Page 246 - The Viet-Cong Tet_Offensive_1968

was irnrninent.

At 2 orclock in the rnorning, as the city was in eound
sleep after a day of hectic festivities, the Viet Cong sirnultaneously
slarnrned hundreds of rounds of rnortar and rocket into the first
Division Cornrnand Headquarter s, the Sector Cornrnand Headquarter s'
the Dong Da rnilitary training center' and positions of the 7th Arrnored
Cavalry at An Cuu.
About one hundred 8Zrnrn rnortar rounds were fired
into the Greater Mang Ca area alone'

At the sarne tirne enerny forces launched a ground
a6sault against the Mang Ca section after storrning through the An
Hoa gate.- An enerny force approached the Tay Loc airfield and attack-
ed the arrns and arnrnunition depot of the lstOrdnance C ornpany
encountering heavy resistance. Another enerny force invaded the
Citadel through the we st gate which they de stroyed by explosive
charges. A battalion-sized enerny unit attacked the north position of
the An Hoa bridge and occupied it a{ter a half-hour battle' This unit
then attacked An Hoa village frorn which our Znd Airborne Battalion
had withdrawn the day before. Advancing further into town the enemy
occupied the Bach Ho bridge and destroyed one of its sPans on the
left bank of the Perfurne River. The Viet Cong concentrated their
attack on the Mang Ca section after occupying the An Hoa gate and
the west gate. They encountered fierce resistance by our defenders
firing fr orn multi6toried houses.
The enerny force attacked the Tay Loc airfield but
becarne entangled in the defensive wire and turned toward the arrns
and arnrnunition depot. At 0350 hrs.they once rnore concentrated their
push against the airfield. They succeeded in burning the arnrnunition
*ar.horl"., the fuel tanks and the techniciansr quarters' Throughout
the following day they were unable to take the airfield' During another
a6sault conducted at nightfall they reached the plane parking areas
but were driven out the next morning'
A battle between enerrly troops and the Reconnaissance
C ornpany of the Fir6t Infantry Division raged around the knperial
Palace area. Thi.s battle ended at five otclock in the rnorning when
the area was overrun by the enerny. A big National Liberation Front
flag was hoisted atop the Citadelrs rnain flagpole at 8 otclock in the
rnorning.

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