On April 30, 1975, Gunnery Sgt. Bob Schlager and 10 other Marines finally caught the last helicopter off the roof of the U.S. Embassy in Saigon as North Vietnamese tanks prepared to take the city.   At the time, the United States' role in the war supposedly had ended almost two years earlier, and Schlager, who has lived in Richland the past nine years, already had served three combat tours in Vietnam.   The 11 Marines literally were the last of the 2.7 million American military personnel to serve in Vietnam, and, until that last helicopter got in the air, they weren't sure if they ever would see home again.  For more than 70 straight hours, military helicopters evacuated American civilians, then military personnel and thousands of South Vietnamese that had scrambled to the embassy to flee the city.  After seeing those people to safety, the remaining Marines found themselves stuck on the embassy roof. The constant flow of incoming helicopters had been ordered stopped.  Thousands more South Vietnamese were struggling against the gate of the compound, and some were scaling embassy walls. For six hours, Schlager and his fellow soldiers waited for the final helicopter.   "I've had dreams where I see the faces of the people trying to get in, and there's nothing we could do about it," Schlager said. "That's what really hurts. They were our people, not our enemies. We couldn't do anything for them. I would have loved to take 10,000 more out of there."  On Friday, Schlager, 59, stopped in at the Richland Veterans of Foreign Wars Cook-Erickson Post No. 7952 and at a back table, away from the increasingly growing late afternoon crowd, talked about his experience as the 25th anniversary of that unforgettable day closed in.  "You can't imagine the chaos that was going on," Schlager said. "You just tried to get them on a chopper. It was horrible."  Schlager estimated he and his fellow Marines loaded 700 helicopters, taking between 5,000 and 8,000 Vietnamese out of the country.  Seemingly forgotten on the roof, the 11 Marines wondered what their fates would be.  "In combat, you knew what you were up against," Schlager said. "But this was like - what's going to happen? Are we going to be prisoners? We couldn't fight, because there wasn't a war anymore. It was an eerie feeling."  During the midst of the evacuations, Schlager recalled people throwing babies over the fence. A wealthy Chinese man threw Schlager a bag full of uncut gems to make sure he and his family were evacuated.    "All I could do was throw it back over the fence to him," Schlager said.     On Friday, Schlager said he was on the Internet all day, talking with some of the other Marines involved.  "It means a lot to us," he said. "It seems like every April 30 to us is kind of a special day."   The group was featured in People and Time magazines in 1994, when nine of them traveled back to Saigon for a 20th reunion.    He enjoyed seeing his fellow Marines, but there were drawbacks.
"It was such a sad thing," he said. "South Vietnam was a very prosperous place. Now, it's very poor - no money, no nothing."  During the reunion, Schlager sought out an old South Vietnamese soldier he once knew. He found him and had dinner with him.
His old friend had spent 10 years in prison after the North Vietnamese took over the city.  "I could tell a change in him," Schlager said. "He was the same person, but his life, his happiness wasn't there like it used to be. He wouldn't talk about the prison."  Now a quality control manager for the Allied Technology Group in Richland, Schlager doesn't make a big deal about his place in history.
In fact, he had a hard time finding the article in the 1994 People magazine he brought Friday to the VFW.   His eyes took on a moist shine as he made his point.   "There's a few people in the club who know about it," Schlager said as he as he looked across the hall. "But I don't go out of my way to talk about it. Why? We did our job. That's what we were sent there for.   "We try not to get too tear-jerky," he added and nodded toward the bar full of veterans. "But we all do sometimes."

My name is Keith Birkhofer. I served as a United States Marine at the American Embassy, Saigon, Vietnam from February 1968 until March 1970. I would like to take a few moments to offer my thoughts about Bob, as a Marine.

Bob was selected to attend the most elite school in the United States Marine Corps - - Marine Security Guard School. Some of you might not be aware that all American Embassies and Consulates in the world are guarded by Marine Security Guards. During this school all students are put through a grueling mental and physical regimen. Only about 40% of the students graduate. Bob was one of approximately 1,000 Marines serving as a Marine Security Guard around the world. Consider that there were approximately 275,000 Marines on active duty at that time. Just to serve in that capacity was, indeed, a rare honor.

Bob was one of a handful of Marines that were positioned on the roof of the American Embassy, Saigon, Vietnam during the last days of the American occupation in Vietnam in April, 1975. During the evacuation of the American community in Saigon Bob played an integral role in the evacuation. To quote one of his comrades, Mr. Ken Crouse "As a young Lance Corporal I was on the roof in Saigon during a rather hectic period. Gunny Schlager was a very calm voice and someone with the maturity and experience to help us carry out our duties".

I have listened to several of the Marines that were with Bob on the roof those last days and, I can assure you, that Bob’s leadership helped many, many Marines keep a level-head that allowed them to complete the roof evacuation with no casualties. Indeed, Bob was an unsung hero who never mentioned his deeds.

I was saddened to hear of Bob passing last Saturday. I find it ironic that Bob began his last journey the same day that the seven astronauts perished. I believe that Bob was the eighth hero to leave this world for a higher place on that day.

In the Marine Corps Hymn the words "and Heaven’s streets are guarded by United States Marines". I feel humbled to know that Bob is standing guard in Heaven, as he did almost twenty-eight years ago in the streets of Saigon.

All Marine Security Guards that are members of the Fall of Saigon Association, all Marine Security Guards that served their nation at any embassy or consulate, and all Marines, former or presently serving, send their condolences and sorrow to the family and friends of Bob. We consider it an honor to share the title United States Marine with him.

Bob, Godspeed and Semper Fi.

Thank you.