| My Memories of the "TET" Offensive |
In 1968 the North Vietnam Army and Viet Cong had agreed to a
peace treaty for the celebration of the Asian New Year "TET".
On January 31, 1968 this cease fire was broken when the North
attacked numerous cities, towns and bases throughout the
country.
My unit, the 615th Military Police Company, 720th Combat
Military Police Battalion was in Long Binh. Long Binh was a
huge military complex that was home to about 90,000 US
Military forces. During the night there were several attacks on
this base and the 720th responded with a reactionary force.
Those of us not in that detail were awakened and were on full
alert should more troops be necessary.
Company B of the 720th had 26 men on duty in the town of Bien
Hoa for the 8 pm to 8 am shift and they responded to several
reports all over the city and the airbase. My unit was scheduled
to replace them for the 8:00 am to 8:00 pm shift; however, the
commanders concluded that the risk of travel was too great.
At approximately 11:00 am I was ordered to travel to Bien Hoa
with supplies and men to reinforce and relieve those on duty.
Normally we would also have 26 men for this shift, but today
our unit numbers were increased. Within 30 minutes we were
ready to roll with 2 large 2 1/2 ton trucks and Patrol and Gun
Jeeps.
On the way, I heard a radio transmission between the MP desk
and two units. The units had escorted a small convoy to the
ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam) Headquarters
Compound, located about 2 miles from the Bien Hoa Airbase.
After these units arrived at the compound an unknown number
of enemy forces had attacked and our MPs could not get out.
I suggested that I take two other Gun Jeeps and proceed to the
compound to bring our MPs out. The Provost Marshal, Major
Karl May gave me permission to proceed.
The road from the Long Binh base to Bien Hoa was secure and
we had no difficulty in the trip. The ARVN Compound was about
2 miles back on a road that ran parallel to our route. As soon as
our convoy reach the city, I had the rest of the convoy continue
while my jeep and two others changed roads to reinforce and
rescue our fellow MPs.
We drove as fast as possible and went through the gate into the
compound. Across the street were three-story buildings that
were the residences of civilians. Automatic gunfire came from
these buildings and pinned everyone down.
To my astonishment none of the South Vietnam Soldiers
(ARVNs) were returning fire. Our MPs were armed only with
pistols and rifles and all four of them had taken positions
behind the compound wall and would direct fire at the enemy.
Since there was a cease fire in effect, we had only Patrol Jeeps
in town that night, no machine guns.
My group consisted of eight MPs and myself. I ordered one of
my men to dismount two M-60s from the jeeps. We grabbed a
gun and wrapped 100 round belts around our necks and ran to
the wall. We must have looked like something out of a John
Wayne War Movie. Two other MPs assisted us by keeping the
guns in place on the top of the wall while we fired almost half of
the ammo.
I spotted two enemy soldiers in windows across the street and
picked up an M-79 Grenade Launcher. I knew that I was not
good with the weapon so I passed it to the Sergeant that with
the first group and directed him to fire into one of the windows
while we trained the M-60s on the other.
Within minutes after the explosion there was no gunfire coming
from the buildings. I directed all the MPs to load the jeeps and
go to the gate. As soon as we assembled two Gun Jeeps led the
rescued MPs and I brought up the rear.
The tires of all 5 jeep squealed and threw a few pounds of loose
gravel in the air as we departed and went as quickly as
possible, sirens and lights, to the MP Station.
We were about 100 yards out when I heard the sound of bullet
as it went past my right ear. I told the driver and gunner to
duck and get the hell out of there.
That night around 1:00 am some dummy fired shots into the MP
Station. The were about 30 of us on the roof, sleeping and 29
of them fired on that building until I could finally be heard over
the sound of the M-16s to cease fire.
Over the next 3 days, the MPs took turns patrolling the city,
providing escorts and surveying the damage to our city. We at
last got orders to send the first group back to Base. Bien Hoa
remained "Off Limits" to all American Personnel.
About a week later one of my men came to me with a copy of
his hometown newspaper with an article which stated "The
City of Bien Hoa fell to the North Vietnam Army Forces on the
night of the TET Offensive." Never believe everything you read
in the newspaper.
The events that I had experienced were rather minor when
compared to the rest of the Country. The 1968 TET Offensive
was certainly the turning point of that war. Although the Allied
forces won every battle and inflicted casualties well above our
own, the days following TET led to the United States withdrawal
from Vietnam
