68 Tet Offensive

[farang prince]

The 40th anniversary of the 68 Tet Offensive will take place on 31 January. How many Thai Visa posters were there? I was with the 1st Cav in the Bong Son at the time. Anyone else in RSVN at the time? Let me know.

[skipvice]

Phang Rang AB, 35th CES 68-69

[farang prince]

Phang Rang AB, 35th CES 68-69

You guys logged in some serious flight time during Tet 68. Actually I thought Tet 68 was a major screw-up on the part of the North Vietnamese. They sacrificed countless Viet Cong cadres in hopeless attacks on heavily fortified base camps and cities and it was the first time the NVA came out in the open in force. They were decimated by our firepower.

But even though it was a tactical blunder, they still won a strategic victory because they convinced Walter Cronkite that the war was no longer "winnable." And when Cronkite went on CBS to make his "learned" pronouncement, it strengthened the anti-war movement and eventually led to our withdrawal from Vietnam.

When Tet 68 hit, we were monitoring the 1st Cav pushes and virtually every firebase and our new base camp at Evans (which was between Quang Tri and Hue) was mortared or attacked by sappers. The radio frequencies were just smoked with reports of attacks. Lots of puckered <deleted>. Meanwhile, my battalion was down in the Bong Son Plains and other than the usual nighttime probing, there wasn't much happening. But then that's the nature of war...someone is always getting nailed while another unit just a few miles away is picking lint out of their bellybuttons. By the end of Tet 68, though, we were all busy enough.

[retiredusn]

Around the delta...........................Cantoe

[Naam]

left long before TET (june 1966) but followed the reports nearly 24/7.

[TerryLH]

48th IPSD

Chu Lai and North

[bruceboy]

I respect you all!

[jeepholt]

Hospital Corpsman "Doc" with A Co, 3rd platoon, 1st Recon Bn, 1st Mar Div, FMF (Rein) at the time. Got a bronze star and purple heart in that period courtesy of our good friends a little bit east of here. A book out about my recon platoon (and a picture of me back when I was a lean, mean, fighting machine), receiving one of my medals. Showed that picture to my wife, and in her inevitable Isarn quickness said: "what happened to you?. I'm wondering that myself. The book is written by Paul Young (my platoon commander) and is titled "First Recon - Second To None". I ordered it through amazon in the used books section and I think it only ended up costing about $1.

Edited January 21, 2008 by jeepholt

[Wrong Turn]

Phang Rang AB, 35th CES 68-69

You guys logged in some serious flight time during Tet 68. Actually I thought Tet 68 was a major screw-up on the part of the North Vietnamese. They sacrificed countless Viet Cong cadres in hopeless attacks on heavily fortified base camps and cities and it was the first time the NVA came out in the open in force. They were decimated by our firepower.

But even though it was a tactical blunder, they still won a strategic victory because they convinced Walter Cronkite that the war was no longer "winnable." And when Cronkite went on CBS to make his "learned" pronouncement, it strengthened the anti-war movement and eventually led to our withdrawal from Vietnam.

There are a lot of interesting things about the Tet Offensive, in 1968.

It was a major military for the Americans and ARVN.

General Giap even publicly stated that it would take 10 years to recover the casualties of the South Vietnamese Communists, VC.

Here is what some people think:

It's been documented that the North was considering a peace deal just prior to the Tet Offensive.

But the South Vietnamese were asked to "sacrifice" during the TET Offensive. Obviously the Offensive took place in South Vietnam

With such high Southern casualties, it would make it easier for the Northerners to take over, hold the administrative positions, government posts, etc.

The Southern VCs were squeezed out off all of the important jobs and political and governmental opportunities by the Northerners. The northerners own the nice plots of land, and expensive properties, which they stole from the Southerners.

And yes, farangprince, Cronkite made many innacurate statements about the Tet Offensive. Public opinion, not the battlfield.

[farang prince]

Around the delta...........................Cantoe

Never got down to the Delta in CTZ IV. Only area that I wasn't in during my two tours. But a few of our guys from 1st Cav did get down there and said it was very spooky. hel_l, in a few years the Mekong will probably have paddle-wheeled casinos running up and down it.

[farang prince]

left long before TET (june 1966) but followed the reports nearly 24/7.

Hehehe, you were an Early Bird Naam. Glad you got out with your hide intact.

[farang prince]

48th IPSD

Chu Lai and North

Terry there was a guy by the name of Jackson who was a dog handler with the 48th IPSD back in 71-72 who was looking for some contacts. PM me and I'll give you the email address for him if you are interested.

