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Tet Offensive: 7th Infantry Regiment in SaigonVietnam | 3 comments | Print This Post | Email This Post
The Tet Offensive did achieve one critical strategic objective, however: It broke the will of the American people to continue the war indefinitely. The furious offensive seemingly negated all the optimistic talk about an imminent end to the war. It seemed to many Americans that, on the contrary, the war was only beginning. Many now began to wonder about the feasibility, perhaps even the desirability, of winning. What’s more, they began to wonder if Vietnam was worth sacrificing the lives and futures of so many young Americans. Public opinion increasingly began to favor scaling down the war and finding a way out. Subscribe Today
The 7th Infantry spent two more years in Vietnam, moving from sector to sector around Saigon, sometimes fighting in rice paddies, sometimes in jungles. In total, the unit spent four years in Vietnam. In all that time, the Tet 1968 fighting in Saigon was the only occasion in which the Cotton Balers fought a pitched urban battle, an anomaly among the experiences of most American infantry battalions in the Vietnam War. This article was written by John C. McManus and was originally published in the February 2004 issue of Vietnam Magazine.
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            Tags: 20th - 21st Century, Historical Conflicts, Vietnam War
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3 Comments to “Tet Offensive: 7th Infantry Regiment in Saigon”
Had 2 American freinds killed in Cholon, right at the Phu Tou race Track, in a jeep, as they made their way from Phu Lam to Regional Communications Group in the early morning 31 Jan 68, 1st TET. One body ended up at Tan Son Nhut Mortuary, the other never found. I understand that the 7th was the first through this area – wanting to find out who took the body to TSN and what happened to other soldier. Need contacts for questions.
By Thomas E. Lassek on Nov 29, 2008 at 6:22 am
I was Point Man for the US Army, 199th, Co A, 3/7, going in to the “race track”., during the 1967-68 Tet. Thank you so much for this article. I was under Capt. Smaldone all my of tour of duty. I remember him very well. I remember this action all to well. I lost a very good buddy during this action. I was wounded in April ‘68 and was shipped out due to the injuries. Thanks again for this very informative article.
Bud
By Walter Baker on Dec 5, 2008 at 8:34 pm
I was the squad leader of the 716th Mp Bn reaction force at the race track, We retrieved two wounded MP’s and two were lost plus an Inf officer I believe comeing in to assist. We engaged the enemy from about 0400 until after noon when a helicopter landed on the roof of the empty building we had taken a stand in. I told the Captain we had already seen about ten five man squads go past us, and anything in front was fair game. We were only about 100 yards from the race track wall. APC’s with co-ax fifty cals came in and made short work of the problem. My men got back to our billet about 1830 five blocks away. My thanks to all of your men. Welcome home.
By Bob Morrison on Nov 8, 2009 at 12:09 pm