The story of the vietnam wars largest battle by robert pisor, mark bowden isbn. The nature of the ongoing siege after the fall of lang vei, the nva began to fo. Cut off and surrounded, about 5,000 marines and their supporting forces, including the men of bravo company, 1st battalion, 26th marine regiment, seen here, successfully defended khe sanh combat base from three nva divisions and about 20,000 troops during an 11week siege in early 1968. A war correspondents searching account of a crucial battle in t. The siege of khe sanh during the vietnam war, us marines. By john prados the 1968 battle for khe sanh, the biggest battle of the vietnam war and its longest sustained siege, has been the subject of. All the pictures you see were taken by me where i was assigned at the time to the fob 3 base. Khe sanh was a us marine firebase in the northwestern corner of south vietnam during that countrys vicious civil war. The ghost battalions primary purpose was to push south and then conduct. Battle of khe sanh khe sanh, khe sanh, book, siege. Khe sanh is an australian song, released as a 45 rpm single in may 1978, and named after the district capital of hu. By gregg jones over the years ive read quite of few books and articles about khe sanh, but never one like last stand at khe sanh.
At the end of 1966, many large scale north vietnamese units began uniting around the demilitarized zone dmz separating north from south vietnam. Historian john prados and khe sanh survivor ray stubbe recount the brutal seventyseven days of combat and present the. In july, 1993, the khe sanh veterans association held a reunion in washington, dc, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 1968 battle at khe sanh. Apr 01, 2014 last stand at khe sanh, the marines finest hour in vietnam. A remote combat base in the vietnamese highlands, khe sanh was the scene of one of the most ferocious and controversial battles of the vietnam. Marines and their allies against the north vietnamese army. Nov 05, 2017 battle for the khe sanh overview analysis. Book your tickets online for the top things to do in khe sanh, vietnam on tripadvisor. Marine ben long recalls the ghost patrol of february 25, 1968 at the siege of khe sanh. The enduring debate over khe sanh the new york times.
Fighting at khe sanh, the vietnam wars most famous siege. In the following essays, four veterans of the khe sanh siege remember the stirring experiences they survived as young men fighting. My book is called, in the company of marines a surgeon remembers vietnam. The battle for the american combat base called khe sanh, in the northernmost province of south vietnam, is one of the more coherent and fathomable developments in the bewildering complications of the vietnam war. The main 1968 battle was also called operation scotland, operation pegasus, was conducted, republic of vietnam south vietnam, between 21 january and 8 april 1968 during the vietnam war. The last stand at khe sanh was an intriguing read that documented the 77 day siege of the marine basecamp. The battle of khe sanh was a battle that took place in quang tri province, republic of vietnam located in south vietnam, between january 21st and july 9th. A guided dmz tour or doing your own reading in advance will greatly enhance your visit to this site. Battle of khe sanh encyclopedia article citizendium. The story of a marine grunt in the first battle of khe sanh april. The north vietnamese tet offensive of 1968 was an allout effort to take the u. In a small museum on base historical pictures and weapons are shown.
Khe sanhfrom the perspective of the north vietnamese communists. The siege of khe sanh was the largest single battle of the vietnam war. The battle of khe sanh was indeed a decisive victory, just not for america and should never have happened. The siege of khe sanh didnt change the course of the war, but it yielded. Aug 21, 2015 the us marines had never lost a battle, so the 5,000 stationed at their khe sanh base werent about to be broken by the wellplanned assault of 20,000 nva troops. The story of the vietnam wars largest battle by the late robert pisor who succumbed to kidney cancer in july 2017 is one of the most important and insightful books i have read about the vietnam war. Marines finest hour in vietnam recounts the epic siege and enduring controversy that surrounds it. Apr 23, 2014 it was a wellplayed ruse by general giap by attacking khe sanh to cover his final endgame and push the tide of the war in his favor. The siege of khe sanh 28 1 limiting it to that which was \necessary to insur e the arvn, using loudspeaker broadcasts enticin g the security of.
The nature of the ongoing siege united states marine corps. Mar 30, 2020 52 years ago today, one of the most significant events in my memory of khe sanhs siege occurred in what has now become known as the ghost patrol. Command, vietnam, during the battle of khe sanh, i welcome publication by the u. While the seventysevenday siege of khe sanh in early 1968 remains one of the most highly publicized clashes of the vietnam war, scant attention has been paid to the first battle of khe sanh, also known as the hill fights. Marine corps force found themselves surrounded by the enemy in their hilltop base at khe sanh. This screening is sponsored by vietnam veterans of america chapter 391, columbia college, and mike preston who is a veteran of the siege of khe sanh and a lifetime member of the khe sanh veterans. Nov 20, 2014 if they wanted to push south from bases in laos, khe sanh stood directly in their path. Five thousand young marines were surrounded and attacked by 20,000 battlehardened north vietnamese army veterans for 77 nonstop days of rocket and mortar fire, as the world watched on tv. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. Widely acknowledged as the definitive history of the siege of khe sanh when first published in hardcover in 1991, this book tells the whole incredible story of one of the most pivotal and bloody battles of the vietnam war. A young photographer took this harrowing image of the. In the end, there were 703 killed, 2,642 wounded, and 7 missing. Originally written in 1982, it was rereleased in 2018 as part of the 50th anniversary of the 1968 tet offensive.
