Getting Out Of Saigon – Ralph White

Apr 13, 2023 | aging, books, culture, Health, politics, seniors, technology

The Not Old Better Show, Author Interview Series

 

Welcome to The Not Old Better Show, Art of Living interview series on radio and podcast. I’m Paul Vogelzang, and today’s show is brought to you by Sunday, at GetSunday.com/NOB and Shady Rays sunglasses, at ShadyRays.com/NOB As part of our Art Of Living interview series, we have an amazing interview with author Ralph White. Our guest today, Ralph White, has written the excellent new book, Getting Out of Saigon. Getting Out of Saigon is the remarkable story of a city on the eve of destruction and the colorful characters who respond differently to impending doom. It’s about one man’s quest to save innocent lives not because it was ordered but because it was the right thing to do.

Thank you so much for listening. We’ve got a great guest today, whom I’ll introduce in just a moment.  But, quickly, if you missed any episodes, last week was our 708th episode when I spoke to  Hollywood casting director.

Joel Thurm who has written the new book, Sex, Drugs & Pilot Season: Confessions of a Casting Director.   Two weeks ago, I spoke with Smithsonian Associate, Former National Park ranger, and historian John Martini, discussing the infamous Alcatraz island.  Excellent subjects for our Not Old Better Show audience. If you missed those shows, along with any others, you can go back and check them out with my entire back catalog of shows, all free for you, there on our website, NotOld-Better.com.  You can Google Not Old Better and get everything you need about us!

In April 1975, Ralph White was asked by his boss to transfer from the Bangkok branch of the Chase Manhattan Bank to the Saigon Branch. He was tasked with closing the branch if and when it appeared that Saigon would fall to the North Vietnamese army and ensure the safety of the senior Vietnamese employees.

But when he arrived, he realized the situation in Saigon was far more perilous than he had imagined. The senior staff members there urged him to evacuate the entire staff of the branch and their families, which was far more than he was authorized to do. Quickly he realized that no one would be safe when the city fell, and it was no longer a question of whether to evacuate but how.

Getting Out of Saigon is the remarkable story of a city on the eve of destruction and the colorful characters who respond differently to impending doom. It’s about one man’s quest to save innocent lives not because it was ordered but because it was the right thing to do.

That of course is our guest today, author Ralph White reading from his new book, Getting Out of Saigon. Please join me in welcoming to The Not Old Better Show, Art of Living interview series on radio and podcast author Ralph White.

My thanks to Sunday, at GetSunday.com/NOB, and Shady Rays sunglasses, at ShadyRays.com/NOB Please support our sponsors who so generously sponsor the show.  My thanks to Ralph White, who has written the excellent new book, Getting Out of Saigon. My thanks to you, for my The Not Old Better Show, Art of Living interview series on radio and podcast.  Please be well, be safe, and let’s talk about better.  The Not Old Better Show, Art of Living interview series on radio and podcast.  Thanks, everybody, and we’ll see you next week.