Remembering TET 1968

[gyrene81]

 

[ozrocker]

 

[Maverick]

 

[redcatcherb412]

Didn't forget on purpose, my post was made kinda unit specific.

In acknowledgement and never forgotten

As bad as III Corps in the south was, the TET offensive in the North
Specifically  Khe San and Hue where the US Marines fought against
horrible odds against the NVA. The NVA supply lines were so short
up north they could bring full Divisions and heavy artillery to bear
on the Gyrenes.  The Marine defeat of the NVA in both engagements are legendary.

The Air Force brought its assets to bear all across the battlefield
killing NVA and VC by the thousands and preventing any NVA or VC
Victory. The after action reports in the first post link details the
amount of dependence and response of the Air Force.  I can personally
attest to Air Force pilots skills.  In the 2nd phase of TET in May '68
I watched F100s (beyootiful birds) skimming just hundreds of feet up
dropping 500lb bombs with speed retard fins, those bombs screamed what seemed like
just feet over our heads impacting sometimes just 300-500 feet from our positions.


 
.

[homersipes]

there are some cool looking pics of mortars and rockets from Vietnam.  My dad served with the Wolfhounds Co. A 1/27 from 70-71.  He has told me some of the stuff he did over there.  His books are neat to look at, and enjoy hearing about his stories from over there.   

[1Cane]

My friend Doug and I enlisted for armor on the buddy system in October 1966.  The luckiest day of my life was when we got to the induction center I was told my eyes were not good enough for armor.  The options that I was given were infantry, clerk, cook and last was air defense missiles which I took.

After basic training Doug went to Airborne and then fort Knox.  I went to Fort Bliss and then to another school at Redstone arsenal.  Doug was asigned to the 25th infantry division, where he received the purple heart, silver star" am not sure if he got the bronze." The final year of my enlistment I was stationed near Baumholder Germany and Doug was in Berlin.  I am told that they were so strict in Berlin that they actually cleaned their armored vehicles with tooth brushes.  I have often wondered why he deserted after surviving Vietnam that last year should have been easy,

So yes I remember Tet 1968 and the friend  that I never saw again.