[big gray tabby]

A breathtaking story. I wasn't there because I was ten years old. In fact, I knew only that there was a siege, and nothing of the courage and hardship of those Marines. Looking back, it occurs to me that those 205 Marines lost there would have been spared had they had access to anything like today's technology.

Here's a prayer for them and to God for helping us make it unlikely we'll ever put Americans in a situation like that again.

Thanks for keeping me on the "ping." I don't know how I got here, but thanks!

[Jen]

SAMWolf is the Foxhole's resident 'historian' and is the one who deserves the thanks for this thread. I'm learning to appreciate history from his posts. Thanks for your post and especially for your prayers for our troops.

[HiJinx]

Your comment about technology rings so true...

The French used B-26s for close air support instead of Phantoms...not because they chose to, necessarily, but simply because there was nothing like the F-4 available at that time.

I know, that's an obvious point...perhaps the increasing lethality provided by new technology will convince despots around the world to think twice before they decide to confront America's will.

[Lizard_King]

Looking back, it occurs to me that those 205 Marines lost there would have been spared had they had access to anything like today's technology.

It's possible, but I think a certain number of casualties are inevitable in any conflict where there is a significant, well-trained enemy such as at Khe Sanh. Far more useful to crippling the attack at Khe Sanh and the Tet Offensive as a whole would have been if LBJ had the good sense to bomb Cambodia and Laos as Nixon did; all that artillery lined up on the Ho Chi Minh trail would have been an easy kill for the weeks it took to transport. And that could have easily been done with technology available at the time...No, I think the biggest failure in Vietnam remains the strategic one (note: NOT the tactical approaches taken by troops on the ground, but body counts, Search And Destroy, etc, decisions made by the top brass and the CiC and his lackeys).