Tet OffensiveTet Offensive

January 31, 1968January 31, 1968

Tet OffensiveTet Offensive

• 80,000 NVA/VC launched the offensive 80,000 NVA/VC launched the offensive that attacked 150 hamlets, district that attacked 150 hamlets, district capitals, provincial capitals, and capitals, provincial capitals, and autonomous citiesautonomous cities

• Main fighting was at Saigon, Hue, and Main fighting was at Saigon, Hue, and siege of Khe Sanhsiege of Khe Sanh

• Goal was to create a general uprising in Goal was to create a general uprising in South Vietnam and overthrow the South Vietnam and overthrow the governmentgovernment

SaigonSaigon

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f9/Nguyen.jpg

Attack on the embassyAttack on the embassy

• VC commandos blew a hole in the wall VC commandos blew a hole in the wall surrounding embassy and killed several MPSsurrounding embassy and killed several MPS

• The rest of the US MPs moved into building The rest of the US MPs moved into building and locked itand locked it

• The VC milled around and when US The VC milled around and when US reinforcements arrived the VC were killedreinforcements arrived the VC were killed

• 19 VC bodies littered the embassy19 VC bodies littered the embassy

• Had a huge impact on public opinion in the USHad a huge impact on public opinion in the US

Khe SanhKhe Sanh

• NVA/VC lay siege to itNVA/VC lay siege to it

• 40,000 troops vs. 5,000 Marines40,000 troops vs. 5,000 Marines

• Marines received aerial resupply to help Marines received aerial resupply to help outlast the siegeoutlast the siege

• Marines had close air and artillery Marines had close air and artillery supportsupport

• 300 Marines were killed in 3 month siege300 Marines were killed in 3 month siege

• 15,000 NVA/VC killed15,000 NVA/VC killed

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c5/KS1.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b9/DMZ1.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/14/Nalty.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/97/KhS7.jpg

Battle of HueBattle of Hue

• Lasted 25 daysLasted 25 days

• Old imperial cityOld imperial city

• NVA lost 5,000 soldiersNVA lost 5,000 soldiers

• 210 Americans killed210 Americans killed

• Hue MassacreHue Massacre – soldiers killed 3,000 – soldiers killed 3,000 residents and dumped their bodies in residents and dumped their bodies in a mass gravea mass grave

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/7f/Hue_ARVN_victory.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Battle-1t.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/89/Battle-3t.jpg

My Lai-March 16, 1968My Lai-March 16, 1968

1st Platoon

William Calley - Lieutenant who led C-Company, the only person convicted

David Mitchell - Sergeant

Charles Sledge - Radio Operator - testified he saw Calley deliberately kill a young child

Paul Meadlo - Private First Class - testified he was afraid of being shot if he didn't participate

Dennis Conti - Private First Class - stated he was originally lost and had to find his company

Robert Maples - Private First Class, stated to have refused to participate

Varnado Simpson - Private First Class, committed suicide in 1997, citing guilt over My Lai

Harry Stanley - claimed to have refused to participate

InterventionHugh Thompson, Jr. - Warrant Officer Lawrence Colburn - Helicopter Gunner

Glenn Andreotta - Helicopter Crew Chief

Effects of Tet OffensiveEffects of Tet Offensive

• Militarily it was a huge US victoryMilitarily it was a huge US victory -NVA/VC lost 45,000 killed-NVA/VC lost 45,000 killed• An increased credibility gap back home- An increased credibility gap back home-

American people felt politicians were lying American people felt politicians were lying about the warabout the war

• President Johnson lost the political and President Johnson lost the political and moral will to continue fightingmoral will to continue fighting

-when Johnson lost faith in the war, why -when Johnson lost faith in the war, why should the public support itshould the public support it

Irony of the Tet offensiveIrony of the Tet offensive

• The VC were virtually destroyedThe VC were virtually destroyed

• The remaining VC were attacked by The remaining VC were attacked by the the Phoenix ProgramPhoenix Program – hired – hired assassins (figures are that they killed assassins (figures are that they killed 9,000 VC)9,000 VC)

• NVA had to take over all of the NVA had to take over all of the fighting in South Vietnamfighting in South Vietnam