The 6th Battalion, 24th Regiment, 304th Division, originally located near Khe Sanh, reached the Citadel after following a route that took it through Base Area 101, Base Area 114 and Thon La Chu and the 7th Battalion, 90th Regiment, 324B Division, was due to arrive a few days later after a forced march from the DMZ. [9]:27478 Due to the delays on the left flank, the main assault in the center by Company F, 2/5 Marines was delayed until mid-afternoon. But, the city overall is beautiful. After the Vietnam War, Hue's unique history fell to ruin as the imperial era wasn't viewed favourably by the communist authorities. The combined force then swept toward the Bach Ho Railroad Bridge along the southwestern face of the Citadel, where a few PAVN still held out in a narrow band of trees between the moat and the wall. Only two buildings in the city were held by Marines. At Ba Long, the battalion then embarked upon motorized junks and reached the Citadel the following day. During the months and years that followed, dozens of mass graves were discovered in and around Hu. In the early morning of 31 January, after the rocket bombardment of the airfield and the initial attack on the Truoi River Bridge, Task Force X-Ray received reports of strikes all along Highway 1 between the Hi Vn Pass and Hu. Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. These ambushes killed 20 Marines and wounded 39. [4]:177, On 2 February, the Marines made some minor headway and brought in further reinforcements. The Allies did not send ground forces to investigate the incident, and no evidence exists that it generated much concern in any of the allied headquarters. No later than February 13, 1968, 1/5 Alpha Co, will rendezvous with 1st ARVN Division at the Northeast of the Citadel to clear Hue City in order to gain control of the city, removing all enemy fighters. [4]:168[12]:4344, The ARVN 3rd Regiment had an even more difficult time. It started on Jan. 30, 1968, the eve of Tet (the Vietnamese lunar new year): More than 80,000 soldiers from the People's Army North Vietnamese and southern allies staged simultaneous attacks on cities, towns and U.S. bases throughout the south, a mass occupation meant to inspire the rest of South Vietnam to rise up . This and subsequent optimistic reports were soon contradicted by press reports as journalists made their way into the city and reported on the extent of PAVN-VC control and the bitter house-to-house fighting that was underway. You have to work out how to deal with it. Once again, NCOs must think outside of the box to accomplish the mission. The cost had been heavy: the ARVN suffered 131 casualties including 40 dead, and lost four of the 12 armored personnel carriers in the convoy. Apart from the headquarters staff and a handful of support units, the only combat units in the Citadel were the division's 36-man Reconnaissance Platoon and its reaction force, the elite Hac Bao (Black Panther) Reconnaissance Company. The Marines were now only 100 meters from the south wall of the Citadel. [4]:16, The headquarters of ARVN Brigadier General Ng Quang Trng's 1st Division was located in the Mang Ca Garrison, a minifortress in the northeast corner of the Citadel. The enemy was 35 meters away and we were launching RPGs (rocket-propelled grenades) at each other, said Christmas. power. This was an operational area that actually required two complete regiments to secure. He proceeded to gather the necessary equipment including M20 Bazookas, M40 106mm recoilless rifles mounted on M274 Mules, C-4 explosive, flamethrowers, tear gas and gas masks. At 22:00, South Vietnamese Regional Force (RF) troops stationed in a village a few hundred meters north of the An Hoa Bridge observed what appeared to be enemy figures moving past them in the dark. [9]:268, Back at Phu Bai, Cheatham was reviewing Marine urban fighting doctrine which recommended staying off the streets and moving forward by blasting through walls and buildings. The Marines then pushed into the Treasury building which the PAVN had hastily abandoned. A second unit from the regiment, the 810th Battalion, and several local force companies roamed the coastal plain north and east of Hu. [4]:16667 At 05:00 a reinforced company from the 1st Sapper Battalion With its stately, tree-lined boulevards, Buddhist temples, national university, and ornate imperial palace within a massive walled city known as the Citadel, Hue was the cradle of the country's culture and heritage. One had to do with machine guns, which he didnt elaborate on. [9]:5960 While some senior PAVN leaders were skeptical about the plan, believing that the population was unlikely to rise up and that they could only hold out against the ARVN and U.S. forces for a few days before they would be forced to withdraw, they followed their orders. Each building on the fighting lines was defended by snipers and machine guns, while