The War Cradle: The Untold Story of Operation Babylift Book

The War Cradle/Shirley Peck Barnes Chapter by Chapter Outline PROLOGUE: An overview of the ordinary people who were excited into action, despite an unpopular war; to seek out the abandoned children of Vietnam?to give them new life, fresh hope, and find homes for them in the West. CHAPTER I: The Maverick Flight ? Millionaire Ed Daly of World Airways attempts to evacuate hundreds of orphans at his own expense, but is met with opposition from agencies who retaliate against his action-packed rescue of refugees from Danang days earlier. A berated Daly does it again and departs from Saigon with an unauthorized planeload of orphans. CHAPTER II: The Soldier's Ballad ? Described is the American soldier's role in Vietnam as rescuer, surrogate father and Santa Claus. Sometimes the children were his friend?sometimes they were the enemy. CHAPTER III: Orphanages of Vietnam ? Each facility was unique and French nuns who ran them fought a day-to-day struggle for survival. CHAPTER IV: The Friends of the Children of Vietnam ? The Beginning ? The organization, FCVN, comes into existence after a Denver physician, Dr. Ted Gleichman, returns from a tour of duty in the Delta. Appalled at the 80% death rate of infants in Vietnam, he organizes the relief effort that eventually develops into an international organization. CHAPTER V: Mister Ross ? Ross Meador, a 19 year-old dropout ventures to Vietnam and finds himself rescuing babies in remote arrears of the Delta. It is a race against death, through VC infested territory, to get his precious cargo back to Saigon's critical care center. CHAPTER VI: The Plane Crash ? President R. Ford implements "Operation Babylift" and sends a C5A Galaxy cargo jet to Saigon to aid in the rescue mission. Tragedy strikes. Soon after takeoff the plane crashes, killing 172 orphans and escorts on board. CHAPTER VII: The Airlift ? Children are hurriedly shuttled to the Philippines, and the exhausted volunteers staff the 46 flights that transport thousands of orphans to the U.S. CHAPTER VIII: The Last Days ? Described are the last days of a hot war during which Ross Meador finds himself struggling to get to the American Embassy. Panic grips all of Saigon and it is late into the night when, as one of the last civilians, Meador is lifted from the embassy rooftop and helicoptered to the aircraft carrier USS Miday. CHAPTER IX: On Course with Destiny ? The author brings herself into the story, revealing how, by chance, she hears a radio newscast and becomes involved in Babylift. CHAPTER X: Rainbow ? The Vietnam War is over and the adoption agencies bring hundreds of children to a Denver healthcare facility. Homesickness erupts; threatening phone calls and political accusations surface with allegations that many of the children are not orphans. After six hectic weeks, during which all the children are sent to homes that welcome them all over the world, the author becomes aware of the predestined course of events. The newly constructed building is on the site of the first Children's Hospital of Denver?that this acre of land becomes a haven for children is distress?twice within a century, is seen as a highly visible act of destiny. CHAPTER XI: Aftermath ? The 25th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War brings a resurgence of interest from the adoptees themselves. Now as adults, many are in search of their roots. Six adoptees share their life experiences. EPILOGUE: When "Operation Babylift" is placed in perspective, it will go down in history as one of the most noteworthy humanitarian gestures of all time. The author discusses how the lessons of Vietnam go unheeded as children are still caught in the crossfire of war in Bosnia, Somalia, the Middle East and hot-spots around the world. But, there is hope? "With the birth of each child comes the message that God has not yet tired of man." (Tagore)Read More