Veterans

As President Obama prepares to address the nation next week on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the casualties continue to mount. Since the beginning of this year, 299 military service members have died in Afghanistan and 2,512 have suffered injuries. The Naval Medical Center in San Diego treats many of those injured.

More than sixty-five years after an SB2C-4 Helldiver made a forced landing in the waters of the Otay Reservoir, the National Naval Aviation Museum based in Pensacola, Florida will attempt to raise the World War II-era dive-bomber from its final resting place.

We speak to filmmaker Laura Varela about her documentary, "As Long As I Remember: American Veteranos." The stories of three Mexican-American Vietnam veterans and their families take us through a journey of their lives: growing up in the Mexican-American community in San Antonio, Texas; their military service in Vietnam and their lives after the war. We'll also hear from Nick Aguilar, a Chula Vista resident and Vietnam veteran, about his experience during the war.

The Veterans Administration has opened a new, multi-million dollar medical clinic in San Diego’s North County.

Representatives from universities in Michigan are in San Diego this week to recruit military veterans. The new G.I. Bill has made veterans an emerging market for academic recruiters, and San Diego has one of the highest populations of active duty military and veterans in the nation.

Last week, we introduced you to Dzung Le, a Vietnamese refugee who was evacuated to the USS Midway during the Fall of Saigon. In 35 years, he has never returned to the ship. Today, Le meets with retired Commander Vern Jumper, who was air boss on the Midway, during Le's rescue.

Vietnamese-American Dzung Le and USS Midway air boss Vern Jumper recall their bitter-sweet memories of the chaotic evacuation of people from Saigon as South Vietnam fell to North Vietnam 35 years ago.

Retired USS Midway Naval Commander Lawrence Chambers and Air Boss Vern Jumper recall the chaotic days aboard the aircraft carrier as they carried out Operation Frequent Wind at the end of the Vietnam War, in which more than 3,000 Vietnamese were evacuated from Saigon 35 years ago this month.

What role did the USS Midway play in the evacuation of U.S. and Vietnamese refugees who were fleeing Saigon during the final days of the Vietnam War? We speak to local historians about Operation Frequent Wind, the end of the Vietnam War, and other historical events that the USS Midway took part in.

The story of two San Diegans whose lives intersected 35 years ago during the fall of Saigon.