History Pgs.102-141
10/9/06
5:49 PM
Page 133
THE MARINES
Col. Peter Michael Gish’s grim, stark still life Helmets at Que Sanh II, painted in 1976, tells the story of the sacrifices made by Marines stationed at the combat base in vivid terms.
Khe Sanh, Tet, Hue City (1968) Collection of the National Museum of the Marine Corps
Few Marines ever held an exposed outpost
Colonel David Lownds commanded more than 6,000 troops in his reinforced regiment and defended a hardsurface runway suitable for the largest multiengine supply planes. Khe Sanh was also well within range of the U.S. Army’s big 175mm guns at Camp Carroll and the Rock Pile. Hundreds of U.S. and Allied attack aircraft and helicopters remained on call in direct support. Westmoreland identified two compelling reasons to defend Khe Sanh: Provide a killing ground for NVA troops and prevent an NVA flank attack against Dong Ha and Quang Tri City. Yet unmistakable evidence of a North Vietnamese buildup near Khe Sanh in January 1968 proved worrisome. The NVA had little difficulty infiltrating down the Ho Chi Minh Trail along the Laotian-Vietnam border, then crossing laterally into the hills above Khe Sanh along what the Marines would call the Santa Fe Trail. NVA
longer, under more relentless pounding, than India Company of the 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines, on Hill 881-South. The wooded terrain feature, the most tactically critical of the hills overlooking the Marine Corps combat base at Khe Sanh, absorbed persistent North Vietnamese shelling and probing attacks throughout the grueling seventy-seven day battle for the western DMZ. Captain William Dabney’s Marines would lose half their number defending 881-S but never their pride or willful humor. For several stomach-churning months the reinforced 26th Marines at Khe Sanh occupied the center ring in what became an international circus of politics and propaganda – an epic siege in the late winter-early spring of 1968 following the North Vietnamese Tet Offensive.
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