#84 Ross Meador - The Untold Story of Rescuing Orphans in Vietnam

Ross Meador’s memoir Carried Away takes us deep into the chaos and compassion of the Vietnam War’s final days. At just 19 years old, Ross left the comfort of home with little more than $500 and a one-way ticket to Saigon, determined to help orphaned children through the Friends of Children of Vietnam. What followed was a journey of courage, faith, and humanity, as he delivered food and supplies to orphanages while helping hundreds of children find safe homes.

In this interview, Ross shares his first-hand experiences from inside Vietnam, including the tense days leading up to the fall of Saigon and his evacuation from the U.S. Embassy roof during Operation Babylift. He reflects on the remarkable efforts of the volunteers and aid workers who risked everything to save children and give them a future, and on how those moments of urgency and heartbreak shaped the rest of his life. Ross’s story doesn’t end in Vietnam. He went on to support children in South Korea and India, study law at UC Berkeley, and build a career in international law—all while carrying forward the lessons learned from his time in war-torn Southeast Asia.

Today, his memoir not only captures an extraordinary chapter in history but also reminds us of the power of compassion and action in the face of unimaginable adversity.

00:00 – Welcome & why this story matters

04:00 – Growing up with the Vietnam War on TV

08:00 – Draft fears, protest culture & choosing pacifism

12:00 – The draft lottery, dodging service, and relief

16:00 – First taste of travel: Spain → India → Cairo epiphany

20:00 – A calling to see the world before college

24:00 – Finding FCVN: letters, knock-backs, and persistence

28:00 – Colorado curveball: $500 and a one-way to Saigon

32:00 – Landing in a war zone: fear, luck & Rosemary’s licence

36:00 – Learning the ropes: allies, customs, and a Nikon camera

40:00 – Inside the orphanages: conditions, stigma & survival

44:00 – Building the adoption pipeline: visas, flights, new families

48:00 – First intake: sick children, a death & a hard start

52:00 – Scaling up: vans, Air America flights & two houses for kids

56:00 – The fall begins: North advances, visas waived… but no plane

01:00:00 – Enter Ed Daly: wild meeting, a cargo jet with no seats, take-off in the dark

01:04:00 – C-5A crash tragedy & the pivot to Philippines staging

01:08:00 – Back to Việt Nam: orphanages empty into their house; panic after Cambodia

01:12:00 – How many saved? Reunions at 50, identity & finding roots

01:16:00 – Did we do right? Mixed-race stigma, lawsuits & hard truths

01:20:00 – Operation Babylift’s legacy: why history barely tells it

01:24:00 – Looking back at 19: naïveté, grit & growing up fast

01:28:00 – April 28: airport bombed, intruders, one warning shot

01:32:00 – Streets of battle, last chance: race to the U.S. Embassy

01:36:00 – Rooftop lift: lost suitcase, GI assist & the city on fire

01:40:00 – Aftermath: despair, dark humour under rockets, where to get the book