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Attack on Quang Tri City During the Vietnam WarBy James I. Marino | Vietnam | 15 comments | Print This Post | Email This Post Sheer numbers and effective fire support from their heavy weapons enabled the NVA to edge into the city, as the ARVN 1st Battalion slowly fell back toward the sector headquarters. By noon the outcome of the battle still hung in the balance. The South Vietnamese held on by their fingernails. Communist pressure continually increased. If the NVA committed their other battalions, the defenders would be overwhelmed. The South Vietnamese needed reinforcements as soon as possible, and the only available force was the 1st Cavalry Division’s 1st Brigade. Subscribe Today
Robert Brewer, the Quang Tri senior provincial adviser, choppered into LZ Betty shortly after noon on January 31 to confer with Colonel Rattan at his brigade command post. Brewer urgently requested American units, telling Rattan: ‘The situation is desperate. One enemy battalion has infiltrated inside the ARVN lines. The enemy is reinforcing from the east and has established fire support positions on the east and south fringe of the city.’ Rattan contacted Maj. Gen. John Tolson, commanding general of 1st Cavalry Division, and requested authority to reorient his brigade and attack east of Quang Tri City. The Communists, anticipating such a move, had been rocketing and mortaring LZ Betty since dawn to pin down part of the brigade. Tolson was the perfect officer to make a decision on how to deploy the relatively new resource of air mobility. Commander of 1st Air Cav since April 1, 1967, Tolson had been the commandant of the U.S. Army Aviation School in 1965 and 1966. He was a West Point graduate of the Class of 1937 and also a veteran of combat jumps in New Guinea, Corregidor and the Philippines during World War II. He had long been on the cutting edge of airmobility development. But the 1st Brigade was limited in maneuver battalions and could engage only one area. It had to be the right point. Tolson immediately approved the request. ‘I agreed with [Rattan's] assessment,’ he later wrote. ‘I trusted his judgment implicitly.’ Rattan learned from Brewer the most probable enemy location and infiltration routes. Brewer indicated that enemy troops were northeast, east and southeast, and Rattan selected LZs adjacent to the Communist forces. As General Tolson later noted, ‘The LZs were selected for the purpose of reducing the enemy’s reinforcement capability by blocking his avenues of approach and to eliminate his fire support capability by landing in his support areas.’ Meanwhile, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam in Saigon reacted slowly to the initial Communist attacks. It fell to local commanders and individual soldiers to take action in their immediate locations to affect the outcome of the fighting. Working swiftly and efficiently, Rattan’s staff put together a plan and called up the lift assets. Within two hours after the alert, the first slicks touched down almost on top of the NVA battalions. Like George S. Patton in the Ardennes turning the Third Army 90 degrees in just three days, Rattan redirected his 1st Brigade 180 degrees in just two hours. The 1st Brigade had only two available battalions: 1-12 Cavalry and 1-5 Cavalry. The 1-8 Cavalry was fogged in on its mountaintop base, and the 1-502 Infantry was defending the brigade base. Vaulting over the enemy blocking forces, the two cavalry battalions landed in five locations in the Communist rear. Rattan designated Lt. Col. Daniel French’s 1-12 to land east around the village of Thon An Thai and positioned Lt. Col. Robert Runkle’s 1-5 southeast of Quang Tri City. Priority for lift went to the 1-12. Rattan also asked for, and received, additional divisional air support assets in the form of 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, including aerial rocket artillery. As the American preparations continued, the ARVN infantry and paratroopers refused to yield. Their relief would come from above. Alerted at 1345, the first skytrooper set foot on the objective LZ at 1555. B/1-12 air assaulted into LZs east of the city. A few minutes later, intense fire met C/1-12 as it came into the hot LZs defended by an enemy company. The battalion’s assault bracketed the heavy weapons supporting the NVA battalion, and the cavalry troopers overran them. The enemy battalion, now wedged between the 1-12 and ARVN 1st Regiment, fought back. Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6Help HistoryNet by bookmarking to
            Tags: 20th - 21st Century, Historical Conflicts, Vietnam War
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15 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