Page 278 - The Viet-Cong Tet_Offensive_1968

The rurnors apparently originated frorn the excessively bitter feelings
of the local people about the war and its deplorable afterrnath" The
rurnors certainly would be rnore fully clarified by the governrnent at
a later date.
Sorne other foodstuJfs and essentials besides rice were
also scarce, Cnly surplus canned food and C-rations frorn allied
stocks were seen on sale on the sidewalks of Hue. The few drug stores
which survived the 26-d'ay battle did a brisk business' Most of thern
raised prices deliberately, ignoring the sufferings of the irnpoverished
unfortunate rnasses. People of the Hue were surprised to learn that
owners of these stores prized rnoney above hurnanity and acted against
the conscience of civilized, well educated rnen' On the other hand rnany
Iocal people regretted the death of the entire farnily o{ a rnilitary
phys;.cian, Lt Nluyen Xuan Lang' Dr Lang and his pharrnacist wife
Ton Nu Ai Quy and the couplers two children died of bullet wounds
received while atternpting to flee frorn their home on Phan Boi Chau
street, which was also Mrs AiQuyts drug store' Surprisingly enough'
their house remained untouched by the war to becorne one of the cityts
very few such fortunate structures. People said that the youthful
couple and their children would not have rnet tragic death' if they had
stafed in their house throughout the battle' But who knows ?
Thievery and looting were widespread' War victirns
siole frorn their fellow sujfers. A11 deserted houses were ernptied of
alrnost everything usable frorn kitchen utensils to furniture and
valuables. Robbed victirns sought to steal frorn others' Many houses
sported scribbled signs saying trOccupied housesrr, the signs being
designed to discourage prospective thieves'
Sorne eighty pel cent of the cityrs houses and buildings
were destrcyed or darnaged by the battle'

The quarter-square-rnile Imperial Palace suJfered
extensive darnage. The stately Ngo Mon gate, which took several rounds
of rnortar and cannon fire threatened to co11apse. Its roof was badly
torn.
The gold plate throne in the Palace was intact but the
other pieces of furniture in the Irnperial Hall were broken or knocked
dowtr attong the debris on the f1oor. Mosi' of the precious giant china
vases, which were several centuries o1d, were broken or reduced
to pieces by the blast waves of artillery and shellings' The Citadel
Z-if Z Uitornete r square, was practically left a shambles' The Nguyen
Thanh street and adjoining areas were only an indiscriminate rrrass

-zgt-