Page 208 - The Viet-Cong Tet_Offensive_1968

troops, causing thern to break up and spread to both sides of the
street, They returned fire with AKs and B.40s then surrounded the
building. The 86th RF battalion supported at rnaxirnurn range -with
rnortar fire. At daylight friendly rein{orcernents arrived rneeting no
resiatance. Thousands of refugees huddled again into Ngo Tung Chau
street.

On the rnorning of June 4th one enerny platoon was seen
as they crossed Le Quang Dinh street to reach the area behind Dai
Dong theater. While they were rushing out onto the street they were
rnet by the policernen frorn Nguyen Van Gap Police Station. In this
close fire fight 3 VC were killed and they fell with their 3 AKs
by the roadside. The policernen *ere not able to retrieve these
weapons due to the intense enerny fire.

The civilian population once again left the area in haste
rnoving in the direction of Giac Hoa Pagoda. Loudspeakers announced
that an around the clopk curfew was in effect in this area.

The Marines took part in the fighting to aid the rnission
of the paratroopers in the Cay Queo battle area. This seerned to indi-
cate that the battle was nearing a decisive stage,

Napalrn bornbs were used. The axis cf advance was
suddenly switched to an enveloprnent to the flank by a cornbined Marine
paratrooper force frorn west to east contrary to the axis frorn south
to north usually followed on the previous days.

Mixed with explosions of bornbs were scattered detona-
tions of srnall arrns and grenadec, Captain Son of the 5th Airborne
Battalion said that the enerny usually got as close to ortr frontline as
possible to escape frorn being hit by aif strikes.
Friendly troops advanced rpith extrerne di{ficulty frorn
rnorning until afternoon. The battle around Tap Thanh pagoda came to an
end as the Marines oeized the pagoda at1730 hours aJter 13 days of
fighting, However, the paratroopers continued to conduct a search
around Tap Thanh Pagoda within their zo[e of action.
In this operation the paratrooper6 killed 8 VC,
captured 5 and collected 10 weapons of all kinds. The Marines
killed 24, captured 24 and collected a booty of 13 AKs, 3 8.40s and
8.4I.
On the following daye a combined Airborne - Marine

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