spider holes were dug in gardens and streets, creating cross-fire between all buildings and streets. With the building secured the Marines then methodically cleared out the spider-holes, shooting their occupants. [9]:525 Estimates of Vietnamese civilians killed by the PAVN-VC at Hu range from 2,800 (based on bodies exhumed from mass graves) to almost 6,000. U.S. forces began their counterassault at daybreak on Feb. 15 as the Delta Company moved quietly through the maze-like alleyways and courtyards of the ancient Citadel. PAVN soldiers also fired 130 82mm mortar rounds into the Mang Ca Compound the opening minutes of the battle. Flying through overcast skies, the aircraft returned two hours later, its pilot having seen nothing out of the ordinary. The 815th Battalion had been delayed because South Vietnamese paramilitaries had ambushed the battalion at a river crossing three kilometers south of the city. Battle of Hue During the TeT Offensive - Vietnam 1968. The armored troop at Tam Thai was first to respond to Trng's order. The Battle of Hue was one of the bloodiest and longest battles of the Vietnam War. During the next five years the battalion participated in combat operations in Hue city, Que Son, Phu Bai, Dong Ha and Phu Loc. The ambush destroyed several vehicles and threw the 1st Troop, 7th Cavalry, into confusion. He served twenty-five years as an infantry soldier, which included two combat tours in Iraq. The 1st Cavalry Division was in the midst of relocating from Bnh nh Province in II Corps to Qung Tr and Tha Thin Provinces in I Corps. Victims included women, men, children, and infants. [24], The PAVN-VC's actions were based on a series of orders issued by the PAVN High Command and the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam (PRG). [4]:174, North of the Perfume River, on 1 February, the ARVN 1st Division enjoyed some limited success. [4]:205 On the night of 16 February a radio intercept indicated that a battalion-size PAVN force was about to launch a counterattack over the west wall of the Citadel. [9]:47784 Sergeant Joe Hooper of the 2/501st would subsequently be awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in this engagement. [9]:361, On 7 February the PAVN twice ambushed a 25 vehicle supply convoy supported by two Ontos going along Route 547 (162602N 1073549E / 16.434N 107.597E / 16.434; 107.597) from Phu Bai to the 11th Marines Firebase Rockcrusher (162335N 1073408E / 16.393N 107.569E / 16.393; 107.569) which provided artillery support to Allied forces fighting in and around Hu. in January 1968, North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong forces launched the Tet Offensive, a series of coordinated attacks aimed at demonstrating to the governments in Washington and Saigon that continuing the war was futile. Become a member! Task Force X-ray including 1/5 and 2/5 Marines (2,500) and 1st ARVN Battalion. At 03:00 on 21 February, three ten-man teams from 2nd Platoon of Company A launched their assault, quickly capturing the sparsely defended strongpoints which the PAVN had withdrawn from overnight. Hue 1968 pays particular attention to key role played by journalists played in exposing the fact that a major battle was taking place in Hue, contrary to inaccurate claims from . To understand why, Mark Bowden's searing "Hue 1968: A Turning Point of the American War in Vietnam" takes us deep into the bloodiest single battle of that bitter conflict, tracking Americans . Shortly before midnight, the reconnaissance team hiding in the bushes on the north bank of the Perfume River saw a long column of PAVN soldiers emerge from the darkness. [4]:174, By 20:00, the 1/1 Marines had established defensive positions near the MACV Compound and a helicopter landing zone in a field just west of the Navy LCU Ramp in southern Hu. This can be a tricky situation for any Marine trying to save civilian lives while in the process of a firefight. [12]:59, Also on 7 February, the North Vietnamese tried to bring their own air support into the battle, sending four Vietnam People's Air Force Il-14 transport aircraft from an airfield near Hanoi. Since Vietnam was expected to be a jungle fight, Marines who fought in Hue had only one hour of training in urban combat. Enjoy exciting benefits and explore new exhibitions year-round. Vietnamese young boys and girls fill sandbags during 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division base operations in Phu Bai. The allied platoon stayed out of sight as the 800th, 802nd and 12th Sapper Battalions marched past its position, heading east along the river toward the city. On the morning of 25 February 1968 Nguyen heard screaming coming from the far side of her village of Ha My - not far from the now-popular tourist town of Hoi An - and saw smoke filling the sky . The PAVN strongly defended the perimeter, but once the Cavalry forces broke through with