February 23, 1968
The Eastern Citadel is Secured
A Marine from Delta/1/5 fires his M16 down a street
US National Archives
The US Marines launched their attack for today at 0800, with Marines of Delta/1/5 soon reaching the southern wall as the NVA resistance in the area collapsed. The same could not be said for Lima/3/5, which attempted to push toward the junction of the Imperial Palace complex and the southern wall, encountering NVA on the walls, damaging one of the M48 tanks they had attached to their unit in the process.
A Marine rests in a pedicab near a bridge
US National Archives
The skies today were finally clear, allowing unrestricted close air support to aid the Marines, and by 1000 the Thuong Tu Gate was secure, with the last major NVA position in the eastern Citadel a strongpoint east of the gate in a series of well built structures. Captain Myron Harrington, the CO of Delta/1/5, would win the Navy Cross for personally leading his men to destroy the position, supported by danger close mortar fire.
US Marines pose in ARVN officer’s caps
US National Archives
In an unfortunate incident today, an M48 tank sighted movement in a building near the Imperial Palace and moved to engage it. It was spotted by 1/5 CO Major Bob Thompson as it stopped fired on the Palace, and then traversed its turret to point directly at the 1/5 command post. Nothing could be done except hit the floor as the 90mm shell was fired directly into the CP, destroying the building but miraculously not injuring any of the Marines inside.
A NVA ammunition dump explodes across the Perfume River from the LCU Ramp
USMC Photo
In the afternoon as the fighting on the streets wound down, Captain Harrington met with Captain Tran Ngoc “Harry” Hue, the commander of the ARVN Hac Bao (Black Panther) Company, and informed him that his men could now storm the Imperial Palace. Despite the ARVN officer’s enthusiasm days prior, today he asks the US Marines to enter the Palace, but is informed that the American command has forbidden them from entering the complex. As deliberations continue, the US Marines report that all objectives in the eastern Citadel are secure by the end of the day.
A Marine rests on the deck of his Ontos
USMC Photo
In the west, the RVNMC had planned to commence their attack today after a large artillery barrage on the NVA positions south of the Thuy Quan Canal, but that promised artillery never materialized. The Vietnamese Marines commenced their attack of 1100 despite this, but were able to make no major gains today, as the NVA remained in force in this area, with many pushing toward the Huu Gate in an attempt to flee the city.
The Citadel: 2-23-1968
Mang Ca - ARVN 1st Division Headquarters
Tay Loc Airfield
RVNMC Line - No major progress today, as the NVA remains in strength here and the Vietnamese Marines receive no artillery support
ARVN Line - ARVN remains in position to isolate the NVA in the Imperial Palace
USMC Line - The US Marines today secure the southwestern corner of the Citadel, destroying the last NVA positions.
Thuong Tu Gate - Today US Marines secure the gate as they destroy the last NVA in their area of operations
US Flag remains flying from the corner of the Citadel
Imperial Palace - NVA Headquarters. Today Major Bob Thompson informs the ARVN they can storm the complex, but they do not do so.
Huu Gate - NVA and VC continue to attempt to withdraw via this gate as the RVNMC threatens to completely close it.
Citadel Gates - Flags indicate controlling faction