aigon, South Vietnam, Wednesday, April 30--With American fighter planes flying cover and marines standing guard on the ground, Americans left Saigon yesterday by helicopter after fighting off throngs of Vietnamese civilians who tried to go along.
America's troops had pulled out in 1973, Communist forces had swiftly prepared for their victory push, and the White House announced that the United States would no longer back President Nguyen Van Thieu in Saigon. In March, 1975, the country began its death throes.