the support of two newly arrived M42 Dusters, they found that the base had been largely abandoned while the Cavalry had been building up their forces for the attack. For the board wargame based on this battle, see, The 1st Cavalry Division attacks PAVN supply lines, Last edited on 24 February 2023, at 12:50, Massacre perpetrated by Vietcong and the PAVN, dressed in ARVN uniforms killed the guards, Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development Support, Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam, Opposition to United States involvement in the Vietnam War Developments in the war, News media and the Vietnam War Tet Offensive, 1968, November 2004 anti-insurgent Marine operation, United States Army Center of Military History, "The History Place Vietnam War 19651968", "Urban Operations: An Historical Casebook", "An Excerpt from the Viet Cong Strategy of Terror", "Pham Van Dong, Voice of Vietnam's Revolt, Dies at 94", "Vietnam War Medal of Honor Recipients (AL)", "Medal of Honor Monday: Army Sgt. Under cover of supporting fire the Marines secured part of the ridgeline, killing three PAVN for the loss of one Marine killed. The offensive ended in crippling military defeat for the attackers, and yet the strength of their assault led to a political setback for the United States, as critics at home gained traction and public support for the war eroded. The fighting for the airfield continued to seesaw, with first the ARVN having the upper hand and then the PAVN. Seeing an opportunity to trap the PAVN-VC, Lieutenant Colonel Ernie Cheatham reinforced Company H with his Command Group and Company F.[4]:170 With his other companies in blocking positions, Cheatham hoped to pin the PAVN-VC against the Truoi River. [4]:177, During the mid-afternoon of 2 February, the 2/12th Cavalry arrived in a landing zone about 10 kilometres (6mi) northwest of Hu. The imperial city of Hue has for centuries played a significant role in Vietnam. They advanced along parallel tracks, with the 5/7th Cavalry, following the course of Highway 1; the 2/501st Infantry, searching the central route; and the 2/12th Cavalry, sweeping the area to the south. This time they crossed the An Cuu Bridge into the new city. The third installment aims to help answer those questions by examining the Battle of Hue. [18], On the morning of 22 February, the 1/7th Cavalry, remained in Thon Que Chu and Thon La Chu to mop up pockets of resistance while the remaining units under 3rd Brigade control began marching toward the Citadel. [12]:29 The PAVN B5 Front created a special logistical and administrative zone known as the Hu City Front to manage the upcoming battle. Retired Sgt. The lightly armored dusters did not provide as much armor as a tank, but they were effective. 7) Walk Around the Thai Hoa Palace. After a few minutes, the RF soldiers stopped shooting, and some began to wonder whether they had seen enemy troops or had been firing at shadows. When seven successive attempts to breach the gate failed, the battalion joined the 2nd and 3rd Battalions, 3rd Regiment, near the southern corner of the Citadel. Notes were created from Richard Camp's (Col. The 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry was to arrive in the landing zone first, followed by the 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry to be inserted near PK-17. At Thon La Chu a South Vietnamese official who was a VC agent had earlier used aid money to build a three-story concrete and steel bomb shelter for local villagers and the command group of the Hu City Front used this as its headquarters. As the PAVN moved to reoccupy the strongpoints at dawn they were caught in the open by the Marines, 16 PAVN were killed for the loss of three Marines. Throughout the afternoon of January 30, 1968, the last day of the Vietnamese Year of the Monkey had seen crowds of people flocking to the Imperial City of Hue for the festivities. Nguyen Hue is now a walking street, where thousands of people get together every night for selfies and snacks. [9]:470, Foreign civilians captured in the city received varying treatment. [9]:49698 Over the coming months U.S. public opinion turned decisively against the war. However, they were soon stopped by strong PAVN defenses; after two days the Vietnamese Marines had only advanced 400 meters. [13]:43[14]:29. Hu, the ancient imperial capital city of Vietnam, had a population of nearly 140,000, making it the third largest city in the Republic of Vietnam, commonly known as South Vietnam. Unknown to Allied intelligence, the PAVN had recently shifted several more regiments and support units from Qung Tr Province to the vicinity of Hu. [10][11] Hu had been at the center of the Buddhist crisis of 1963 and the Buddhist Uprising of 1966 and other than the city's Catholics, its population of Buddhists and intellectuals were lukewarm supporters of the Nguyn Vn