[farang prince]

Hospital Corpsman "Doc" with A Co, 3rd platoon, 1st Recon Bn, 1st Mar Div, FMF (Rein) at the time. Got a bronze star and purple heart in that period courtesy of our good friends a little bit east of here. A book out about my recon platoon (and a picture of me back when I was a lean, mean, fighting machine), receiving one of my medals. Showed that picture to my wife, and in her inevitable Isarn quickness said: "what happened to you?. I'm wondering that myself. The book is written by Paul Young (my platoon commander) and is titled "First Recon - Second To None". I ordered it through amazon in the used books section and I think it only ended up costing about $1.

Jeep (Doc) good to hear from you. Spent a few interesting times with the Marines in Hue and when our 2/5 battalion of the 1st Cav helped lift the seige at Khe Sanh. I have had great fun teasing my Jarhead friends about how we saved their bacon at Khe Sanh. But the truth is the Marines were already fighting their way out of the seige and we just happened to expedite the process. Good warriors all. Haven't read the book by Paul Young but I'll get it now. Semper Fi.

[farang prince]

Phang Rang AB, 35th CES 68-69

You guys logged in some serious flight time during Tet 68. Actually I thought Tet 68 was a major screw-up on the part of the North Vietnamese. They sacrificed countless Viet Cong cadres in hopeless attacks on heavily fortified base camps and cities and it was the first time the NVA came out in the open in force. They were decimated by our firepower.

But even though it was a tactical blunder, they still won a strategic victory because they convinced Walter Cronkite that the war was no longer "winnable." And when Cronkite went on CBS to make his "learned" pronouncement, it strengthened the anti-war movement and eventually led to our withdrawal from Vietnam.

There are a lot of interesting things about the Tet Offensive, in 1968.

It was a major military for the Americans and ARVN.

General Giap even publicly stated that it would take 10 years to recover the casualties of the South Vietnamese Communists, VC.

Here is what some people think:

It's been documented that the North was considering a peace deal just prior to the Tet Offensive.

But the South Vietnamese were asked to "sacrifice" during the TET Offensive. Obviously the Offensive took place in South Vietnam

With such high Southern casualties, it would make it easier for the Northerners to take over, hold the administrative positions, government posts, etc.

The Southern VCs were squeezed out off all of the important jobs and political and governmental opportunities by the Northerners. The northerners own the nice plots of land, and expensive properties, which they stole from the Southerners.

And yes, farangprince, Cronkite made many innacurate statements about the Tet Offensive. Public opinion, not the battlfield.

Wrong Turn, these are some interesting theories. In reality, there is no doubt that the Tet Offensive in 68 decimated the ranks for the VC. They were never a viable military organization after that and eventually were absorbed into the ranks of the NVA. There is conjecture on whether this was a deliberate effort on the part of the NVA to co-opt the VC. My gut instinct is that this was in fact what was planned. What the NVA didn't plan on was the reaction of the South Vietnamese, who did not rise up in support of the NVA's offensive. Years later, I am still haunted by the faces of South Vietnamese civilians who were caught in the terrible cross-fire of dueling armies in Hue, Quang Tri, and other cities across South Vietnam. Someone once said "The first casualty of war is innocence." During Tet 68 that was undoubtedly true. The attrocities committed by the NVA and VC during Tet 68 on the South Vietnamese civilian population were unbelievable and sickening for those of us who saw the aftermath.

Tet 68 was also the first time that the NVA had attacked at battalion and regiment strength. Giap clearly overestimated his troops' capability. They took horrendous casualties.

What is little known is that the NVA repeated their mistakes for Tet 69 and sent five NVA divisions down the southern terminus of the Ho Chi Minh trail with the idea of attacking and overrunning Saigon. In one of the few times when military intelligence got it right, they picked up indications of a major attack and airlifted the 1st Cav intact from CTZ I down to the Fishhook and Angel Wing areas along the Cambodian border in CTZ III. Over a four-month period, the 1st Cav, 1st ID and 4th ID fought a series of major battles with the NVA in this area and ended up destroying the 5th VC Division and the 1st NVA Division. As a result, the coordinated attack on Saigon never took place. It was costly. The 1st Cav alone lost more than 500 KIA, and more than 3,000 wounded.

Edited January 21, 2008 by farang prince

[mouse]

Did not get in country until 1970 and then served with Team 75 Dong Tam and Team 66 Can Tho, MACV.

Incidentally that is one of the original patches I wore over there!

[Naam]

left long before TET (june 1966) but followed the reports nearly 24/7.

Hehehe, you were an Early Bird Naam. Glad you got out with your hide intact.

hide was not completely intact when i left Prince. anyway, my case was special. i described it once short in Bedlam.

[farang prince]

Did not get in country until 1970 and then served with Team 75 Dong Tam and Team 66 Can Tho, MACV.

Incidentally that is one of the original patches I wore over there!

