Language to night school students while her husband worked as a handyman’s helper and school aide before returning to law school and eventually becoming a judge. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
In this Thursday, April 23, 2015 photo, Judge Nho Trong Nguyen presides over a hearing in a courtroom in San Bernardino, Calif. Nguyen, now 77, said he still misses life in Vietnam – the rice fields where he lived until his farming family was pushed south by the communists; his father to work as a mason, his mother, as a street vendor. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
In this Sunday, April 26, 2015 photo, Judge Nho Trong Nguyen looks out the window of a helicopter as he pauses for photos at a commemoration event for the 40th anniversary of Operation Frequent Wind held on the flight deck of the USS Midway Museum in San Diego. Nguyen, now 77, said he still misses life in Vietnam – the rice fields where he lived until his farming family was pushed south by the communists; his father to work as a mason, his mother, as a street vendor. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
In this Saturday, April 25, 2015 photo, South Vietnamese marine veteran association member Toan Ly, 78, who came to the United States as a refugee, holds a large South Vietnamese flag at an event commemorating the 40th anniversary of the fall of Saigon held at Bolsa Grande High School in Garden Grove, Calif. Forty years since the fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War, the thousands who fled their collapsing country still remember what they lost, but also take the moment to think about what they’ve gained as they rebuilt their lives in the U.S. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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Vietnam war veteran Ho Van Minh talks about his experience as a North Vietnamese soldier during the war at the Vietnam Military History Museum in Hanoi Thursday, March 28, 2013. The 77-year-old lost his right leg to a land mine while advancing on Saigon, just a month before that city fell. Friday, March 29, marks the 40th anniversary of the American withdrawal of combat troops from Vietnam. (AP Photo/Chris Brummitt)
FILE – In this April 29, 1975, file photo, a helicopter lifts off from the U.S. embassy in Saigon, Vietnam, during the evacuation of authorized personnel and civilians. More than two bitter decades of war in Vietnam ended with the last days of April 1975. Today, 40 years later, former Associated Press correspondent Peter Arnett has written a new memoir, “Saigon Has Fallen,” detailing his experience covering the war for The AP. (AP Photo/File)
FILE – In this Aug. 19, 1965, file photo, made by Peter Arnett, a U.S. Marine who was wounded in the head as he fought against the Viet Cong from inside an amphibious tank, is led to an evacuation helicopter landing zone at Van Tuong, Vietnam. More than two bitter decades of war in Vietnam ended with the last days of April 1975. Today, 40 years later, Arnett has written a new memoir, “Saigon Has Fallen,” detailing his experience covering the war for The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Peter Arnett, File)
FILE – In this Oct. 12, 1965, file photo, Associated Press correspondent Peter Arnett stands beside the burned-out wreckage of an A1 Skyraider near Bien Hoa, Vietnam, north of Saigon. More than two bitter decades of war in Vietnam ended with the last days of April 1975. Today, 40 years later, Arnett has written a new memoir, “Saigon Has Fallen,” detailing his experience covering the war for The AP. (AP Photo/File)
FILE – In this 1963 file photo, Associated Press correspondent Peter Arnett stands with gear that he carries out in field while covering the Vietnamese army. More than two bitter decades of war in Vietnam ended with the last days of April 1975. Today, 40 years later, Arnett has written a new memoir, “Saigon Has Fallen,” detailing his experience covering the war for The AP. (AP Photo/File)
FILE – In this April 10, 1965, file photo, made by Associated Press correspondent Peter Arnett, newly-landed U.S. Marines make their way through the sands of Red Beach at Da Nang, Vietnam on their way to reinforce the air base as South Vietnamese Rangers battled guerrillas about three miles south of the beach. More than two bitter decades of war in Vietnam ended with the last days of April 1975. Today, 40 years later, Arnett has written a new memoir, “Saigon Has Fallen,” detailing his experience covering the war for The AP. (AP Photo/Peter Arnett, File)