Thiu-Nguyn Cao K government. The combined force then headed for the Mang Ca compound with the goal of neutralizing Trng's headquarters before it had time to organize the city's defenders. The PME was planned in honor of the 50th anniversary of the battle and it also honored Vietnam Veterans Day, which is March 29. Trng obtained permission from I Corps commander, General Hong Xun Lm, to take control of the 1st Airborne Task Force. [9]:23943, Many of the Marines of Task Force X-Ray had little or no urban combat experience and the U.S. troops were not trained for urban close-quarters combat, so this battle was especially tough for them. Company H withdrew so that air strikes could be launched and these knocked out mortar and machine gun positions killing 20 PAVN; however, one bomb fell short killing four Marines. Of course, with any firefight, there will be mistakes made. Allied intelligence estimated that 1618 PAVN battalions, totaling 811,000 soldiers, were engaged in the battle. The Hu City Sapper Unit and the 12th Sapper Battalion were also located in Base Area 114. The General Uprising was the expectation that the oppressed South Vietnamese population would then spontaneously rise up and overthrow the Thiu-K government and that this would force the United States to withdraw in the face of the will of the people. and, more recently, The Finish: "The Killing of Osama bin Laden", and Hue 1968: A Turning point of the American war in Vietnam. On 4 January 1968, MACV J-2 (military intelligence staff) received a report that a Vietcong sapper team had obtained jobs at the Tan Son Nhut airbase from which they planned to attack MACV. Christmas says theres not a day that goes by that he doesnt think about two mistakes he made during the Battle for Hue City. With the city finally in sight, the three companies that made up the 804th Battalion headed off in different directions. On the south side of the river was the new city of Hu, which contained most of the government buildings, schools, and the university, set on wide boulevards. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 2 kilometers (1.2mi) to the northwest, an engineer unit moved within sight of its target, the An Lo Bridge that spanned the Bo River, as it did, the 806th Battalion, one company from the 800th Battalion and a sapper platoon of forty men, all from the 6th Regiment, quietly occupied a forward staging area in a graveyard 2 kilometers (1.2mi) northwest of the Citadel. The Airborne attempted a frontal assault on the graveyard but were unable to force their way through the PAVN positions and found themselves unable to advance or retreat and called for assistance. Beginning at 1:15 AM January 31, 1968, 2 battalions of the 6th NVA Regiment spookily sauntered through the Chanh Tay Gate west of the Imperial Citadel in Hue, Vietnam. A 75mm recoilless rifle knocked out one of the supporting tanks. Hue City,, Vietnam, 1968 Me love you long time! To say that we are mired in stalemate seems the only realistic, yet unsatisfactory, conclusion. Because of enemy mortaring of the LCU ramp in southern Hu, the allies had stopped all river traffic to the city. 4,856 civilians and captured ARVN personnel were executed by the PAVN-VC or went missing during the battle according to the South Vietnamese Government. Anyone in violation of that can be charged with a war crime. [4]:199 On 14 February the Marines resumed their attack supported by Marine and Navy gun fire and Marine close air support. [4]:216 Until the last week of the battle, the ARVN, U.S. Marines and 1st Cavalry each fought separate, largely uncoordinated battles without a unified command structure, no overall strategy and competing demands for logistics, air and artillery support. At dawn the only areas of the new city still under Allied control were the prison defended by a Hac Bao platoon; the Le Loi transportation camp; the Huang Giang Hotel; the MACV Compound; the communications facility; and the Navy loading dock. Sightseeing can include the ornate Imperial Citadel, colorful Thanh Toan Bridge, royal tombs and the Forbidden Purple City. Hu was also a base for United States Navy supply boats. Built within a two year span, it has been severely damaged on three occasions. Although the South Vietnamese 9th Airborne Battalion was caught up in the battle for Qung Tr, the 2nd and 7th Airborne Battalions were available at PK17. Upon their flashlight signals, the 800th Battalion and several teams from the 12th Sapper Battalion rushed through the gate and headed northwest towards Ty Lc Airfield. The Marine Corps' military operations in urban terrain doctrine recognizes that tactical success does not necessarily translate to strategic victory the Battle of Hu in the Vietnam War, when Marines defeated an enemy that sought to put up a good fight but never expected to win. The Marines secured the chapel and the east school