Operation Babylift
50th Anniversary Commemoration
On this 50th anniversary, AHTC is honored to welcome four unique perspectives to help tell a story of war, desperation, American military service to humanitarian needs, and life-changing events in 1975.
From April 4, to May 6, 1975, Operation Babylift used Marietta-built C-130s and C-141s to evacuate thousands of orphans, children, and other refugees from South Vietnam as Communist North Vietnam forces advanced.
Going on at nearly the same time, Operation New LIfe was a last ditch effort to evacuate thousands more South Vietnamese before the Communist regime overtook Saigon.
AHTC is honored to bring the perspective of an evacuated orphan, two U.S.A.F. officers who were involved in the operation, and a child who made a desperate escape from Vietnam after the war. Together, they tell the story you have not heard, but needs telling in support of populations around the world who are living the effects of military conflicts and instability.
DETAILS
Location: Aviation History & Technology Center
Address: 555 Perrin Road, Marietta, Georgia
Date: Friday, April 11, 2025
Time: Presentation starts at 6:00PM
Cost: Pre-registration is $5.00 per attendee. $7.00 per attendee at the gate if capacity allows.
*Pre-registration is not required, but highly recommended due to limited seating.
Online registration must be received by 5:00PM on Thursday, April 10, 2025. Gate admissions will be available if capacity allows.
- 5:30PM - Gates open for aircraft viewing
- 6:00PM - Presentation
- 7:30PM - Question and Answer session
- The presentation will be held inside the cargo bay of the Marietta-built Lockheed C-141B, so seating is limited to 60 attendees.
- Seating selection inside the cargo bay of the C-141B is on a first come basis.
- Rain or shine (delayed for thunderstorms). The cargo bay is not climate controlled, please dress accordingly for the day's weather.
Interested in sponsoring this event?
Please contact Brad@AHTC360.org to learn more.
About the Speakers
Jennifer Lieu-Chi Harkins
Jennifer was evacuated from Saigon, South Vietnam during Operation Babylift in April 1975. She was only 2.5 months old when she was brought in a cardboard box and secured to the floor of a C-141 StarLifter for a flight from Saigon to Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines. Her adopted parents, Jon and Becky Harkins, were waiting for her on a later flight in Atlanta. Jennifer grew up in the Tampa, Florida area and attended the University of Virginia and the USF School of Medicine.
Today, she is an anesthesiologist in the Tampa area.
Duc Tran
Duc was born in South Vietnam at the height of the Vietnam War. At age 9, he escaped Communist Vietnam with his mother and three siblings in 1982. They escaped in the middle of the night aboard a fishing boat with 140 other refugees even though the boat was only supposed to carry 79. For five days and nights, they survived in extremely cramped quarters with very little food or water before they were rescued in Indonesian waters. Eventually, they were flown to the United States.
Today, Duc is a successful attorney in the Atlanta area.
Bob Snider
Bob first attended the U.S.A.F. Undergraduate Pilot Training at Webb Air Force Base in Big Spring, Texas from June 1972 to July 1973. From there, he was stationed at Korat, Thailand and flew HC-130 Hercules (Search and Rescue) in support of the "Secret War" in Cambodia against the Khmer Rouge from July 1973 to July 1974. His next assignment was to Norton Air Force Base in July 1974 to fly the C-141 StarLifter. Bob ferried unknown numbers of refugees to safety aboard a C-141 as part of Operation Babylift and Operation New Life in April 1975.
After his six years in the Air Force, Bob flew for Delta Airlines for over 27 years and now lives in the Atlanta area.
John Kennedy
John was commissioned in June of 1971 and graduated from Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance Air Force Base Oklahoma in October, 1972. Following C-141 initial training, he was assigned to Norton Air Force Base, California, from January 1973 through June 1978. In addition to C-141 pilot duties, he served as Squadron Executive Officer, 53rd Military Airlift Squadron, and Aide to the Wing Commander, 63rd Military Airlift Wing. His position at the Wing Headquarters gave him insight for the planning, operations, and aftermath of the missions flown as part of Operation Babylift.
Upon leaving active duty, he flew for Delta Air Lines for more than 27 Years. He lives in the Atlanta area, and has been a volunteer at the Aviation History and Technology Center for over 15 years.