In this April 30, 1975 photo, the last three staffers in The Associated Press’ Saigon bureau, reporters Matt Franjola, left, Peter Arnett, rear, and George Esper, second from right, are joined by two North Vietnamese soldiers and a member of the Viet Cong on the day the government of South Vietnam surrendered. One of the soldiers is showing Esper the route of his final advance into the city. More than two bitter decades of war in Vietnam ended with the last days of April 1975. Today, 40 years later, Arnett has written a new memoir, “Saigon Has Fallen,” detailing his experience covering the war for The AP. (AP Photo/Sarah Errington, File)
FILE – In this April 29, 1975, file photo, a helicopter lifts off from the U.S. embassy in Saigon, Vietnam, during the evacuation of authorized personnel and civilians. More than two bitter decades of war in Vietnam ended with the last days of April 1975. Today, 40 years later, former Associated Press correspondent Peter Arnett has written a new memoir, “Saigon Has Fallen,” detailing his experience covering the war for The AP. (AP Photo/File)
FILE – In this April 29, 1975, file photo, South Vietnamese civilians try to scale the 14-foot wall of the U.S. embassy in Saigon, trying to reach evacuation helicopters as the last Americans departed from Vietnam. More than two bitter decades of war in Vietnam ended with the last days of April 1975. Today, 40 years later, former Associated Press correspondent Peter Arnett has written a new memoir, “Saigon Has Fallen,” detailing his experience covering the war for The AP. (AP Photo/File)
FILE – In this April 29, 1975, file photo, South Vietnamese civilians try to scale the 14-foot wall of the U.S. embassy in Saigon, trying to reach evacuation helicopters as the last Americans departed from Vietnam. More than two bitter decades of war in Vietnam ended with the last days of April 1975. Today, 40 years later, former Associated Press correspondent Peter Arnett has written a new memoir, “Saigon Has Fallen,” detailing his experience covering the war for The AP. (AP Photo/File)
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In this April 2, 1973 photo, President Richard Nixon and South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu are in profile as they listen to national anthems during arrival ceremonies for Thieu at the Western White House in San Clemente, Calif. As the last U.S. combat troops left Vietnam 40 years ago, angry protesters still awaited them at home. North Vietnamese soldiers took heart from their foes\’ departure, and South Vietnamese who had helped the Americans feared for the future. While the fall of Saigon two years later — with its indelible images of frantic helicopter evacuations — is remembered as the final day of the Vietnam War, Friday marks an anniversary that holds greater meaning for many who fought, protested or otherwise lived it. (AP Photo)
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In this Thursday, May 3, 1973 photo, Henry Kissinger, President Nixon’s foreign affairs adviser, briefs newsmen on Nixon\’s annual State the World report to Congress at the White House in Washington. The report states that North Vietnam risks renewed war with the Untied States unless it lives up to the Vietnam cease-fire. As the last U.S. combat troops left Vietnam 40 years ago, angry protesters still awaited them at home. North Vietnamese soldiers took heart from their foes’ departure, and South Vietnamese who had helped the Americans feared for the future. While the fall of Saigon two years later — with its indelible images of frantic helicopter evacuations — is remembered as the final day of the Vietnam War, Friday marks an anniversary that holds greater meaning for many who fought, protested or otherwise lived it. (AP Photo/Harvey Georges)
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In this April 10, 1973 photo, Gen. Alexander M. Haig, center, is greeted by acting ambassador Charles Whitehouse, left, and another embassy official following Haig’s arrival, in Saigon, the last stop in his whirlwind tour of Indochina. The trip was made at the behest of President Nixon. As the last U.S. combat troops left Vietnam 40 years ago, angry protesters still awaited them at home. North Vietnamese soldiers took heart from their foes’ departure, and South Vietnamese who had helped the Americans feared for the future. While the fall of Saigon two years later — with its indelible images of frantic helicopter evacuations — is remembered as the final day of the Vietnam War, Friday marks an anniversary that holds greater meaning for many who fought, protested or otherwise lived it. (AP Photo/Neal Ulevich)