building, but were pinned down for hours by interlocking fire from the west building. [28][9]:50405, After watching Cronkite's editorial report, President Lyndon Johnson is purported to have said, "If I've lost Cronkite, I've lost Middle America. Sir, Ill roll my gun right out the door (a 106mm mortar launcher with 50 caliber attached), Ill turn my gun, Ill fire it, sir you know how big the round is. The Battle of Hue City . If the Marines penetrated the forward line the PAVN moved to the secondary line and then reoccupied the abandoned positions at night. More than half the company's 147 men had been wounded or killed in that day's fighting. [4]:204, Despite their reducing hold on the city the PAVN seemed determined to prolong the battle for the Citadel. The attackers were engaged by a machine gunner in a guard tower and troops in a bunker who were able to hold off the attack for long enough to allow others in the compound to form a cohesive defense. In this Feb. 1968 photo, a unit of the 1st Battalion, 5th Regiment U.S. Marines, rests alongside a battered wall of Hue's imperial palace after a battle for the Citadel during the Tet Offensive. While the ARVN 1st Division had cancelled all Tt leave and was attempting to recall its troops, the South Vietnamese and American forces in the city were unprepared when the Vit Cng (VC) and the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) launched the Tet Offensive, attacking hundreds of military targets and population centers across the country, including Hu. Later that night a radio message from the commander of PAVN forces in the Citadel was intercepted, he stated that his predecessor had been killed and requested permission to withdraw from the city, but this was denied and he was told to stand and fight. Both battles also had insurgents and other forces utilizing snipers, significantly increasing the combat potential of the combatants, while the Marines also constituted the advanced fighting elements of the US forces deployed in both Hu and Fallujah. [31][32], Militarily, Hu and the entire Tet Offensive were Allied victories. The initial press statements by MACV played down the events in Hu, claiming that only a part of the city had fallen to a small enemy force, that the city would soon be fully restored to South Vietnamese Government control and that the main attack would be directed against Khe Sanh. Although the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the 3rd Regiment remained outside of the Citadel walls, unable to penetrate the PAVN defenses; the 2nd and 7th Airborne Battalions, supported by armored personnel carriers and the Hac Bao Company, recaptured the Ty Lc airfield. Hu City was in active service from 14 September 1991 to 23 September 2022. Both generals went back to Hue City decades after the battle. The Battle of Hue began early on January 31, 1968 and lasted until the first days of March, when US troops retook the city. Bowden has also written for Talk, Men's Journal, Sports Illustrated, Rolling Stone and Playboy, among others. This is called lance corporal ingenuity and Pfc. [4]:195 On 11 February the Vietnamese Marines Task Force A comprising the 1st and 5th Battalions, began to be lifted by helicopter into Mang Ca to replace the Airborne, however due to poor weather this deployment would not be completed until 13 February. The Marines decided to withdraw. 3 kilometers (1.9mi) southwest of the Citadel, on the north bank of the Perfume River, was the Van Thanh divisional training center and a two-gun detachment of 105mm howitzers. The 150 ARVN at Ty Lc Airfield withdrew east through the city, avoiding PAVN forces and sneaked into the Mang Ca compound shortly after 07:00, just in time to help repulse another major assault from the 802nd Battalion. A U.S. Army UH-1 Huey piloted by Chief Warrant Officer Frederick Ferguson landed in the compound and rescued the crew under fire. Remember, an urban fight is a casualty producing fight. The base remained under fire from PAVN positions in a Buddhist temple to the south and from a ridgeline to the west and at 07:00 on 25 February Companies F and G began to attack the ridgeline, but were met by intense mortar fire. However, less is known about America's involvement with the city during World War II. the book is full of emotion and color . Its alive and well today and is in response to your leadership, said Downs to the SNCOs gathered in the lecture hall. [9]:35152, On 16 February deputy COMUSMACV General Creighton Abrams flew into PK-17 for a meeting with Tolson where Abrams expressed his displeasure at the Cavalry's slow progress. Richmond,Virginia23220, Galleries, Store, & Caf daily 10:00 am-5:00 pm North Vietnamese casualties were twice those of the Marines, but the number of killed and wounded on both sides was heavy. This could mean going through the same holes and breaches that you have been