Sharing stories of saving orphans’ lives
Posted on May 6, 2025, by Loretto Community
Mary Nelle Gage and Ruth Routten captivated listeners at Regis University in Denver with their powerful stories of courage, tragedy and the remarkable rescue of orphans in Vietnam and Cambodia. Their presentations were part of the “2025 Stories from Wartime” series, now in its 30th year, offered through the Regis Center for the Study of War Experience. This year’s series focused on the Vietnam War, marking 50 years since the war’s end.
Mary Nelle recounted the courageous and compassionate work she, Susan Carol McDonald and other Loretto members undertook to care for orphans. Her account included the poignant and tragic story of the Operation Babylift plane crash that occurred 50 years ago.
Ruth, who was in Cambodia, shared the harrowing story of how she and others evacuated 42 orphans days before the Khmer Rouge arrived. Watch here.
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