In1972,AmericawascompletingitswithdrawalfromthelonganddivisivewarinVietnam.Airpowercoveredthedepartureofgroundforces,andsearchandrescueteamsfromallservicesandAirAmericacoveredtheairmenandsoldiersstillinthefight.Dayandnightthesemilitaryandcivilianaircrewsstoodalerttorespondto“Mayday“calls.Therescueforcesweretheanswertoeveryman’sprayer,andthoseforcesbroughthomeairmen,sailors,marines,andsoldiersdownedortrappedacrossthebreadthanddepthoftheentireSoutheastAsiatheater.MoralImperativereliesonatroveofdeclassifieddocumentsandunithistoriestotelltheirtales.Focusingon1972,DarrelWhitcombcombinesstoriesofsoldierscutofffromtheirunits,advisorstrappedwithalliedforces,andairmendowneddeepinenemyterritory,withthenarrativesoftheUSAirForce,Army,Navy,Marines,contractpilots,andspecialoperationsteamsreadytoconductrescuesinLaos,Cambodia,NorthVietnam,andSouthVietnam.Allofthesemissionsoccuragainstthebackdropofourwithdrawalfromthewarandourdiplomaticeffortstoachievealastingpeace.Indetail,WhitcombshowshowAmericanrescueforcessupportedthemilitaryresponsetotheNorthVietnamese’smassivethree-prongedinvasionofSouthVietnam,America’ssubsequentinterdictionoperationsagainstNorthVietnam,andultimatelythestrategicbombingofLinebackerII.