Good for you Mouse that you saved your CIB as a momento from Nam. I have a few items like my dogtags and my E-6 insignias and a couple of boonie hats, but I have surprisingly very few photos from my 24 months in country. We just weren't very camera conscious back in the day. My late wife did make a lovely presentation piece of some of my Vietnam-era medals that I do cherish.

[farang prince]

left long before TET (june 1966) but followed the reports nearly 24/7.

Hehehe, you were an Early Bird Naam. Glad you got out with your hide intact.

hide was not completely intact when i left Prince. anyway, my case was special. i described it once short in Bedlam.

Okay Doc, guess I'll have to head over to Bedlam and root around until I find your post.

[farang prince]

Did not get in country until 1970 and then served with Team 75 Dong Tam and Team 66 Can Tho, MACV.

Incidentally that is one of the original patches I wore over there!

Mouse was Dave Dolby still with Team 75 when you were there?

[jenniferjuniper]

Spent '66 - 69 ' in Singapore discovering the Beach Boys, Wilson Pickett, The Doors, girls with ping pong balls, Tolleys brandy, ganja and fell in love with a blonde girl with the reddest lips and bluest eyes.

Didn't kill no-one though but I did watch the newsreels everyday and read the accounts and I kinda felt I was there in spirit if not in body(bag). Funny thing about it all, the most vivid recollection I have of those reports was that after every firefight the dead ***** were piled up in neat rows and counted religiously. Made me think the whole point of keeping count was some magic total would be reached when somebody would claim victory and it would all stop.

Stupid really, but then I grew up and read about Gen.Wastemoreland an' all and realised there was no plan at all.

Sometimes it's best just to be young and dumb. American generals just love that.

[Wrong Turn]

.

....the most vivid recollection I have of those reports was that after every firefight the dead***were piled up in neat rows and counted religiously. Made me think the whole point of keeping count was some magic total would be reached when somebody would claim victory and it would all stop.

Stupid really, but then I grew up and read about Gen.Wastemoreland an' all and realised there was no plan at all.

Sometimes it's best just to be young and dumb. American generals just love that.

Westmoreland really was a buffoon.

War of attrition? It was for the Americans, eventually.

The Americans didn't study the language, culture, and history of VN.

[mouse]

Did not get in country until 1970 and then served with Team 75 Dong Tam and Team 66 Can Tho, MACV.

Incidentally that is one of the original patches I wore over there!

Mouse was Dave Dolby still with Team 75 when you were there?

Name does not ring a bell, but, mind you I only remember Sgt Soto, Sgt Vargas, Major Lee, MSgt Yotsef and Cookie (VN National) who woked in the medical hootch at the Team HQ. Spent most of my time at FB Schroeder, the Wagon Wheel or out in the field.

[track61]

Thanks for starting this thread Prince. Interesting reading. I wasn't t there, my GI time ended in Sept. of 1965. As a little aside, I worked with a guy years later that said he was in country as a civilian contractor at the time. As he was going to have a week or so off during Tet he decided to see some of the country and took a sight-seeing trip to Hue. Turned out he saw way more sights than he anticipated. Claims he was caught for several days in a house in town between the us and them, but came out whole. hel_l of a storey and one lucky guy if it's true.

Anyway, I salute all of you guys that were there and did your job in spite of Cronkite's BS opinion.

[farang prince]

Did not get in country until 1970 and then served with Team 75 Dong Tam and Team 66 Can Tho, MACV.

Incidentally that is one of the original patches I wore over there!

Mouse was Dave Dolby still with Team 75 when you were there?

Name does not ring a bell, but, mind you I only remember Sgt Soto, Sgt Vargas, Major Lee, MSgt Yotsef and Cookie (VN National) who woked in the medical hootch at the Team HQ. Spent most of my time at FB Schroeder, the Wagon Wheel or out in the field.

Dave Dolby was an original member of the 75 Charlie Rangers. Did five tours and earned the Medal of Honor. An incredible human being. Last time I ran into him he was an old middle-aged warrior like myself, balding, with a big bushy beard. He was perhaps the finest soldier who served in RSVN. His nickname was "Mad Dog", which he earned when he wiped out three NVA machine gun nests in order to save his platoon. But despite his nickname, he was a quiet, thoughtful guy who grew old very gracefully.

By the way, your Sgt. Soto...that wasn't Roy Soto was it? Roy and I went through basic together. Great guy.

[farang prince]

Thanks for starting this thread Prince. Interesting reading. I wasn't t there, my GI time ended in Sept. of 1965. As a little aside, I worked with a guy years later that said he was in country as a civilian contractor at the time. As he was going to have a week or so off during Tet he decided to see some of the country and took a sight-seeing trip to Hue. Turned out he saw way more sights than he anticipated. Claims he was caught for several days in a house in town between the us and them, but came out whole. hel_l of a storey and one lucky guy if it's true.

