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Attack on Quang Tri City During the Vietnam WarBy James I. Marino | Vietnam | 16 comments | Print This Post | Email This Post The U.S. Marines had been operating in I CTZ since 1965. The 3rd Marine Division covered all of Quang Tri Province. With units spread along the DMZ and Highway 1, together with their commitment to pacification operations and the defense of the Khe Sanh firebase, the Marines were stretched thin. As the official Marine Corps history describes the situation: ‘The 3rd Marine Division had no men to spare for the defense of Quang Tri City, which was an ARVN responsibility. Marines deployed units out to mortar and sniper range to screen vital areas of the city.’ Subscribe Today
Just prior to Tet, General William Westmoreland took major steps to reinforce I Corps. After assessing both intelligence reports and captured enemy documents, Westmoreland believed the primary threat was in the extreme north. Associated Press reported Westmoreland’s thinking on January 17, 1968: ‘Westmoreland said he expects the next major Communist campaign in the northernmost I Corps areas, primarily in Quang Tri and Thua Thien provinces, just below the DMZ.’ Westmoreland planned to move his ‘First Team,’ the entire 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), into I Corps. The division’s 3rd Brigade was already there, attached to the 23rd (Americal) Infantry Division. The 1st Brigade, at Bong Son, received orders on January 17 to move into the Hue–Phu Bai area; on January 25, it shifted farther north into the Quang Tri area. The 2nd Brigade, meanwhile, remained committed to an operation in the Binh Dinh area, and Westmoreland attached the 2nd Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division to the 1st Cavalry Division. Colonel Donald V. Rattan commanded the 1st Air Cav’s 1st Brigade. Since the perceived threat in the province focused on the border regions, he did not receive the mission to secure the city. Rattan was in constant communication with the American provincial adviser, Robert Brewer, who helped coordinate the actions of the South Vietnamese and American units as well as the Civil Operations and Rural Development Support program. Rattan positioned his battalions south and west of Quang Tri City. The 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry (1-8), covered Fire Base Area 101, west of Quang Tri. The 5th Battalion, 502nd Infantry (5-502), from the 101st Airborne Division, covered Landing Zone Betty, about three miles southwest of Quang Tri, while 1-12 and 1-5 cavalry were left a free hand to maneuver against any enemy forces. As the American and Vietnamese units went about the business of pacification, search-and-destroy missions and the improvement of their logistical base, some 21,000 NVA troops in nine regiments were deployed to strike the small city at Tet. General Vo Nguyen Giap, North Vietnam’s defense minister and architect of the Tet Offensive, had been preparing for the campaign since the summer of 1967. Giap’s goal was the capture of Hue as the linchpin of the ambitious, war-winning offensive. Like Antwerp in Adolf Hitler’s 1944 Ardennes offensive, Hue was both a political and military target. The direct land route to Hue stretched along the coastal plains on Highway 1. Like Bastogne, Quang Tri was a crucial transportation hub, which had to be taken to facilitate the Communist offensive. Its capture would open an avenue for the B-9 Front, a corps-size force just north of the DMZ, to advance down the coast along Highway 1 to capture Hue. The plan to overrun Quang Tri called for a joint operation by the NVA and Viet Cong. A platoon from the NVA 10th Sapper Battalion would infiltrate the city at night and hit key spots, just before the main attack by four battalions of the 812th Regiment of the NVA 324B Division, and the VC 814th Battalion. The 324B Division, consisting mainly of volunteers from the south, was rated by American intelligence as one of the NVA’s best units. Sappers were the elite force of the NVA. It was sapper units that had led the 1954 assault on Dien Bien Phu. Sapper platoons attached to infantry battalions had the mission of clearing obstacles and leading attacks on built-up positions. Trainees in these battalions received as much as three months of special training at a base near Son Tay, North Vietnam, or on the job with their units in the south. Trained to move in complete silence, a sapper unit was an assault engineer force designed to oppose a greater force. Typically, such a unit consisted of a security element, an assault element, a fire support element and a reserve. Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6Help HistoryNet by bookmarking to
            Tags: 20th - 21st Century, Historical Conflicts, Vietnam War
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16 Comments to “Attack on Quang Tri City During the Vietnam War”
Thanks for a well written article. My friend Mike Nawrosky was proud of what he did. Unfortunately,he was wounded April 6,1968 in Vietnam and died of his wounds July 1968 at Walter Reed. Such a short life, like so many others who never made it back. These articles keeps history alive and the memory of these men and women.
By caroleta29@yahoo.com on Jun 21, 2008 at 8:21 pm
My brother was killed in Quan Tri In Nov Of 1967………..Life goes on but the time stands still.
By matthew on Jan 22, 2009 at 12:37 am
A small correction. It was the 1st/502nd of the 101st Airborne, not the 5th/502nd. There never was a 5th Bn.
July 2001 I traveled up Hwy 1 from Hue to Dong Ha and I believe I found the remains of the Cathedral that the 1st 502 found all the NVA in. Although well shot up, the upper floor still stands and you can see it was constructed like a bank vault. 18″ to 24″ of concrete and 1″ diameter steal re bar very close together. A direct hit in the floor above made a hole part way through, exposing the strength of the construction.
Keith Askin C Co 1/502nd 1968
PS Our 3rd Platoon landed on the American Embassy as they were still back South when Tet 68 started.
