Page 393 - The Viet-Cong Tet_Offensive_1968

The group rnoved up in two rnilitary trucks. As it reached
the Interrogation center it received a round of 840 rocket fire which
rnissed the target. The attackers, equipped with captured enerny AK
autornatic rifles, left the trucks and rnaneuwered against the right flank
of the enerny line firing their weapons. The characteristic sound of
the grouprs AKts con{used the enerny so badly that he did not return
fire, He allowed the group to rnove deep into his position and then
between his position and the beleaguered carnp' Lt Thu radioed Maj
Cha requesting an assault against the enernyrs heavy weapon unit' The
rnajor conducted a ferocious and accurate assault supported by rnachl-
neguns rnounted on cornrnando cars' The attack destroyed virtually the
arrtit" .rr.t ry heawy weapon unit. This action cogt the enerny one 82rnm
rrrortar, one rnachinegun, two light rnachineguna' one 840 rocket
launcher and nine rifles' In addition the deputy cornrnander of the
48?thyC Battalion was killed and two cornPany leaders, two platoon
leaders and eight guerrillas were captured.
The enerny troops losing their top leaders, were demo-
ralized and pulled back in the face of the fast advancing relief column'
Thus the siege around the Trinh Tuong Carnp was broken around 1000h'
The enerny spread into the adjoining Cho Go area after
failing to take the carnp. Here he was bombed by jet fighters in the
afternoon. Governrnent troops fought hard but still failed to dislodge
the enerny frorn thie populated area. As nigh': fell the 208th RF Corn-
pany was left behind to strengthen the carnprs garrison and to block
Ln"tt.y to other neighboring areas. Meanwhile civilian refugees
""."""
gtrearned across the city'8 only bridge to reach the quiet southwestern
side of the city.
The enerny cornpany CZ iaded into the populated Cho Go
area following their defeat at'the Trinh Tuong Carnp' The other enemy
elernents pulled back to the sandy northwestern side of the city'

Their route of withdrawal had been blocked by two
platoons, one frorn the 506th US Task Force and the other l0lst US
Airborne Division. They were heliliJted into the area around 1600 h.
These American units engaged the enerny Tkrns northwest of down-
town Phan Thiet and killed another 30 men of retreating Cornpany
ul.
On the second night of Tet, Jan 3l calrn retutned to the
whole city. Airdropped flares atill served ae a grirn rerninder to the
people of the city that the war was etill very much on'

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