Page 216 - The Viet-Cong Tet_Offensive_1968

The lst Marine C ornpany continued their probing attack.
The enerny opened up with all kinds of weapons fire such as heavy
rnachine gun, B.40,57rnrn recoilless ri{le etc... The rnilitary assurned
that at least 200 troops rnust have held this area' This force was of
the Quysl Thang Regirnent.

During an operation conducted by the Znd Marine Batta-
Iion. A group of VC of the Dong Nai Regirnent carne out to surrender
at Hang Xanh, Cau Son. As a result, this battle area becarne calrn'

On June 13th the battle at Cay Thi was in full swing.
Enerny troops overran Phan Van Tri street and the far end of Ngo-
Tung Chau street. They rnassed the rnost troops in Hien Vuong Hou-
sing Quarter, Le Van Duyet Athletic Field and the area behind Lien
Ung Pagoda,
Since the afternoon the Airborne force consisting of the
5th and the 9th Battalions had been taking up blocking positions while
the Marine s launched a deep thrust i.nto the ob jective. The VC dugin
behind Lien Ung Pagoda to prePare for a tenacious defense.

On the rnotning of June 14th the Marine s pulled out f ar
enough for the artillery to bornbard the objective. The shelling conti-
nued for I0 hours. As the artillery fire lifted the Marines resumed
the attack" The enerny in fortiJied positions set up in houses and
gardens returned fire violently. By nightfall the battle rernained
indecisive on a front extended frorn Xorn Ga Harnlet as far as Cay-
Thi Road Junction.

At night the Marine s withdrew to hold blocking Positions
to the South and to the east of the battle area.
On the following rnorning of June l5th at 0630 hours 3
Airborne Range r C ornpanie s rnoved in frorn southwest of Ngo Tung
Chau street to replace the Marines who pulled out to take upblocking
positions. The Airborne Rangers prepared to launch a thrust to the
northeast airning at destroying the enern| force positioned in the area.
The clashes were atrocious during the day. To avoid
causing heavy casualties and darnages to the people Prirne Minister
Tran Van Huong had forbidden the use of air and artillery in built up
areas where refugees were hudl1ed. Therefore, friendly troops foun'
it difficult to destroy the enerny forces, since they had positioned
thernselves in these built up areas for 4 to 5 days and had taten advan-
tage of this tirne to dig strong ernplacements and trench slits.

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