January 31, 1968 : The Tet Offensive
For many years, the Vietnam War was slogged down with no clear winning side emerging. Then, the first phase of the Tet Offensive began in the fall of 1967. Eventually, on January 31, 84,000, Communists attacked Saigon and many other places within South Vietnam.
From a battle standpoint, the Tet Offensive was a failure for the North Vietnamese. However, the media focused on the Viet Cong’s attack in the American Embassy in Saigon. They inaccurately reported that Viet Cong soldiers had invaded the embassy building, while in reality, the Viet Cong were stopped by three marines.
From a battle standpoint, the Tet Offensive was a failure for the North Vietnamese. However, the media focused on the Viet Cong’s attack in the American Embassy in Saigon. They inaccurately reported that Viet Cong soldiers had invaded the embassy building, while in reality, the Viet Cong were stopped by three marines.
" Just before midnight on January 30, Hanoi's official government radio station broadcast a special message. It was a poem written by Ho Chi Minh: |
"In most American accounts of the war, the Tet Offensive lasts only a few weeks . . . However, the fighting continued into the fall as Hanoi and the Central Office for South Vietnam pressed the attack . . By May 13, the Communists were defeated once again, but the fighting in some places had been as bitter as that in the first days of the Tet Offensive."
~ The Tet Offensive: A Concise History
James H. Willbanks
"The Tet Offensive began in full force shortly before 3:00 a.m. on January 31. More than eighty thousand Communist troops . . . began a coordinated attack throughout South Vietnam. . . . The scope of the Tet Offensive was stunning; everywhere there was confusion, shock, dismay and disbelief on the part of the allies. The carefully coordinated attacks, as journalist Stanley Karnow writes 'exploded around the country like a string of firecrackers.' " |
"The American and South Vietnamese troops responded to the Tet attacks very quickly. In some places, the defenders beat back the attackers and secured the areas right away. In others . . . helicopters and armored carriers brought troops to the area all night. While major combat ended quickly in several cities, it took some time for peace to be restored fully thereafter." |
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