Vietnam war 1968

Until 1968 there was some complacency in U.S military leaders for the progress of the war. Despite the casualties and demonstrations against it, the victories and reclaimed land, they did think that they were on the right track.

There were intelligence reports that the communists announced a major offensive, but those reports were not clear enough or reliable, and last year it had launched a major operation, Cedar Falls, also following another big intelligence operation, Operation Rendezvous, but did not get more contacts with the Vietcong.

For these reasons it was a surprise to almost all military, politicians and analysts, that in 1968 they did away with all expectations and demonstrated the U.S determination and perseverance of the Vietnamese people.

Siege of Khe Sanh

A C-130 Hercules, supplying Khe Sanh with parachute extraction system. In January 1968 the Americans began with a heavy bombardment in the Khe Sanh base which, besieged by two divisions of the EVN plus Viet Cong troops, threatened to become a setback for the victorious U.S. encouragement. The High Command made an enormous effort to maintain that possession.

It did not stop sending planes with supplies. When landings were impossible, they developed out of the cargo parachute, much to the relief of the besieged by means of Operation Pegasus. They took to the hills surrounding the premises, and held the position. It seemed that the struggle would be one of the few major guerrilla forces that might become depleted after almost three years of fighting.

During the site’s 811 Marines took the coat and hoisted it the stripes and stars. This command was resulted in a reprimanded for him, as it was South Vietnamese territory, but he argued that the only blood shed here was the U.S.