Page 89 - The Viet-Cong Tet_Offensive_1968

Prior to the Ranger encirclernent movernent, however,
the Ranger cornrnander had ordered one of his cornpanies and a recon-
naissance squad to take advantage of the enernyrs preoccupation v/ith
the fighting on Nguyen Tri Phr.1dng, Nguyen Tieu I-a and Trj.eu Da
Streets to penetrate the area delineated by Nguyen Kirn, Nguyen Larn
anci Nguyen van Thoai Boulevards. This created what Vo Nguyen Giap
called a situation of inte r.rningled presence with troops of both sides
j.ntertwined in a rnost confused line of battle. The enerny was also
present at Lu Gia quarters, Nguyen Van ThoSi and Thiec Market.
Following the initial defeat of the Viet Cong,both sides ternporarily
stopped their firing,thus giving the civilian population a chance to
leave the battle zone.
A three pronged attack was launched after the population
had been evacuated, which was around I000 hours. The Ranger batta-
lion attacked frorn three sides and elernents o{ an engineer unit, the
Tenth Transportation Battalion, and sorne field policernen effectively
supported the attack. Sorne Brown Berets rnade close contact with V.
C. positions on Nguyen Kirn, Nguyen Van Thoai and Le Dai Hanh
Streets -
Within rninutes the Nguyen Tri Phuong area disappeared
in a screen of srnoke and fire with explosions of all sorts shaking the
atrnosphere. Helicopter gunships struck at enerny positions, adding to
the confusion of the intruders, who were left with no alternative but to
withdraw. Sorne of the Cornrnunist troops took refuge in the Childrenrs
Hospital and other srnall groups scattered as best they could. Sorne of
thern, Iike the three Viet-Cong who rnistook the Dao Duy Tu Carnp {or
a school, were irnrnediately killed.

The bulk o{ the enerny force, however, succeeded in
retreating in the direction of the Le Dai Hanh and Lu-Gia quarter
adjacent to the race track. The governrnent troops rnaintained conti-
nuing contact.with the enerny and, in following thern step by step,
destroyed one rnachinegun position near the Cong-Hoa Stadiurn and
captured another on Nguyen Van Thoai Boulevard.

The attacking troops found a wheel-rnounted rnachinegun
in another portion of the battle area. This deadly weapon was located
on the top lloor of the six-storied Golden Willow Building on Tran
Quoc Toan Boulevard, Its capture was rnade possible by the extraordi-
nary courage of Rangers of the First Cornpany under the cornrnand of
Lieutenant Nguyen-Ngoc-An. Two of the four officers and rnen who

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