Vets commemorate Tet Offensive anniversary

TampaBay.com ^ | January 31, 2009 | Jessica Vander Velde

[BIGLOOK]

The attack started in the early hours of January 31, 1968, during what had been a traditional cease-fire for Vietnam's lunar new year. The coordinated attacks shifted the fighting from jungles and rural villages and rice paddies to the streets of Saigon and other major South Vietnamese cities. And it caught the U.S. and South Vietnamese forces by surprise.

[Squantos]

To the hold outs at the 051 gate at Tan Son Nhut AB........Tough SOB’s stopped a hell of a lot of em !

[BIGLOOK]

It was brought to my attention today by a fellow VN Vet.

The story never well told...........

Weigh in.

[LiteKeeper]

I remember it well. I was the fire support officer for a LRRP company. We had LRRP teams all over the place. While we were trying to bring them all in we had three helicopters shot out from under us. It was quite a day!

[BIGLOOK]

So did three Marines and an Army MP at the US Embassy in Saigon.

Did I mention that Cronkite is an idiot yet?

[Squantos]

Yeah with presstitutes that is a gimme.....:o)

http://www.vspa.com/tsn-o51-bunker-tet-coggins-to-the-last-man-1968.htm

[BIGLOOK]

I need to tell all that I wasn't there at that time. I got to Da Nang a year later.

I'd talked with old hands and VN nationals who'd survived, The reports in the news of the offensive were just plain wrong.

This post is 'No Quarter'.

[Squantos]

I was there for 4 hours April 1975, part of the evacuation. 72-94 active duty, went reserves till 98.

[Tainan]

Came in country in Feb of '69.

Thats about the time I began to learn just how manipulative the media is and can be. Dan Rather can still kiss my a**.

[stylin19a]

by this time, Khe San had been engaged for more than for 10 days.

[BIGLOOK]

Knew a guy that was there around that time frame, down in the Nha Trang/Cam Ranh area prior to the US congress pulling support for the Thieu gov't which led to the downfall.

He was honest about being there after the 'hot war' and said the area was pacified....business as usual. He had a hard time dealing with the sudden downfall of the SVN republic. But then, most troops weren't privy to the workings in Foggy Bottom there.

Wasn't published in Stars and Stripes.

[Nam Vet]

I was nearing the gate at the Swift Boat base at Cat Lo 41 years ago. Just up river from Vung Tau. Hard to imagine so many years have passed. Salute to our bros who gave all.

Nam Vet

[BIGLOOK]

Roger that.

But the NVA chickened in their backup support for the VC shock on the provincial capitals after the VC took devastating losses. Only Hue and Quang Tri were held briefly.

(Those weeks weren't brief for the ground pounders...don't mean to downplay their efforts and sacrifices.)

[Squantos]

Just what I read and I yield to boots there for clarity yet polidiots lost that war IMO. GI’s won it everyday they were allowed to !

I am forever grateful to those that gave their youth, their health, their lives and their families , friends and others that supported em ......yesterday, today and tomorrow.

[Squantos]

My Post Number 14 is for you Sir.........Hope your days are easy.

[BIGLOOK]

No problems, Squantos.

I wasn't 'boots on the ground'. Flew out of Da Nang daily....North to get skinny.

[Squantos]

Aircrew ?

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

TANKS a Bunch for this thread,Brother,,,No Lie G.I.,,,

8/26 Arty (USA) here,,,A.O. Cam Rahn Bridge with ROK Army,,,
(White Horse),,,

Hit by elements of the 304th and 306th NVA sapper reg. ,,,
(about 01:00)

MR. SPOOKY (call sign Spooky 13) Burned them down,,,
(ROT IN HELL YOU BASTURDS!)

Giap’s Army Died 41 years ago ... XIN LOI AZZHOLE!!!

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.

[BIGLOOK]

Very well punctuated, Ronnie!

You remember, of course, how badly the action during the Tet Offensive was reported.....Uncle Walter tearing off his glasses and stammering 'What the hell is going on over there!'.

Did Joe Galloway get the story right about the 'Lost Platoon'? (Seemed so in the movie.)