Refugee Welcome on Guam as Vietnam Crisis Unfolds
Guam becomes a regional hub for Vietnamese refugees. By April 23 a plan aimed to process up to 50 000 evacuees for 90 days with operations at Andersen Air Force Base and other facilities. Red Cross volunteers and military personnel work to feed house and clothe the arrivals while families are reunited.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Guam
Japan
Okinawa
Taiwan
Philippines
Australia
Western Pacific
United States
America
Pacific
Vietnam
Marianas
Andersen Air Force Base
Red Cross
Refugee Camps Multiply on Guam as Influx Peaks
Guam hosts 16 refugee camps with Andersen the northernmost handling up to 4700 arrivals daily. Agana port sees 15 refugee aircraft land each day carrying about 175 people. Vietnamese departures reach 4700 per 24 hours. Seabees detachments arrive to support the influx and halt routine projects while equipment teams clear sites.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Guam
Andersen
Agana
Airstrip Orote Point hosts giant tent city for 50,000
Seabee battalion workers clear an abandoned WWII airstrip at Orote Point and convert WW II Camp Alan barracks into a temporary base. Within 24 hours Operation New Life yielded a renovated barracks ready for occupancy as portable toilets, washrooms, showers, and laundry facilities were added to address sanitation needs. Focus then shifted to Camp Crote as operations intensified.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Orote
Guam
Naval Hospital
Camp Alan
Asan
Navy Public Works Center
Seabees
Alan
Camp Crote
Orote Point
Refugee camp on Guam aided by Navy crews and civilians
Amid heat and bare airstrips Seabees cleared 500 acres at Camp Orote creating a tent city for evacuees. By May 15 nearly 40,000 refugees, with total arrivals around 60,000 by air and sea, filled bases and depots as ships brought thousands more. Evacuees received food, medical care, schooling, and recreation while weather concerns spurred June relocations to storm shelters ending a 63 day operation.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Camp Crote
Guam
Navy Regional Medical Center
Naval Supply Depot
Camp Alan
Camp Orote
Orote
Orote Point
Also Mentioned on This Page
Commander Naval Forces Marianas
Edward Schrock
USN
Naval Air Station
Naval Communication Station
Barrigada
Comdr
Journal
South Vietnam
Schrock
As An
New Life
Naval Station
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