Page 223 - The Viet-Cong Tet_Offensive_1968

The battle of Cholon

(Frorn May ZTth to June 7th, t 968)

Two daye following the attack on
Gia Dinh on May Z7th, 1968 another battle
erupted in Cholon.

Initially, the enerny harassed Cau
Tre area Rural Road 14. At night, they
penetrated into Phu Larn A housing Quarter
where all lines o{ cornrnunication frorn the
Delta provinces rneet. The occupation of
this point suspended all traffic along the
portion of the highway frorn Phu Larn Quay
to Hau Giang - Phu Dinh Crossroads during
May Z7th. The 38th Ranger Battalion and
2 cornpanies of the Znd Marine Battalion
were senttothe battle area, Supported by
gunships and arrnored personnel carrierg,
focrico/ struot,on on June 5th 68 io Cho-t on
they reoccupied the above HoueingQuar-
ter at 8 orclock on May Z7th. ln the afternoon traffic was moving
again, However, cargo truckg were escorted by police forces into
the city. On hearing the firing of weapons the people in Cholon
suburbs still haunted by the last event huddled together to take refuge,
However, rnany still stayed in their houses to protect their property
against possible looting. In the afternoon rnany fires were slen-with
clouds of srnoke rising frorn phu Larn A Housing euarter. Manyfire

engines had corne since the rnorning but could not get close to put out
the fir e s.

The Marines of the Znd battalion withdrew agai.n frorn phu
Larn A at nightfall to take positions in Hau Giang street. Two of the
battalion's cornpanies were still retained for operations around Go
vaP.

Therefore, during the night, the enerny took advantage of
the undefended area by penetrating and reoccupying the phu Larn A
Housing Quarter. They used it as a base {rorn whichto launch attacks
on the two cornpanies of the Znd Marine Battalion positioned in Hau
Giang street.
Due to insufficient strenght these cornpanies had to spl.it

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