By Keith Askin on Apr 7, 2009 at 2:52 am
My brother was killed April 8, 1968 at Khe Sanh. Private 1st Class Randall Carl Phelps. He was a combat engineer with the 3rd Marine Div.
By J. LAMBERT on May 9, 2009 at 9:48 pm
I was stationed In Quang Tri 12/69-70 and always thought the river was called Quang Tri River.
My unit, 14th Combat Engineers, had the tower and several bunkers to man: and man!
Great Article.
By Jim Franklin on May 12, 2009 at 11:26 pm
I am a student at James W. Robinson Secondary High School in Fairfax, Va. I am doing research on a Vietnam veteran for my high school’s final exam in english, the research will be sehnt off to the University of Texas for their compilitation of Veteran’s history.
“My” soldier is Francis “Duke” Cortor Jr. and he was killed while recovering the remains of 3 soldiers in the 5th Infantry Division who were killed by enemy mortar fire just southwest of “Hill 158″
By David Thomas on May 22, 2009 at 7:33 am
Keeping history alive is served well in this forum. Honoring veterans is a historical element of all countries since before the Roman Empire. During the Vietnam War the battle for Khe Sahn will always be one of the most infamous of battles. America stands grateful to these soldiers that have laid down their lives for the sake of freedom. America- you are loved by all those who have given up their lives for country, by all the families who still miss their loved ones.
By carolejoan on May 25, 2009 at 5:32 am
i was at quang tri between 1968-1969. 588th sig co. I CONTROLED the communication center there. when to do ha aand say a complete day room blowed up. I NOW remeber that day to this day.ptsd..
By charles w coates on May 31, 2009 at 4:57 am
The article is incorrect is stating that the 1st ARVN Reg’t was poorly regarded. It was, along with the 2nd and 3rd Regiments, 1st ARVN Division, were among the very best ARVN regiments during the war. The 1st Division was probably the best regular Division in the Vietnamese Army, being equalled only by such units as the ARVN Airborne Division, Marines, and Rangers.
By David Sciacchitano on Jun 20, 2009 at 4:50 pm
My cousin, Kenneth Russell Joyner was killed at quang tri probably in late March 1968. His body came home on April 4th 1968 the same day MLK was killed.
By Gregg Walker on Jul 16, 2009 at 9:38 pm
This is all very interesting. I was in the Ghost Battalion put together from volunteers from existing sea bees serving in Viet Nam at the time. We were with Marines who stood watches and we began the construction of the runway at Quang Tri. We lived in sand bags with poncho covers to keep the rain out, which never stopped. there was nothing when we arrived. No wire just marines and the river which was too dangerous to go into.we took baths in our helmets. I was greasing equipment trying to keep everything from breakdowns, so you can imagine what we looked like. One day a helicopter landed and out jumped an officer with beer and the promise of meddles for all, even the seabees, like that happened.
Two weeks after we got back we sat on the runway of Mag 16 for a week trying to get a flight to Khesanh. We couldn’t catch a flight north for the number of bodies and wounded being brought out of Quang Tri.God bless. Thanks for listening
By Bill Morgan on Aug 2, 2009 at 9:15 pm
My cousin SSGT E6 Richard Lee Sarvis 5Th Infantry Division Mechanized was killed on February 22,1971 in Quang Tri. I don’t know what battle if there was one that he died in.If anybody has any information on what happened I would like to know. I saw on TV that he was shot by a sniper. I would just like to know the truth about what went on for my own personal reasons.Thanks.
By Jeffrey Mayo on Aug 8, 2009 at 10:35 pm
I was in Vietnam, 3rd Marine Div., 3rd Recon Bn. from Aug. 1968-Feb. 1969 as a Squad Leader. I was also in a Combined Action Group also known as a Combined Action Platoon from March, 1969 to Aug. 1969 stationed in a hamlet called Nhu Le in Quang Tri Providence. I volunteered to live in that village supporting my fellow Marines who were attacked almost every night before I got there. That is why the call for volunteers. Two Marine squads and a platoon ARVNs to protect the village that was 50% VC. Sporadic firefights.
Not enough is written or understood about the CAG’s effect on the war. Not one village was taken over by the VC where a CAG unit was stationed. The villagers, both farmers and VC (we could not tell the difference) benefited from Medical attention.
It is a shame that it was not more widely used. We made a difference. I only hope that these lessons are applied to Iraq and Afghanistan.
By Bernie Laguna on Sep 11, 2009 at 4:01 am
David Thomas (May 22, 2009) “Duke” Cortor was my brother. I would be extremely interested in your research for your “final Exam”. Feel free to contact me at pcortor@bellsouth.net, I certainly hope that you earned an excellent grade.
By Phil Cortor on Sep 18, 2009 at 3:24 pm
My brother, Alfred J. Villanueva was killed in Quang Tri Vietnam. H e was in Marines 3rd battalion, I believe. “Freddie died in February 29th 1969, I would appreciate any information. Thanks, Edward Villanueva in Forth Worth, Texas.
By Edward Villanueva on Oct 30, 2009 at 7:43 pm
My name is Fernando Quiles I was in the 1/12 1st Cavalry Division Company A , July 68-69. Would like to contact anyone who was there
during that time.
By Fernando Quiles on Nov 17, 2009 at 3:40 pm