He organized a rogue Vietnam War rescue mission, and saved hundreds of lives

Apr 29, 2026 - 12:00
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He organized a rogue Vietnam War rescue mission, and saved hundreds of lives
Black and white photo of a smiling mustachioed man talking on a landline telephone

Lionel Rosenblatt, a lifelong refugee advocate, has died at the age of 82. He is best known for defying orders as a U.S. Foreign Service agent in 1975 to organize an unauthorized rescue mission, which saved the lives of hundreds of Vietnamese citizens ahead of the Fall of Saigon.