Page 310 - The Viet-Cong Tet_Offensive_1968

apparently wanted to stay and fight, rather than pull out after norrnal
enerrry ground attack pattern. The province chief, an army lieutenant
colonel, called for reinforcernents frorn tl:'e 24th Special Zone Corn-
rnander, Lt Col Nguyen Trong Luat, whose residence had been defend-
ed by a platoon detached frorn the BattaIlcn 2/4.

The cityrs defenders started their counter-offensive
around 0600h. The first counter-offensive force incl'uded the under-
strength Battalion Zf4 srppotted, by the Tank Squadron 11/3 wlth four
M41 tanks. Two of these tanks were left behind to guard the Special
Zone cornpound, while the other two were assigned to suPPort two
cornpanies on a two-pronged counter-offensive on the enerny positions
in the adrninistrative area. One of these two tank6 were assigned to
pick up Zone Staff Chief Maj Bui Duc Tai who just escaped frorn his
house through an enerny cordon. He left behind his wiJe and four
children at the hou6e, which was kept off the enerny hands by troops
guarding the adjoining Zone Security Service office. This tank opened
fire on enerny positions around this office, picked up Maj Tai safely
and rnoved up to the adrninistrative area to carry out its assignrnents.
But it did not go very far, as one round o{ B40 rocket grenade set it
aflarne. Maj Tai jurnped out o{ the tank and ran for his liJe. The inci-
dent took place at the height of Phan Thanh Gian Street, behind the
province chiefrs office and residence.

The other tank supported the c ounte r - offensive troops
effectively in the sarne general area, blasting the enerny out of the
bunkers, which he had occupied at the start of his offensive. With
its support the first infantry cornPany recaptured the Post office, the
elernentary education service and the radio c ornrnunic ations station.
The cornpany cornrnander, 3rd Lt Huynh Van Theo was wounded. An-
other 3rd lieutenant took over but was hit 1ater. The second company
was then dispatched to reinforce the first one to recapture the entire
area. Led by 3rd Lt Ve, the relief cornpany succeeded in retaking it
alrnost cornpletely. Sorne fifty enerny bodies were counted on the
ground, besides sorne 1l assorted weapona. One enerny was shot in
the back and killed by his cornrades in arrns when he raised up his
hands in an atternpt to surrender.
Around noon on Tet Day, Jan 30, or about ten hours
after the enerny atarted his ground assault on the city, the cityts
adrninietrative area was recaptured and under control oI governrnent
troops. But the enerny sti.Il held the Bac Ai (Charity) pagoda and the
city rnarket place, and the adjoining civilian residential and businees

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