Page 193 - The Viet-Cong Tet_Offensive_1968

dirt road leading to the srnall rnarket thereby pushing the enerny towards
Cau Mat Bridge. In the other direction a US force helilifted to the pad-
dieseast of Y-Bridge into an area where they could be easily destroyed
by air attacks. The following was the picture recorded as US forces
advanced into Pharn The Hien Street.

At I0 orclock US operational forces quietly rnoved along
Pharn The Hien Street to reach the rnarket, They were supported by
planes drrcpping napakn bornbs on the objective.

Three arrnored personnel carriers were ordered to
assault. One M. I l3 had just clirnbed over a high rnound firing rnachine
guns on the flank of the rnarket when a 8.40 antitank grenade launched
frorn the left hit the APC setting it on fire. The two other APC s had to
pull back to their assault positions, The cornpany cornrnander then
called the artillery for supporting fires.

At I030 hours a US reconnaissance squad 1ed by a first
lieutenant bending low advanced towards the objective. They were
running and firing rn all directions. As they reached a brick house
covered with iron sheets, the VC burst out through the doors, fired on
the squad and then fled to another brick house. The doors of the Znd
house opened to let thern in. Then all the VC ran out Ior an assault,
They killed the Arnerican first lieutenant as he got close to thern, the
o{ficer had thrown Z grenades wounding sorne of the VC before he was
hit.
At lt orclock dark colurnns of srnoke rose frorn Pham
The Hien, Au Duong Larn Streets and the bank of Rach Ong Creek.
Thousands of houses on Pharn The Hien Street were burned down while
rnany people were still confined in the area.
At 1300 hours rnany helicopters {lew in to supply friendly
troops with arnrnunition and food. US forces continued to channel ene-
rny trooPs into target areas vulnerable to air strikes. The 3rd Brigade,
9th US Infantry Division cornrnanded by Colonel George Benson also
took part in this battle. Moreover, in addition to the {orces fighting
in the city, I US battalion supported by arrnor also condtrcted a search
operation in the area southwest of Y-Bridge, This unit had contact
with an enerny force which was on the way to reinforce the VC opera-
ting in the city.
The battle on May IIth lasted for 10 hours frorn 1350
hours to 2350 hours causing the enerny 85 kiltred. On the US side were
4 killed and 24 wounded.

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