Page 67 - The Viet-Cong Tet_Offensive_1968

rlndependence Palace which the Cornrnunists atternpted to
penetrate througtr a side entrance on Nguyen Du street, In this atternpt,
however, Cornrnunist sapper troops failed altogether.
tThe Vietnarnese Navy Headquarters on Bach-Dang Quay.
Here all the attackers were killed on reaching the entrance,
tThe Tan Son Nhut Airport, which they did not succeed in

penetrating. Their assault troops took heaqg casualties while trying to
approach the western end o{ the sprawling base near Ba Queo.
rThe radio station on Phan Dinh Phung Street, which the
Cornrnunists penetrated and occupied without being able tc use the
rnany studios on the first {loor of the building.

rThe Arnerican Ernbassy on Thong Nhat Boulevard, where
they entered the front yard but were stopped there.
rThe chancery of the Ernbassy of the Philippines, which
the Viet Cong occupied easily, There, however, they failed to capture
the Arnbassador who had tirne to take refuge elsewhere.
Cornrnunist troops also hit a few rnilitary installations on
the outskirts of the capital on that fateful night, such as the Co Loa
and Phu Dong carnps which were partially occupied for sorne tirne.
Sorne harassrnent also was recorded against Base 80 and Base 60 in
the Hanh Thong Tay area. In their assault on the Quang Trung Training
Center in Hoc Mon District, Cornrnunist soldiers sulfered severe
losses before being able to reach the rnain gate. A few hours after
these initial attacks rnany groups of Cornrnunist soldiers could be seen
in different parts o{ the sprawling city.

The enerny situatioir on the second day of the Year of the
lvlonkey (Jan. 30) could be described as follows :
'In the Northern suburb of Go Vap there was strong enerny
pressure on the arti-[ery base of Co Loa, and the Phu Dong carnp of
the arrnored branch. The Cornrnunist troops also tried their best to
penetrate such populous areas as Go Vap and Xorn Moi and extend
their influence to the Nga Narn Binh Hoa area,
t9/est of the big city the presence of Cornrnunist units
was acutely {e1t in the Ba Queo area aa they prepared for an attack
on the Tan Son Nhut Air Base. The enerny unit occupied the Vinatexco
textile plant and used it as the starting point {or their assault on Tan
Son Nhut.

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