Tet offensive

[RVHall]

The 40th anniversary of the 1968 Tet offensive is approaching. I'm pretty sure that nobody gives a rat's @$$ about it except those of us who participated, but as the decades click off, one of these days we won't be around to remember. Maybe that's good.

In any case, I wrote my local paper, The Tulsa World, to suggest that they run a series of articles to begin next January. The response was very negative. They are either from the draft-dodger, chicken hawk crowd, or too young to remember.

MY POINT is, if you agree that this is a significant anniversary, please encourage the news media to acknowledge the 1968 Tet offensive, which many feel represents a turning point in a war that we decided not to win and where Marines in some arenas faced an enemy that was better supplied and had superior numbers.

Semper Fi,

[sparkie]

The war was wont at Tet, Problem was, Not enough Dems were shot. Since Dems are running the paper, I'm sure they don't want to hear about it,,,,to their shame.

[jinelson]

RVHall thats an outstanding idea. I will do some research and see if I can somehow recreate what was happening each day for the 3 months here on Leatherneck.com. It is indeed something that should be remembered.

Jim

[Zulu 36]

Tet was a campaign more than a single battle.

Hue, on the other hand was a battle, and it displayed the flexibility of the American fighting man, most specifically that of the US Marine. Considering MOUT was not taught at all at the time because Marines were in jungle, rice paddies, mountains, and rivers, not cities.

Marines had to re-learn urban fighting on the job. It still amazes me (as a student of history) that we didn't lose more Marines killed in action than we did.

Fallujah was a tough fight, no question. But the Marines there had rested and drilled MOUT heavily before entering. The 1st and 5th Marines battalions in Hue went straight from jungle to street, no rest, no training, no replacements, no nothing except a chance to fix and fight the NVA. And what a fight it was.

My hat is off to all who fought in Hue for the good guys.

[RVHall]

I will do some research and see if I can somehow recreate what was happening......

Jim

That would be fantastic, Jim. Thank you very much for your kind offer to revisit Tet. If you do so, please do not neglect our brother Marines from Korea.

The 2nd ROK Marine Brigade (Blue Dragons) were around Hoi An during Tet. Their experience was not as desperate as farther north, but there were relatively heavy casualties at times. For example, I consider losing a platoon in a couple of hours fairly heavy. The cumulative casualties over those months was heavy indeed for some units.

They went without any kind of resupply for weeks. When the rations were gone, they improvised with the local water buffalo, pig and chicken. We were second priority, I feel, because we weren't up north, and we couldn't get much needed ammo or medivacs at several points.

I trained with US Marines, but I fought with Korean Marines. They were coming along pretty well back then, and today only 1 in 100 make the grade. They supported us significantly in Vietnam, and I understand they have a presence in Afghanistan and Iraq. They are our brothers and should be remembered for their contributions.

[SlingerDun]

The 40th anniversary of the 1968 Tet offensive is approaching. I'm pretty sure that nobody gives a rat's @$$ about it except those of us who participated

If non-peers exist that give a damn about your battles, i've met few. Even with clear winners and enthusiastic jingoism, non participants are a majority of spectators detached from the event who may even get close enough to be sprayed with players sweat and catch dropplets of blood but they get to drive home clean without cuts and bruises and experience neither the extreme high or low of victory or defeat. I felt these emotions at a recent shoeing contest with a bad draw and a green crowd. I hold field Marines from any conflict in high regard.

--->Dave

[hrscowboy]

Yes at least we didnt have rules of engagement and embedded media back in those days.. We had body counts each day on the enemy..

[ggyoung]

Anything that has to do with tet 68 should also have "The Hill Fights" of 67.

[killerinstinct]

Getting off of the thread subject. But I was wondering if any of you guys knew of any battles of the Korean warother than Chosin or if theres a good read about them? This is the one my grandfather fought in 1st MarDiv

[RVHall]

Anything that has to do with tet 68 should also have "The Hill Fights" of 67.

February '67 - ROKMC 11th Co. Tra Binh Dong

I started a thread to honor those Marines just today. There's a link there if you are interested.


OFF-THE-THREAD FOR GGYOUNG:
ggyoung, I see that you are a coal miner from central Utah. Ever work at the SUFCO No. 1 near Salina or the Skyline near Scofield? I worked for Coastal, managing the geology dept. in Houston, and visited the Utah mines every month or two. Coastal years were 1975-82.

[capmarine]

worked with former Marine at the P.O.,was at Hue.i want to say 2/5 if i remember correctly;he died a few years ago.ed newsome

[yellowwing]

General Pace was there wasn't he?

[ggyoung]

RVHall. The answer to your queston is no. I worked at Deercreck Hunnington canyon. UMWA. My oldst son worked at Skyline and also SUFCO. He is making custom knifes fulltime now.

[jinelson]

Wing indeed General Pete Pace was there as a split tail butter bar leading his Marines to victory in Hue. Damn fine Marine and man.

Jim

[RVHall]

The 40th anniversary of the 1968 Tet offensive is approaching.

Posting on several USMC related websites has produced comments but little good advice regarding how to interest the media in remembering the upcoming 40th anniversary of the defeat of the tremendous NVA/VC surge that Marines and others turned back. With only a few months remaining, I plan to keep on writing editors with the hope that I will find one who is not quite so anti-military as those I've encountered to date.
Any constructive ideas would be appreciated. The bravery and the military victory should be remembered.

Vance Hall
Tulsa, OK