through. [4]:216 It was estimated that it would have taken at least 16 battalions to establish an effective cordon around Hu, at this time there were only 30 battalions available in all of I Corps. [14]:28, On the night of 1/2 February PAVN sappers successfully brought down the Bach Ho (railroad) bridge across the Perfume River, restricting movement from the south towards the Citadel, but failed to destroy the An Cuu Bridge over the Phu Cam Canal. The two aircraft radioed that they were scrubbing the mission, then headed out to sea to jettison their bombs. [4]:201 That day at a meeting at Phu Bai between Generals Abrams, LaHue, Trng and South Vietnamese Vice President Nguyn Cao K, K approved the use of all necessary force to clear the PAVN-VC forces from the Citadel, regardless of damage to historic structures. The Allied bombardment lasted intermittently from 17:30 until 03:30 the next day, forcing the entire southern wing to postpone the ferry crossing. Highway 1, passing through the city of Hu, was an important supply line for Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) and United States forces from the coastal city of Da Nang to the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the de facto border between North and South Vietnam only 50 kilometers (31mi) to the north of Hu. The ARVN claimed to have killed 250 PAVN, captured five prisoners and recovered 71 individual and 25 crew-served weapons. [9]:18586 Initially forces were identified as coming from the PAVN 4th, 5th and 6th Regiments. Another mistake was that he didnt move his snipers around and the NVA found the snipers and fired many RPGs at them. We would progress in this way throughout the fight, said Downs. In mid-morning the 5/7th Cavalry, came under heavy fire from an estimated company-size force who occupied the hamlet of Thon An, approximately one kilometer from the An Hoa Bridge. Unknown to the Marines, the ARVN Airborne had withdrawn from the area two days previously when the Vietnamese Marines began to arrive at Mang Ca and the PAVN defenders had used this opportunity to reoccupy several blocks and reinforce their defenses, Company A was engaged by the PAVN and quickly suffered 35 casualties. With the promise of U.S. Marine reinforcements, Chi's column, with three tanks in the lead, tried once more. The ARVN 3rd Regiment launched a night attack along the southern wall of the Citadel. Gravel left the armor behind on the southern bank to provide direct fire support. Photo of me in Hue City. [12]:37, Responding to the call at PK-17, at 09:00 the 3rd Troop and the 7th Battalion of the Airborne task force rolled out of their base area in an armored convoy onto Highway 1. [9]:490, At 09:30 on 22 February, Company A, 1/5 Marines led the day's attack to find that the PAVN had largely disappeared and the south wall was soon secured. ), participated in the battle for Hu as a company commander and will present a first-hand account of the conflict. Y Young Ki Moon Hue city 1968 Usmc Marines Staff Sergeant Korean War Connecting the Citadel and new city were the Trng Tin Bridge (162805N 1073520E / 16.468N 107.589E / 16.468; 107.589), which carried Highway 1, and further west the Bach Ho rail bridge. As the Marine infantry started across, a machine gun on the other end of the bridge opened fire, killing and wounding several Marines. There were also many obstacles to navigate including moats and walls. Some were marched north into captivity, while others were executed, including three West German doctors, two French Benedictine monks and two U.S. government employees. You know where those decisions come from? The 804th Battalion of the newly created 4th Regiment was reported to be near Ph Lc District, 30 kilometers (19mi) southeast of the city. Hue, city, central Vietnam. He split up two more platoons to reinforce security at the various gates leading into the Citadel. [34] In his analysis of the Battle of Fallujah, Jonathan F. Keiler, a military historian and former officer in the Judge Advocate General's Corps wrote:[36]. Marine Corps Base Quantico. Youve got to protect your corpsman, said Downs. Take advantage of all the exciting benefits that membership offers including access to member-only publications. He and Sergeant Alfredo Cantu Gonzalez led the Marines in the defense of the convoy, actions for which both men would later be awarded the Medal of Honor. [19] PAVN sappers finally destroyed the Trng Tin bridge restricting movement between the old and new cities. 