I just published a book about my year in vietnam, september 1967 through september 1968, as a navy surgeon caring for the marines. Americans destroyed the base complex of khe sanh and withdrew from the battle area in july 1968 reestablished in 1971. Marines battle for vietnams vital hilltop base campaign by gordon l. Pavn losses are not known with accuracy but are estimated at between 10,000 to 15,000 dead and wounded. Leading up to the battle of khe sanh, operation niagara attempted to find. Many military units were called upon to assist in lifting the siege of the marine stronghold. I gave the film to a chopper crew member at the time. Most of the book is devoted to the action from january to april, when the siege. Trivia the documentary came into being when, through trying to get a feature film made called, the hootch, written by frank jones, who was a sniper at khe sanh, was contacted in december of 2010 by his spotter, john myers, whom he hadnt seen since 1968.
Apr 01, 2004 the author did an excellent job of research and it shows in the details given in the story. In last stand at khe sanh, gregg jones recounts the battle with the naked. In the early hours of january 21, 1968, the north vietnamese army nva began an attack on an isolated marine base at khe sanh. Whatever the term, the son may not want to return home either. The battle of khe sanh 21 january 9 july 1968 was conducted in the khe sanh area of.
Jan 17, 2020 the siege was finally lifted on april 6 when the cavalrymen linked up with the 9th marines south of the khe sanh airstrip. Vietnam had been the only war the americans had been involved with that they essentially lost. It tells the story of khe sanh, and the siege of the valiant marines who held the hill against staggering odds, a story i vaguely remember from my youth, seeing headlines in the morning paper and hearing on the nightly news. For general westmoreland, it was to be the final vindication of technological weaponry. New book about battle of fallujah takes a look at 27 cav involvement. The battle of khe sanh 21 january 9 july 1968 was conducted in the khe sanh area of northwestern qu. This grippingand movingnarrative flows from the masterfully woven threads provided by nearly a hundred men who gallantly endured the wrenching allout struggle to hold the combat base and its vulnerable outlying positions. The main battle of khe sanh, however, was a multidivision confrontation, from january to april 1968, between communist and allied forces. Marine garrison at khe sanh, located in south vietnam near the border with laos. The entire siege of khe sanh from 21st january 1968 to 6th april 1968 is dealt with in great detail as well as the progress of the engagement with pavn forces.
I was in khe sanh caring for casualties, in an underground bunker, during the tet offensive. These were pitted against two to three divisionalsize elements of the north vietnamese peoples. After a tenday battle, the attackers were pushed back into cambodia. Marne, the navy at the battle of midway and the marines and khe sanh. Province, republic of vietnam south vietnam, during the vietnam war. The main us forces defending khe sanh combat base were two regiments of the united states marines corps supported by elements from the united states army and the united states air force, as well as a small number of army of the republic of vietnam troops. They call it acute environmental reaction during the vietnam war, but the commonly understood term from previous wars is shell shock, herr explains. The final siege of khe sanh, known as operation scotland, ended on april 1 of that year and officially lifted the battle, and u. Khe sanh saw some of the most brutal combat of the vietnam war.
Not in groups but straggling back and some were wounded. In addition, by fighting in a generally unpopulated region, there would be few restrictions on tactics and weapons. Its still up for debate whether the united states or the north vietnamese won the second battle of khe sanh. By gregg jones best defense guest columnist the battle of khe sanh was the iconic confrontation of the vietnam war, an epic test of wills in. Fighting at khe sanh, the vietnam wars most famous siege these are excerpts from a 1968 documentary film from department of defense outlining the timeline in the battle of khe sanh. The battle of khe sanh began on january 21, 1968, when forces from the peoples army of north vietnam pavn carried out a massive artillery bombardment on the u. They openly challenged the americans to push them off the hills, and the.
Another factor favoring the decision to hold khe sanh was the enemys determination to take it, westmoreland wrote. Lasting from january 20, 1968 through april 14, 1968, the siege of khe sanh was also one of the longest vietnam war battles. Shore this ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the united states and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. Reports on the khe sanh siege during the vietnam war in 1968. In early 1968, khe sanh combat base was pushed to the forefront of worldwide attention as its roughly 6000 defenders were attacked by 3 north vietnamese. Recounting the battles casualties the 1968 battle of khe sanh was the longest, deadliest and most controversial of the vietnam war, pitting the u. The sixmonth siege of khe sanh in 1968 was the largest, most intense battle of the vietnam war. In a final clash a week later, the 3rd battalion, 26th marines drove. Although focused on the 77day siege by north vietnamese and vietcong forces on the marine garrison at khe sanh near the laotian border, the book is a reflection of the war as a whole and where the united states went wrong. The project gutenberg ebook of the battle for khe sanh, by moyers s. Wounded soldiers awaiting helicopter evacuation in 1968 after the siege of khe sanh, south vietnam.
