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