February 11, 1968
Reinforcing the Citadel
Marines walk into the traffic circle on Highway 1, past a wrecked ARVN M113
USMC Photo
With the NVA all but broken in the Triangle, the focus of both the RVN and US commands had shifted to the Triangle. Both sides had decided to send in the Marines, with additional USMC forces being sent to reinforce the ARVN 1st Division along with a task force from the RVNMC, slated to arrive today.
Marines on a street
US National Archives
The Citadel
The first elements of 1/5 set out for the nine kilometer night march to Phu Bai, followed by the rear echelon at dawn. The forward units arrived at Phu Bai as the sun was beginning to crest the horizon, and the battalion headquarters moved out at 0810. At 0930 the battalion was formally transferred to 1st Marines command, and General LaHue met with Major Thompson, informing him that even at this stage very little intelligence was available on the situation across the Perfume River. Special orders were issued as well, that the US Marines in the Citadel were not to obey any orders from General Truong, instead only following commands from US officers at Phu Bai.
At 1045 Bravo/1/5 boarded Sea Knight helicopters and set out for Hue, with most arriving at Mang Ca without incident. However, the aircraft carrying 3rd Platoon was hit by NVA ground fire, wounding the pilot and forcing the CH46 to turn back. The platoon would be forced to move up overland, travelling by truck until the An Cuu Bridge, where they had to cross the Phu Cam Canal via a foot wide catwalk. They would arrive with HQ/1/5 at the MACV compound at 1800. They will cross the river by boat tomorrow.
Father Aloysius P. McGonigal
As the Marines prepared to cross into the Citadel, 1/5’s chaplain spoke to Thompson, and asked to be allowed to remain behind, and after further questioning outright refused to cross the river. he was relieved of duty, leaving unit without a chaplain. This void would soon be filled, however, as Father Aloysius McGonigal, a Jesuit Catholic, soon heard of the situation and reported to Major Thompson, volunteering his services, which were promptly accepted.
While all this was going on, five M48 tanks were brought into Mang Ca after being carried down the Perfume River from Da Nang aboard an LCU, so that as night fell they had joined Alpha/1/5 in the Citadel. The Vietnamese Marines also began to move out from Phu Bai in the afternoon, deploying into Mang Ca via helicopter as Alpha/1/5 had in the morning.
The Citadel: 2-11-1968
Mang Ca - ARVN 1st Division headquarters
Tay Loc Airfield
RVNMC units begin to arrive in the Citadel in the afternoon
USMC Alpha/1/5 arrives in the Citadel via helicopter, short one platoon
Five USMC M48 Patton tanks arrive via river
Imperial Palace - NVA Headquarters
Citadel Gates - Flags indicate controlling faction
The Hamlets
The weather outside the city is particularly vile today, preventing any major movements by 5/7 Cav at Thon Lieu Coc Thuong, and they thus remain in the fortified village center for the day. To the south, the men of 2/12 Cav launch a reconnaissance northward from Thon Bon Tri, which they had occupied the previous day. Their chaplain had gathered the men together for a prayer, in which he focused on the fact that many would likely die, which in turn led to a request from Lt. Col. Sweet that he refrain from such morale damaging speech in the future.
The recon force set out, quickly discovering the NVA had a substantial defense in depth around Thon La Chu, getting extremely close to the NVA while doing so. One NVA soldier getting up to relive himself mistakes Sp4. Michael Oberg as another Vietnamese soldier, and attempts to engage him in conversation before the troopers open fire. Another trooper, Sp4. David Dentinger, was so close that an NVA cannot grab his rifle because the American was standing on it. No casualties are taken as the Americans withdraw back to Thon Bon Tri and report to the rest of 2/12 Cav. Based on the NVA strength, Sweet orders 2/12 Cav to pull back to the ARVN outpost on Nui Nha Nhan tomorrow morning.
The Hamlets: 2-10-1968
Thon Lieu Coc Thuong - 5/7 Cavalry Position
Thon Bon Tri - 2/12 Cavalry Position
2/12 Cav recon force moves to observe NVA defenses
Nui Nha Nhan - ARVN outpost
Thon Que Chu - Held by NVA forces
Thon La Chu - NVA Tri-Thien Hue Front headquarters