The last great, unsung battle of the 20th century, the siege of khe sanh. Sullivan suggested that westmoreland consider pulling your marines and arvn temporarily out of khe sanh in order to deprive them of the bait for their trap. The best things to do in khe sanh 2020 with photos. Bravo company 3rd recon khe sanh veterans home page. Feb 14, 2018 a remote combat base in the vietnamese highlands, khe sanh was the scene of one of the most ferocious and controversial battles of the vietnam war. At the end of 1966, many large scale north vietnamese units began uniting around the demilitarized. Book about how young americans survived ten weeks of intense combat and artillery shelling during the costly siege of khe sanh during the vietnam war.
Gregg jones takes the reader through the battles on the surrounding hills and then down into the red mud of the base camp. The siege of khe sanh 196768 by david peter ehrlich. Khe sanh combat base can be visited daily as part of tours starting in hu most of the base is now overgrown by wilderness or coffee and banana plants. In what would later be known as the battle of khe sanh, the devastating assault lasted for 77 days, one of the longest and deadliest of the war. In the compelling oral tradition of nam, the second volume of. A major bombardment of the combat base, followed by an assault on khe sanh village and the strongpoint atop hill 861, started the action. Books and publications khe sanh veterans home page. In my opinion, more blood was spilled around the khe sang area, both american and vietnamese, than any other place in south vietnam, not only because of the 1968 siege of khe sanh but also from the following battle of lam son 719 in the spring of 1971. While most have heard of the battle for khe sanh, an 11week siege in early 1968 that pitted three nva divisions about 20,000 troops. The siege of khe sanh was broken by ground forces on 6 april. Marines finest hour in vietnam by gregg jones, da capo press, perseus books group, 2014. Before bravo company left khe sanh to rejoin the battalion at quang tri, ten more men from bravo company died at khe sanh.
The siege was finally lifted on april 6 when the cavalrymen linked up with the 9th marines south of the khe sanh airstrip. But winning the battle came at such a cost it broke the political will of america to win the war. Life in the vring description of life with recon during the siege. In early 1968, khe sanh combat base was pushed to the forefront of worldwide attention as its roughly 6000 defenders were attacked by 3 north vietnamese army regiments about 20,000 soldiers. Last stand at khe sanh, the marines finest hour in vietnam. North vietnamese army gained control of the khe sanh region after the american withdrawal. Plus we were winning the war until the politicians had us pull out. That patrol was ambushed as well and two more recon men were killed in that encounter. A book panaramic in scope yet heartwrenchingly personal, gregg jones last stand at khe sanh. Ellison was a 23yearold freelancer working for newsweek magazine when he took unforgettable photos of the siege of khe sanh.
Among them was the navys ultra secret squadron observation squadron sixtyseven vo. When marines and corpsmen from third platoon of bravo company 126 were ambushed by a battalion of nva, a squad from first platoon went out to relieve them, and they were ambushed, too. Our mission at khe sanh was to defend the northern perimeter blue sector, which ran parallel to the airstrip approx. Khe sanh article about khe sanh by the free dictionary. New book about battle of fallujah takes a look at 27 cav. Siege in the clouds is a groundbreaking step forward in the oral history genre. The khe sanh approach a technique for landing aircraft. It occupied a strategically important position about ten miles from the laotian border and 15 miles from the demilitarised zone marking the border with the communist north. The next day, january 21st, the nva launched a rocket and mortar attack on the base, starting the siege of khe sanh. Lasting 77 days, the siege of khe sanh saw american and south vietnamese forces suffer. Although focused on the 77day siege by north vietnamese and vietcong forces on the marine garrison at khe sanh near the laotian border, the book is a. Province, republic of vietnam, during the vietnam war. The bombardment ignited shells stacked in munitions dumps and destroyed a good deal of the marines artillery ammunition. The us marines had never lost a battle, so the 5,000 stationed at their khe sanh base werent about to be broken by the wellplanned assault of 20,000 nva troops.
However, no parent wants a son coming home with shell shock. The siege lasted for nearly three months and caught the attention of the world. Awardwinning author and khe sanh siege veteran michael archer. It seems like the author took the after action reports about the events and then humanized the report and breaking it down to squad level action to make it more readable. The siege of khe sanh during the vietnam war, us marines established a base just 14 miles south of the dmz near the village of khe sanh. In all reality, the siege of khe sanh was the second deadliest vietnam war battle, in terms of single actions, with twohundredfive american deaths. Marines blew up their fortifications at khe sanh and slipped away. The battle of khe sanh was conducted in the khe sanh area of northwestern qu.
Among them was the navys ultra secret squadron observation squadron sixtyseven vo67. The siege of khe sanh, 1968 this exhibit tells the story of the 77day siege of the isolated marine base at khe sanh the longest battle in the nations longest war. And one of the most angrily fought battles during that war was the legendary siege of khe sanh. The project gutenberg ebook of the battle for khe sanh, by.