Anyway, I salute all of you guys that were there and did your job in spite of Cronkite's BS opinion.

Thanks Track. It was obviously a life-changing experience for all of us who were there. Tet 68 was such a crucial event in the course of history in Vietnam and I thought that it was appropriate to stir some memories some 40 years later.

It is certainly possible that your friend's story of his experience in Hue during Tet 68 is totally true. Stranger things have happened. I went into Hue in the last week of fighting there to clear out the remnants of an NVA battalion. Along the way we ran into a lot of dead civilians...many of them executed by the Viet Cong and NVA while they were in control of Hue. So your friend was very lucky.

[Desertexile]

I respect you all!

For what, exactly?

[Wrong Turn]

I salute all of you guys that were there and did your job in spite of Cronkite's BS opinion.

I don't look down on the Vietnam Vets, but I definitely don't salute them, or hold them high in my opinion.

They were very ignorant and young.

They sheep that were told to go to Vietnam, and did so.

The Vets didn't study the Vietnamese language, history, nor have strong political or ideological views, and were too young to be considered educated. The average was about 19.

The average DEROS date was after 1 year. Most vets spent the first 6 months learning, and the last 6 months trying to stay alive.

That's not a commitment. That's being a sheep.

The Americans were in Vietnam for their own financial interests, and couldn't care less about the Vietnamese people. Yes, a few individual vets may have cared, but that's the exception, not the rule.

[mouse]

Did not get in country until 1970 and then served with Team 75 Dong Tam and Team 66 Can Tho, MACV.

Incidentally that is one of the original patches I wore over there!

Mouse was Dave Dolby still with Team 75 when you were there?

Name does not ring a bell, but, mind you I only remember Sgt Soto, Sgt Vargas, Major Lee, MSgt Yotsef and Cookie (VN National) who woked in the medical hootch at the Team HQ. Spent most of my time at FB Schroeder, the Wagon Wheel or out in the field.

Dave Dolby was an original member of the 75 Charlie Rangers. Did five tours and earned the Medal of Honor. An incredible human being. Last time I ran into him he was an old middle-aged warrior like myself, balding, with a big bushy beard. He was perhaps the finest soldier who served in RSVN. His nickname was "Mad Dog", which he earned when he wiped out three NVA machine gun nests in order to save his platoon. But despite his nickname, he was a quiet, thoughtful guy who grew old very gracefully.

By the way, your Sgt. Soto...that wasn't Roy Soto was it? Roy and I went through basic together. Great guy.

75 Charlie Rangers???? I was on MACV Advisory Team 75, no Charlie Rangers. No one out of MACV ever got a Medal of Honor that I was aware, so it must have been a different unit. As for Soto...do not remember his first name...for me at the time is was just Sergeant. He was a small Spanish speaking man.

[mouse]

I salute all of you guys that were there and did your job in spite of Cronkite's BS opinion.

I don't look down on the Vietnam Vets, but I definitely don't salute them, or hold them high in my opinion.

They were very ignorant and young.

They sheep that were told to go to Vietnam, and did so.

The Vets didn't study the Vietnamese language, history, nor have strong political or ideological views, and were too young to be considered educated. The average was about 19.

The average DEROS date was after 1 year. Most vets spent the first 6 months learning, and the last 6 months trying to stay alive.

That's not a commitment. That's being a sheep.

The Americans were in Vietnam for their own financial interests, and couldn't care less about the Vietnamese people. Yes, a few individual vets may have cared, but that's the exception, not the rule.

I grew up in Berlin Germany, across from the Berlin wall and believed that I was going there to stop communism and the Domino theory and all that. I stayed longer than the obligatory 12 month tour and spoke Vietnamese ... and not just the bad words. I resent the implicaiton that we were sheep. Many of us cared and cared enough to volunteer and try to make a difference. And please explain to me for what financial interest I was there for? There was no oil there, nor gold or diamonds etc. I have never seen anyone that made money from Vietnam, except maybe for DOW Chemical and Colt Weapons Industries and I doubt they made a lot.

Your apology is accepted.

[Naam]

I grew up in Berlin Germany, across from the Berlin wall and believed that I was going there to stop communism and the Domino theory and all that. I stayed longer than the obligatory 12 month tour and spoke Vietnamese ... and not just the bad words. I resent the implicaiton that we were sheep. Many of us cared and cared enough to volunteer and try to make a difference. And please explain to me for what financial interest I was there for? There was no oil there, nor gold or diamonds etc. I have never seen anyone that made money from Vietnam, except maybe for DOW Chemical and Colt Weapons Industries and I doubt they made a lot.

Your apology is accepted.

smartasses never apologise. they are always right and possess all the wisdom which those of us -who are not smartasses- lack.