There’s a man named John who’s been coming into my work for years. Today, I told him I was heading to Vietnam next week with my girlfriend. He smiled and said he had been there too — during the fall of Saigon. As a Marine, he helped load orphaned babies onto planes and helicopters during the evacuation.
I paused for a moment, then told him, “I was one of those babies.”
He looked at me, eyes filling with tears, and said softly that he might have held me in his arms during that mission — Operation Babylift.
We talked for a while. I thanked him for his service, his courage, and his kindness. Before he left, he said, “I’ll sleep better tonight knowing that one of those little ones grew up to have a good life.”
What an incredible man.
Thank you, John — for your service, your compassion, and for reminding me that I’m no longer an orphan. 🇺🇸❤️
Credit: Aron Moxley