Page 265 - The Viet-Cong Tet_Offensive_1968

As of Feb 19, the Marines alone accounted for lg0
enerny killed and 84 weapons seized_while suffering only light casual_
tie s.

By Feb 20 only an e stimated 350 enernv still held out
within the waLls of the Citadel.

Before the attack on the rernnants of the enerny in the
Citadel our psywax tearns called on thern to surrender over their high_
powered loudspeakers. Ewen fiercer fire frorn enerny positions
responded to the rnesBage" The Marines conducted their final attack
in the northwe st- s outhwe st direction. The enerny was solidly entren_
ched in foxholee, trenches and bunkers which were dug into the thick
walls of the C itade l.

Three battalions of the lst US Aircav Division rnounted
an assault on a village five kilometers northwest of Hue city on the
rnorning of Feb 21. The village was believed to be ernployed by the
enerny a6 a staging and supply base for his forces operating in Hue,
The enerny was {ixrnly entrenched and held out ferociousiy. fne tlgfrt
cost the enerny 163 killed, four suspects captured for interrogation-
and 31 weapons seized. Arnerican troops lost 12 killed and 132 wounded
in the action.

On the rnorning of Feb ZZ, in ord.er to end the d.evas_
tating Hue battle as soon as possible, the 1st ARVN In{antry Division
sent two Ranger battalions to reinforce the Marines and Infantry
units in the city. These were the 39th and Zlst Ranger Battalions. The
21st had just arrived frorn pre-Tet operation in thJ Khe San valley.
TheBe two battalions were assigned to recapture the Gia Hoi section

Cn the rnorning o{ Feb Z2 loudspeakers were used
once rnore to call on enerny rernnants to surrerder and to request
that they save the lives ol the civilians trapped in the
dighting by
allowing thern to get out of the fighting zone. The or.rpti.a
"rr"r.ry "
and let the civilians go. They carne out in srnall groups each ca.ry_
perfurne
ing one or several white flags. They were taken across the
River aboard junks, sarnpans, anything that could float and rnove,
toward refugee centers on the southern bank of the river.

Around noon on Feb Z3 two Vietnarne se Marine corn_
panies recaptured the Right gate of the Citadel after wiping out an
enerny force of 31 rnen with one BAR and nine individ.ual w-apons. The
Marines had only one rnan wounded.

-268-