February 13, 1968
Attack in the Citadel
The the beginning of the day, the Marines of 1/5 began to move to the ARVN Airborne line in the Citadel, although as so often occurs in military operations, the advance was not to go as planned.
1/5 Marines advance alongside an M48 tank in the Citadel
US National Archives
The Citadel
At 0800 the Marines of 1/5 began to move to their planned jumping off position, advancing southward down Nguyen Thanh Street to the ARVN Airborne line on Mai Thuc Loan Street. Fifteen minutes later, still 200 meters behind the ARVN line, the Marines began to be deluged with Chincom grenades from the surrounding buildings, the NVA within operating with near impunity as the structures are too tall for effective counterfire. This only intensifies as they near the Dong Ba Gate, with the NVA raining fire down from the tower over the portal. Corporal Walter Rosolie charges across the street to the tower entrance and is able to clear part of it with grenades, but the NVA in the tower remains defiant.
A Marine looks down a street in the Citadel
US National Archives, Original Color, Film Still
It soon became abundantly clear that the ARVN had abandoned the line overnight, and the NVA had reoccupied the area. The Marines are thus caught in the open in what they had been told was friendly territory, taking heavy casualties from an enemy dug into the strong structures. An M48 was brought up, but even the tank was unable to reduce the tower over the Dong Ba Gate. With a hit from an RPG on the Alpha/1/5 company command post, the badly mauled unit begins to withdraw, as Bravo/1/5 moves up to replace it. At the same time, Charlie/1/5 attempts to advance to the ARVN line on the right flank, pushing down Dinh Bo Linh Street against well dug in NVA that have turned the narrow street into a killing zone.
Marines and a mechanical mule on a street
US National Archives, Original Color, Film Still
Bravo/1/5 resumed the attack along the wall at 1300, advancing two blocks with no resistance, but a half hour later RPGs begin to strike around the Patton tanks attached to them, forcing them to pull back and the Marines to hold their position. At 1345 the Marines began to push along the wall again, eventually reducing the NVA in the Dong Ba Tower. By 1445 the Marines had reached what was intended to be their jumpoff line a dawn, and is ordered to dig in for the evening, planning to resume the attack in the morning. Major Thompson requests a large artillery barrage from the batteries at Phu Bai, along with additional mortar fire and CS gas from positions across the Perfume River. The guns at Phu Bai are in a poor position, however, being forced to fire toward the Marines in the Citadel rather than over them, due to the base’s position to the south of the city, the direction of the advance in the Citadel. In addition, despite the lifting of some restrictions, the weather around Hue remained too poor for the Americans to bring their airpower into play.
South Vietnamese stand on a sidewalk
US National Archives, Original Color, Film Still
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the city, the communists continued their campaign of terror on the civilians. In one area, a Senator home for the Tet holiday was taken by one of the VC death squads and buried alive. In the neighborhoods east of the Citadel, a kangaroo court had been established in the Gia Hoi School, where suspected “enemies of the revolution” were subjected to a “trial”, that almost always ended in summary execution. In another incident, a man is forced to dig a hole while the jeering VC taunt him and shoot at his feet, before the broken man is dragged away to an unknown fate. Many civilians are interred in mass graves near the walls of the Citadel, in a massacre that has been ongoing for several weeks.
The Citadel: 2-13-1968
Mang Ca - ARVN 1st Division Headquarters
Tay Loc Airfield
Chanh Tay Gate - ARVN forces remain cut off by the NVA
ARVN forces clear the northwestern corner of the Citadel today
US Marines of Alpha/1/5 are badly mauled by NVA as they approach the Dong Ba Gate, as the ARVN they were supposed to relieve had pulled back in the night.
Charlie/1/5 begins to push down Dinh Bo Linh Street against NVA resistance
By the afternoon Charlie/1/5 and Bravo/1/5 have reached the old ARVN line
Dong Ba Gate - The tower here is a significant obstacle to the US Marines, but it is taken by the end of the day.
Gia Hoi High School - Location of VC kangaroo court and execution center
Imperial Palace - NVA headquarters
Citadel Gates - Flags indicate controlling faction
Civilians climb the wreckage of the Nguyen Hoang Bridge to escape the Citadel
US National Archives, Original Color, Film Still
The Hamlets
As another grey morning dawned Brigadier General Oscar Davis, the assistant commanding officer if the 1st Cavalry Division, arrived at Thon Lieu Coc Thuong to meet with Lt. Col. Vaught, followed at 1400 by the divisional commander himself, General Tolson. Tolson promises the troopers dug in at the hamlet that he will send another two battalions to support their attacks on Thon La Chu, as well as the 2nd Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division. Aside from these high ranking visitors, little happens today as the cavalrymen lick their wounds from the previous day’s failed attack.
Farther south, 2/12 Cav remained in the position, although some good news would come today, as Pfc. Lewis Williams, who had been presumed killed during the previous days’ action, arrived back in camp. He had been knocked out, with the NVA even looting his “corpse”. He had spent the previous day crawling back to the 2/12 Cav position at Nui Nha Nhan.
The Hamlets: 2-13-1968
Thon Lieu Coc Thuong - Today General Tolson visits 5/7 Cav here, promising reinforcements
Nui Nha Nhan - 2/12 Cav remains in position here today
Thon Bon Tri - NVA remains in the hamlet
Thon Que Chu - NVA outer defenses
Thon La Chu - NVA Tri-Thien Hue Front Headquarters