Quotation Of The Week: Saigon Falls, A War Ends

What’s This? A newish feature. Each week, we’re going to pick a newsworthy or huh?-worthy or whoa-worthy quotation that stuck with us.

OK, What’s This Quotation? Nguyen Huu Thai, a 75-year-old resident of Ho Chi Minh City (the former Saigon), recalls the day — 40 years ago this week — the final U.S. troops evacuated and the North Vietnamese Army took the city. Vietnam now calls the day, April 30, Reunification Day.

Some Vietnamese view April 30 as the day they lost their country. Others, like Nguyen Huu Thai, a former operative for the Viet Cong who served in the South Vietnamese military, call it a day of independence.

Where Can I Find Out More About This Topic? All this week, we presented a special series, "40 Years Later: A Return To Vietnam," about the fall of Saigon and the chaotic evacuation of the last U.S. troops. Massachusetts, in particular, has strong ties to these final days.

How About Previous Quotations Of The Week? They’re all here.