Page 166 - The Viet-Cong Tet_Offensive_1968

was thus destroyed in a few days.

Some phase ll battles

The Thi Nshe Battle (5 -7 Mav): Fighting started in Thi
Nghe when a brick carrying truck discharged its load of Viet Cong sol-
diers during the early hours of May 5 near the Phan Thanh Gianbridge
The intruders irnrnediately tried to blow up a sentry post nearby with
their B.40 individual rocket launchers.
Following the first attack the Viet Cong penetrated the
populous end of Tu Duc Street and occupied most buildings there. They
then calted in reinforcernents. This initial attack took place at 0300
hours with the participation of a company eire force.It was later iden-
tified as Cornpany C. Z of the Phu Loi {irst Battalion.

The governrnent trooPs had one cornpany of Navy rnen on
the Phan Thanh Gian Bridge, Corporal Larn Van Mao reacted quickly
to the Viet Cong presence but the Naval force was too weak to prevent
the enerny frorn continuing his advance.
At 0415 hours a cornbined force of South Vietnarnese Ma-
rines (the Fifth Marine Battalion) and riot police arrived and prepared
to attack the VC occupied area. The enqrny had had tirne to prepare for
counteracting against the advancing goternrnent soldiers. Frorn buil-
d.ings on both sideE of the street the jntruders directed their rnachine-
guns at the Marines and Riot policemen.

The battle began with the cornrnunists trying to expand
their areas to include the radio station and political warfare cornpound
nearby. They were unable to do this. Meanwhile, they had blown up
part of the Phan Thanh Gian bridge and sorne houses in the vicinity
and wounded ten persons, In spite o{ the darnaged bridge tra{fic wae
sti1l able to cross.

At about the sarne tirne another Yiet Cong group tried to
overrun the resource control Post near the highway but policernen
standing guard there reacted quickly killing one of the intruders and
capturing three others along with sorne weaPona.
In the rnorning of the {ifth day in May the sitretion in that
part of the city was one of utrnost confusion. While pollce tried to
prevent the people frorn rnoving around explosions could be heard in
ihe direction of the Thanh Tarn poultry farrn.Fire engines wailed their
way to the New Port which had just been hit by rnortar fire' In the

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