Page 327 - The Viet-Cong Tet_Offensive_1968

The following public buildings were left in sharnbles :
the provincial adrninistrative headquarters, the provincial guest house,
the treasury service, the rnarket place police station, the inforrnation
service the public servants housing and the o{ficial residences of the
three deputy province chiefs.

The headquarters of the 23Znd Artillery Battalion was
darnaged by 5O/o while the 514th transportation Cornpany headquarters
and the 8th Arrnor Squadron cornpound were 3oy'o darnaged.

B, THE GROUND ASSAULT ON THE CITY

The enerny had started applying heavy rnilitary pressures
on city outposts such as the Lac Thien and Buon Ho sub-sectors as
early as rnid-January 1968, The 552 Arnrno Durnp in Banrnethuot was
a target of enerny sabotage by explosive charges.

The enerny launched a probing ground attack against the
northwestern side of the city on January 28 or two days before the
enernyrs D-Day. The 23rd Tactical Zone reacted with a reconnaissan-
ce in force and rnade contact with the enerny, Despite this contact
friendly forces rernained in doubt concerning enerny intentions.
Cakn returned to the city the following day. It was a
quiet day with the Tet truce proclairned in Banrnethuot as well as
throughout the country, The people conducted their traditional Tet
shopping spree. Only 30 per cent of the cityrs garrison were kept on
routine guard duties while the rernainder were granted Tet horne
leave to enjoy the yearrs greatest festival.

Everything seerned norrnal and quiet until 0135 hours.
Jan. 3I or Tet Day when the enerny actually launched his rnassive
ground ofJensive against the city.

The enerny offensive force estirnated at sorne 3500 rnen,
consisted o{ the 33rd Regirnent with four organic battalions, the 40lst
and the 301 st Province organic Mobile Battalions and the Regional
Guerrilla Cornpanies H4, H5, H6 and H8.
The enerny attacked frorn three staging points, located in
northwestern and southeasiern fringes of the city.

The first enerny attacking echelon, which was the 33rd
Regirnent, struck frorn the Ea Enao brook staging area in the

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