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In this Wednesday, April 12, 1973 photo, Daniel Ellsberg, co-defendant in the Pentagon Papers trial, talks with newsmen after he testified in Los Angeles. Next to him is his wife, Patricia. Ellsberg, who vividly described his journey to disillusionment in Vietnam on Wednesday, will climax that story on Thursday, telling jurors how he risked his government career to copy the Pentagon Papers, hoping to end the war. As the last U.S. combat troops left Vietnam 40 years ago, angry protesters still awaited them at home. North Vietnamese soldiers took heart from their foes’ departure, and South Vietnamese who had helped the Americans feared for the future. While the fall of Saigon two years later — with its indelible images of frantic helicopter evacuations — is remembered as the final day of the Vietnam War, Friday marks an anniversary that holds greater meaning for many who fought, protested or otherwise lived it. (AP Photo)
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In this March 29, 1973 photo, Camp Alpha, Uncle Sam’s out processing center, was chaos in Saigon. Lines of bored soldiers snaked through customs and briefing rooms. As the last U.S. combat troops left Vietnam 40 years ago, angry protesters still awaited them at home. North Vietnamese soldiers took heart from their foes’ departure, and South Vietnamese who had helped the Americans feared for the future. While the fall of Saigon two years later — with its indelible images of frantic helicopter evacuations — is remembered as the final day of the Vietnam War, Friday marks an anniversary that holds greater meaning for many who fought, protested or otherwise lived it. (AP Photo)
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In this March 29, 1973 photo, In a curious ending to a bizarre conflict, American troops board jets under the watchful eyes of North Vietnamese and Viet Cong observers in Saigon. As the last U.S. combat troops left Vietnam 40 years ago, angry protesters still awaited them at home. North Vietnamese soldiers took heart from their foes’ departure, and South Vietnamese who had helped the Americans feared for the future. While the fall of Saigon two years later — with its indelible images of frantic helicopter evacuations — is remembered as the final day of the Vietnam War, Friday marks an anniversary that holds greater meaning for many who fought, protested or otherwise lived it. (AP Photo)
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In this March 29, 1973 photo, Camp Alpha, Uncle Sam’s out processing center, was chaos in Saigon. Lines of bored soldiers snaked through customs and briefing rooms. As the last U.S. combat troops left Vietnam 40 years ago, angry protesters still awaited them at home. North Vietnamese soldiers took heart from their foes’ departure, and South Vietnamese who had helped the Americans feared for the future. While the fall of Saigon two years later — with its indelible images of frantic helicopter evacuations — is remembered as the final day of the Vietnam War, Friday marks an anniversary that holds greater meaning for many who fought, protested or otherwise lived it. (AP Photo)
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In this Thursday, March 30, 1973 photo, As the last 55 troops to leave Vietnam debarked their Air Force C-141 at Travis Air Force Base. As the last U.S. combat troops left Vietnam 40 years ago, angry protesters still awaited them at home. North Vietnamese soldiers took heart from their foes’ departure, and South Vietnamese who had helped the Americans feared for the future. While the fall of Saigon two years later — with its indelible images of frantic helicopter evacuations — is remembered as the final day of the Vietnam War, Friday marks an anniversary that holds greater meaning for many who fought, protested or otherwise lived it. (AP Photo)
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In this March 31, 1973 photo, Adm. John S. McCain Jr., left, and his son, Lt. Cmdr. John S. McCain III meet for the first time in Jacksonville, Fla. As the last U.S. combat troops left Vietnam 40 years ago, angry protesters still awaited them at home. North Vietnamese soldiers took heart from their foes’ departure, and South Vietnamese who had helped the Americans feared for the future. While the fall of Saigon two years later — with its indelible images of frantic helicopter evacuations — is remembered as the final day of the Vietnam War, Friday marks an anniversary that holds greater meaning for many who fought, protested or otherwise lived it. (AP Photo)
