Battle of Saigon information
199 INF BDE
3/4 CAV
From date 680131 to 680210
199 INF BDE was a US Army unit
3/4 CAV was a US Army unit
South Vietnam
Location, Tan Son Nhut
Description: During Tet of '68, the enemy brought the war to the more than 2 million people in metropolitan Saigon for the first time. Attacking from the north, west, and south, they hurled 35 battalions into the battle. Sapper Bns and local force units attacked the presidential palace, the US Embassy, the National Radio Station, and other principal targets. The 5th VC Div hit the military bases at Long Binh and Bien Hoa. The NVA 7th Div attacked the US 1st Inf Div and 5th ARVN Div at Lai Khe. The VC 9th Div struck the US 25th Inf Div at Cu Chi. Tan Son Nhut Airport receive a heavy barrage of rocket and mortar fire starting at 3 a.m. followed by a three bn assault. They met the ARVN 8th ABN Bn who happened to the waiting for transport. The US 3/4th Cav from the 25th Div raced from its base at Cu Chi to help rescue the airfield. The 1/18th Inf and A/1/4th Cav from the 1st Inf Div also helped at the airfield. Heavy fighting continued in the Cholon District and around the Phu Tho Racetrack for several days. Finally the 199th Inf Bde, with heavy air support, secured this area.
The source for this information was "1968"-VE, Turner 1st Inf Div p:27
Additional information is available on CD-ROM.
Please send additions or corrections to: Gary Roush Email address: webmaster@vhpa.org
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Date posted on this site:
05/13/2023