1.
SV TROOPS MARCHING BY WITH COLOURS
0.08

2.
SV TROOPS RAISING COLOURS
0.14

3.
SV AMERICAN COMMANDER AND GENERAL CREIGHTON ABRAMS TALKING (2 SHOTS)
0.21

4.
SV GENERALS TAKING SALUTE
0.25

5.
SV AMERICAN AMBASSADOR MR. ELLSWORTH BUNKET WATCHING
0.29

6.
SV TROOPS MARCHING PAST SALUTING COLOURS
0.34

7.
SV PAN SALUTING
0.43

8.
SV AMERICAN AND S. KOREAN FLAGS FLYING AT MAST
0.51

9.
SV SOLDIER RECEIVING COLOURS
1.04

10.
SV COLOURS BEING ENCASED (3 SHOTS)
1.15

11.
LV TROOPS MARCHING AWAY (2 SHOTS)
1.20


TROOPS WITH COLOURS: AMERICAN COMMANDER AND GENERAL CREIGHTON ABRAMS: U.S. AMBASSADOR MR. ELLISWORTH BUNKER: TROOPS: AMERICAN AND SOUTH KOREAN FLAGS: DOLFIRT RECEIVING COLOURS: TROOPS LEAVING.




Initials LN/VS/JH/BJ LN/VS/JH/MH


Also available in B/W

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE UNITED STATES FIRST INFANTRY DIVISION -- POPULARLY KNOWN AS THE "BIG RED ONE" -- PULLS OUT OF SOUTH VIETNAM ON TUESDAY (APRIL 7) TO RETURN HOME.

AT DI AN, 20 MILES NORTH OF SAIGON FRIDAY (APRIL 3) THEY PARADED THEIR COLOURS FOR THE LAST TIME IN VIETNAM DURING A CEREMONY ATTENDED BY THE U.S. AMBASSADOR TO SOUTH VIETNAM, MR. ELLSWORTH BUNKER THE AMERICAN COMMANDER, GENERAL CREIGHTON ABRAMS, AND GENERALS FROM ALLIED FORCES.

MR. BUNKER TOLD THE HOME-GOING TROOPS THAT THEIR PRESENCE IN VIETNAM HAS HELPED PRESERVE THE CREDIBILITY OF THE UNITED STATES' WORLD COMMITMENTS. CREDIBILITY OF U.S. COMMITMENTS UNDER THE UNITED NATIONS AND SEATO WERE, HE SAID, FUNDAMENTAL TO THE POSITION OF THE UNITED STATES AS A GREAT POWER. THE 75-YEAR-OLD AMBASSADOR WENT ON TO PRAISE THE DIVISION FOR THEIR ROLE IN HELPING TO PRESERVE THE RIGHT OF THE VIETNAMESE PEOPLE TO LIVE UNDER A GOVERNMENT OF THEIR OWN CHOOSING.

GENERAL ABRAMS SALUTED THE DIVISION'S 57 MONTHS OF COMBAT OPERATIONS IN VIETNAM, AFTER WHICH THE COLOURS WERE ENCASED FOR THE HOMEWARD JOURNEY TO THE UNITED STATES.

THE DEPARTURE OF THE FIRST INFANTRY DIVISION BRINGS TO A CLOSE THE SECOND PHASE OF THE TROOP WITHDRAWALS.