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Pavn 4th, 5th and 6th regiments Cuu Bridge into the Citadel the Trng Bridge... Ba Long, the allies had stopped all river traffic to the secondary line and then the PAVN moved the! Got to protect your corpsman, said Downs offers including access to member-only publications well today is! Two hours later, its pilot having seen nothing out of the bloodiest and longest battles of the for. Hand and then the PAVN had hastily abandoned minor headway and brought in further reinforcements fired. Supporting fire the Marines secured the Marines secured the chapel and the entire TeT Offensive were Allied victories (! Landed in the process of a firefight actions in this way throughout the fight, said Downs Joe of! He served twenty-five years as an infantry soldier, which included two combat in... Operational area that actually required two complete regiments to secure 4th, 5th and 6th.... Including moats and walls the same holes and breaches that you have through... Allied intelligence estimated that 1618 PAVN battalions, totaling 811,000 soldiers, were engaged in the the... Think outside of the Citadel between the old and new cities landed in the battle for Hu a! On 14 February the Marines were now only 100 meters from the.. Made during the TeT Offensive were Allied victories individual and 25 crew-served weapons then embarked upon motorized junks and the! Lightly armored dusters did not provide as much armor as a company commander and will present a account! Minutes of the conflict nothing out of the box to accomplish the mission, then headed to! Trng obtained permission from I Corps commander, General Hong Xun Lm, to take control of Citadel! Answer those questions by examining the battle of Hue during the battle for Hu as a tank, but were! Stalemate seems the only realistic, yet unsatisfactory, conclusion seems the only realistic, yet unsatisfactory, conclusion )... That are UNESCO World Heritage designated ARVN having the upper hand and then the! A tank, but they were soon stopped by strong PAVN defenses ; after two days the Vietnamese had... The opening minutes of the Vietnam War, shooting their occupants because of enemy mortaring of the and. Continued to seesaw, with any firefight, there will be mistakes made, North of the Citadel all exciting... Base area 114 the ridgeline, killing three PAVN for the Citadel, Despite their reducing on! The TeT Offensive - Vietnam 1968 reoccupied the abandoned positions at night PAVN... Would subsequently be awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in this for... Navigate including moats and walls building which the PAVN unsatisfactory, conclusion away and we were launching RPGs rocket-propelled. Since Vietnam was expected to be a tricky situation for any Marine to! Next time I comment a firefight, children hue city vietnam 1968 blind girl and infants as coming the! The bloodiest and longest battles of the Perfume river, on 2 February, the three companies that made the. Regiment had an even more difficult time, but they were soon stopped strong... Estimated that 1618 PAVN battalions, totaling 811,000 soldiers, were engaged in the process a! Had ambushed the Battalion then embarked upon motorized junks and reached the.! To protect your corpsman, said Downs and infants Battalion at a river crossing three kilometers south of the,... Security at the various gates leading into the new city grenades ) hue city vietnam 1968 blind girl each other, said Christmas any! The Citadel enemy was 35 meters away and we were launching RPGs ( rocket-propelled grenades at..., but they were soon stopped by strong PAVN defenses ; after two days the Vietnamese Marines only. If the Marines resumed their attack supported by Marine and Navy gun fire and Marine close support., conclusion allies had stopped all river traffic to the city finally in sight the! Next time I comment today and is in response to your leadership, said Downs civilian lives in... Again, NCOs must think outside of the Citadel War II Army UH-1 Huey piloted Chief... The Compound and rescued the crew under fire one hour of training in urban combat rifle knocked out one the... Get together every night for selfies and snacks the three companies that made up the 804th Battalion headed in! On 2 February, the aircraft returned two hours later, its pilot having seen nothing out of the.. And 25 crew-served weapons two days the Vietnamese Marines had only one hour training... And snacks to member-only publications that we are mired in stalemate seems the only realistic, yet unsatisfactory,.... Required two complete regiments to secure about two mistakes he made during battle!, captured five prisoners and recovered 71 individual and 25 crew-served weapons there are endless must-see historic,. City finally in sight, the three companies that made up the 804th Battalion off! Two more platoons to reinforce security at the various gates leading into the Treasury which! Located in base area 114 leadership, said Downs against the War infantry soldier, which didnt... ) and 1st ARVN Battalion, tried once more under cover of supporting fire the then! Response to your leadership, said Downs men had been wounded or killed in that day fighting.

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