Hayden veteran reflects on 'The last hurrah'

Bob Amos is a “mustang,” and that makes him beam with pride. 

“If you’re a mustang, you’ve been there, you’ve done that. You’ve paid your dues,” he said. 

In the Marine Corps, "mustang" is slang for an officer who first served as an enlisted Marine. That’s the way Bob Amos wanted it. 

“I’ve done everything they’ve done, so I can relate,” he said. 

The 87-year-old Hayden man is animated, emotional and upbeat as he talks about his military career that spanned 23 years before he retired as a major in 1978. 

Marines, Amos said as he clasped his hands together, “are like that. You’re tight. We have tradition and we have honor.” 

Amos is particularly proud that National Vietnam War Veterans Day, signed into law by President Donald Trump in 2017, is today, March 29. 

It leads him to reflect on his time with the Marine Corps nearly 50 years ago. It was in 1975, from April 18 to May 13. Amos was the commanding officer, Detachment Tango, Amphibious Evacuation Security Force, Third Marine Division, in connection with what was called “Operation Frequent Wind.” 

This was the evacuation of Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War. Deployed on the SS Green Forest, Amos played a key role in the rescue of 8,259 refugees as the North Vietnamese forces moved south. 

Amos almost wasn’t there, as he wasn’t initially chosen for the operation. He talked his way on. 

“Colonel, I’ve got to be involved in this operation. I just have to,” he pleaded. “This is the last hurrah.” 

He got his wish. 

Amos, 37 years old, saw to it that two transports, one going to Guam and one to the Philippines, got through waters to where they were going. He did it so well that he received a Navy Commendation Medal. 

“During this period, Captain Amos’ inspiring leadership and professional acumen were instrumental in molding Detachment Tango into an efficient, professional unit of remarkable cohesiveness,” wrote J. William Middendorf, Secretary of the Navy. “He was solely responsible for implementing a highly effective and comprehensive training program, including such items as riot control, search procedures, first aid, and Vietnamese customs.” 

Middendorf wrote that Amos “contributed significantly” to the cargo vessel's security. 

“By his superb performance, perceptive judgment, and selfless devotion to duty, Captain Amos overcame numerous unknown variables involved in the planning and executing an operation of this nature and magnitude; thereby reflecting credit upon himself and upholding the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United Naval Service.” 

One person on the SS Green Forest was Ho ngoc Au, whose family was among those evacuated by the U.S. Embassy on April 29, 1975, just hours before Saigon fell. 

In a letter, Au wrote that the “situation aboard the ship was tense, but more explosive was that involving hundreds of VN airborne troops and fighter pilots who were forced to accept defeat and flee in dishonor. Although they were living in a quarter guarded by the U.S. Marines, an atmosphere of near mutiny prevailed.” 

He wrote that a chaotic, disorderly and confusing situation was brought under control by a handful of “hard working Marines under the firm and able command of Capt. Amos.” 

The Aug. 13, 1975, letter, addressed to Maj. Gen. Kenneth Houghton, commanding general, Third Marine Division, went on to say that “Capt. Amos has proved himself a professional soldier with great leadership, ability and a deep understanding of human nature. It was he who within a day has transformed the floating city of restless refugees into a peaceful and livable community without a single regrettable incident throughout the journey to Subic Bay.” 

Amos recalled it was dangerous, especially when he walked among the refugees to check on conditions.  

He told two snipers to watch him at all times. 

“If you see anyone come near me, shoot them,” he told them. “I don’t want to be taken hostage."

Amos, who earned numerous honors during his military service, was pleased to do what he could for his country. 

“I had a wonderful career,” he said. “I was a pretty motivated guy.” 

Amos didn’t come away from the Vietnam War without scars. 

He blames Agent Orange for medical issues, including diabetes, hearing and neuropathy, and underwent open-heart surgery. 

He said any Marine who saw combat in Vietnam suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. 

“You see things and do things you can’t talk about,” he said. 

Amos remembers spending weeks in the field in Vietnam and coming back from missions weary, smelly and in desperate need of a shower, clean clothes and a meal. 

“I can’t tell you how bad it was, but that's what Marines do. We're warriors,” Amos said. 

It was then he began to recite a saying, and it’s one he repeats today when he prays. 

“Every day is a holiday. And every meal is a feast. And God, please grant me tomorrow.” 

He laughs as he says God must be listening. 

“I’m 87. Something’s working. I'm broken, but I’m above ground,” Amos said. 

Then again, that’s not too surprising. 

“Remember, I’m a mustang,” Amos said. “I don’t tell anybody to do anything if I don’t do it.” 

    Bob Amos, left, receives an award during his military service with the Marines. He was 37 at the time.