Saigon, Battle for
Saigon, Battle for (1968).On 31 January 1968, during the Vietnam War, the North Vietnamese and their Viet Cong (VC) allies in South Vietnam launched the massive Tet Offensive. Timed to exploit reduced South Vietnamese vigilance during lunar New Year celebrations (“Tet”), the offensive was intended to spark an insurrection by disaffected southern civilians and military units against the American‐backed regime with its capital in Saigon. Given the offensive's overtly political purpose, attacking prominent targets in Saigon was key to Hanoi's plans to spark a southern revolt.
At about 3:00 A.M., just as the last volley of Tet celebratory fireworks was set off, a variety of targets were attacked in and around Saigon: air bases, southern military and police headquarters, U.S. military command and billeting facilities, and television and radio studios. Although Communist forces had tipped their hand by...
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