Page 71 - The Viet-Cong Tet_Offensive_1968

hours since the Saigon Cornrnand of the insurgents was known to be in
that area. Following repeated unanswered calls {or the Viet-Cong
elernents to surrender, the Vinatexco area was leveled, thus preventing
the Cornrnunists frorn gathering enough troops for a night attack on the
all irnportant Tan Son Nhut air base.

Earlier in the evening, heli copt e r gunships were used to
hit the area surrounding the WAC School, Infantry were dispatched to
regain control o{ a section of the Nguyen Van Thoai Boulevard. This
boulevard bordered the race track which was already under Cornrnunist
occupation.
By early rnorning of the third day of the year of the
Monkey (f eU. t) eight battalions of the General Reserve had been
brought back to Saigon. They were deployed as follows :
I The Sixth and Eighth Airborne Battalions : Their rnis-
sion was to relieve enerny pre6sure on the Eastern Gate of the Tran
Hung Dao Carnp.
I The First Airborne Battalion : Its rnission waa to guard
the radio station while serving as cornbat reaerve in Saigon.
I The Second Marine Battalion : Its role was to de{end

highway - raiLway junctions Nurnber Two and Four in Gia Dinh.
I The First Marine Battalion : Its task was to cut all
routes for withdrawal of Cornrnunrst elernents attacking the Co Loa
Carnp,
I The 3Oth Ranger Battalion : Its role was to liberate the

Hang Xanh ar ea.
I The 38th Ranger Battalion : Its role was to liberate
the .Phu Tho and Ba Hat s ections of the city.

On Feb, I the headquarters of the Vietnarnese Arrned
l-orces was cornpletely cleared of Cornrnunist intruders. Prior to the
liberation of this area, however, helicopter gunships had to be used,
resulting in considerable darnage to the Arrned Forceg Language
School, the AG School, and sorne o{ the rninor rnilitary installations
in the vicinity of Gate Four. South Vietnarnese Marines had reoccu-
pied the Co Loa and Phu Dong carnps where the enerny had penetrated
and dug in at the staxt of their Tet Carnpaign.
In Cholon, the Chinese section of Saigon, the gituation
had grown rnore gerious with rnore and rnore Yiet Cong units reported

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