40 years ago today

On this day in 1975 Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, fell to the Communists, signaling the end of a war that had stretched back to the 1950's. 

It was America's first real defeat (albeit, via a lack of politcal strength, not military might) and led to untold suffering by millions of Vietnamese. 

I have no problem with restored relations with Vietnam, and I welcome their success going forward, but I do grieve for the lives of those we failed so many years ago.