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In this March 27, 1973 photo, Viet Cong and North Vietnamese members of the joint military commission, foreground, shoot photos of U.S. troops as they board an Air Force plane for the flight home from Saigon’s Tan Son Nhut Air Base. As the last U.S. combat troops left Vietnam 40 years ago, angry protesters still awaited them at home. North Vietnamese soldiers took heart from their foes’ departure, and South Vietnamese who had helped the Americans feared for the future. While the fall of Saigon two years later — with its indelible images of frantic helicopter evacuations — is remembered as the final day of the Vietnam War, Friday marks an anniversary that holds greater meaning for many who fought, protested or otherwise lived it. (AP Photo/Neal Ulevich)
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In this March 28, 1973 photo, a Viet Cong observer of the Four Party Joint Military Commission counts U.S. troops as they prepare to board jet aircraft at Saigonís Tan Son Nhut airport. As the last U.S. combat troops left Vietnam 40 years ago, angry protesters still awaited them at home. North Vietnamese soldiers took heart from their foes’ departure, and South Vietnamese who had helped the Americans feared for the future. While the fall of Saigon two years later — with its indelible images of frantic helicopter evacuations — is remembered as the final day of the Vietnam War, Friday marks an anniversary that holds greater meaning for many who fought, protested or otherwise lived it. (AP Photo/Neal Ulevich)
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In this March 27, 1973 photo, an American GI takes a nap atop his luggage as he and other troops wait to begin out processing at Camp Alpha in Saigon, as withdrawal of U.S. troops resume after a 10-day dispute over POWs. All U.S. troops are due out Thursday. As the last U.S. combat troops left Vietnam 40 years ago, angry protesters still awaited them at home. North Vietnamese soldiers took heart from their foes\’ departure, and South Vietnamese who had helped the Americans feared for the future. While the fall of Saigon two years later — with its indelible images of frantic helicopter evacuations — is remembered as the final day of the Vietnam War, Friday marks an anniversary that holds greater meaning for many who fought, protested or otherwise lived it. (AP Photo/Chick Harrity)
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In this March 27, 1973 photo, surrounded by luggage of other departing GIs, U.S. Air Force airman reads paperback novel as he waits to begin processing at Camp Alpha on Saigon\’s Tan Son Nhut airbase in Saigon as troop withdrawals resume after 10 day-delay. More than 900 will leave with all U.S. troops out by Thursday. As the last U.S. combat troops left Vietnam 40 years ago, angry protesters still awaited them at home. North Vietnamese soldiers took heart from their foes’ departure, and South Vietnamese who had helped the Americans feared for the future. While the fall of Saigon two years later — with its indelible images of frantic helicopter evacuations — is remembered as the final day of the Vietnam War, Friday marks an anniversary that holds greater meaning for many who fought, protested or otherwise lived it. (AP photo/Charles Harrity)
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FILE – In this March 29, 1973 file photo, the American flag is furled at a ceremony marking official deactivation of the Military Assistance Command-Vietnam (MACV) in Saigon, after more than 11 years in South Vietnam. While the fall of Saigon in 1975 — with its indelible images of frantic helicopter evacuations — is remembered as the final day of the Vietnam War, March 29 marks an anniversary that holds greater meaning for many who fought, protested or otherwise lived the war. (AP Photo/Charles Harrity, File)
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In this March 29, 1973 photo, Camp Alpha, Uncle Sam’s out processing center, was chaos in Saigon. Lines of bored soldiers snaked through customs and briefing rooms. As the last U.S. combat troops left Vietnam 40 years ago, angry protesters still awaited them at home. North Vietnamese soldiers took heart from their foes’ departure, and South Vietnamese who had helped the Americans feared for the future. While the fall of Saigon two years later — with its indelible images of frantic helicopter evacuations — is remembered as the final day of the Vietnam War, Friday marks an anniversary that holds greater meaning for many who fought, protested or otherwise lived it. (AP Photo)
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