Little Bird Dog and the Big Ship The Heroes of the Vietnam War: Book One

Little Bird Dog and the Big Ship

AuthorHouse

Chapter One

Men with machine guns spotted the little Bird Dog airplane on the runway of beautiful, but chaotic and noisy, Con Son Island. Bullets were whizzing out of stands of palm trees lining the runway, and past the little airplane. Tikka-tikka-tikka! South Vietnamese Air Force Major Bung Ly was escaping with his wife and five young children. "Mother," asked Diep, the oldest daughter, "what is happening?"

"We are taking a ride in Daddy's airplane."

"Why? Where are we going?" pleaded the girl.

"Shhhh," said Mrs. Ly. "Just get in, fast!"

Mrs. Ly pushed the children into the plane while her husband started its engine. His eyes were wide with concentration. He had to save his family. The children where whimpering in fear. Tikka-tikka-tikka, zing! The sound of machine gun bullets ripping past the little Bird Dog stung the ears of the terrified Ly children.

The gigantic aircraft carrier, USS Midway, was cruising on the waters of the South China Sea. It had become a big rescue ship for Operation Frequent Wind. When the American Forces left Southeast Asia, the enemies poured into South Vietnam, taking over its towns and cities, and making threats to the people who had helped the Americans. The deck of the Midway was no longer a landing strip for jet fighters, but was now a haven for refugees from the mainland. The frightened evacuees boarded big transport helicopters, and skilled American and Vietnamese pilots flew them to safety on the deck of the Midway. Hundreds of innocent South Vietnamese people were saved by the pilots flying the big helicopters called Super Stallions.

The flight deck of the Midway was crowded with helicopters, equipment, and hundreds of refugees who were being guided to safety by the crewmen of the gigantic ship.

South Vietnam had been a peaceful nation and its people were very kind to America. But enemies from the North fought for years trying to overrun the beautiful, tropical country which was home to farmers, fishermen, and merchants. The American Military went to South Vietnam to help their government fight invaders from the North who wanted to take over everything and force the people to live in a way they did not want to live. After many years of war, the Americans were ordered by their government to leave. Sadly the enemies from North Vietnam took over the country. Thousands of good and peaceful people from South Vietnam where rescued, and the Aircraft Carrier Midway became their temporary home.

The Cessna O-1 Bird Dog airplane was not made to carry seven people. It was almost too heavy to take off from the little Island. But Major Bung Ly was an expert pilot. He managed to get the little Bird dog into the air. And by zigging and zagging this way and that in the little airplane, Bung Ly evaded the bullets of the enemy machine guns. The Ly children were crying as the airplane zoomed up from the runway at Con Son Island. The green tracers and the constant "tikka-tikka" from the machine guns, had frightened and bewildered the five Ly children. Mrs. Ly calmed them. "Do you know what that sound reminds me of?" she whispered in a sweet and encouraging voice, "The fireworks of Tet." Her soothing words drew their memories back to the New Year's celebrations they loved so much.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from Little Bird Dog and the Big Ship by Marjorie Haun Copyright © 2012 by Marjorie Haun. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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