February 3, 1968
Send in the Cavalry
Alpha/1/1 Marines under fire near Joan d’Arc School
USMC Photo
The third of February opened just as cold and rainy as the previous days. Only sporadic fighting was currently taking place around the MACV compound in the triangle, and the ARVN in the citadel were primarily concerned with consolidating the previous day’s gains. The city is covered with the stench of death, as bodies rot in the streets, and most basic utilities have failed. At MACV there is no water, and instead the Marines have access to a vast quantity of orange soda, for reasons no one seems sure of.
An Army M42 Duster on a Hue street
US National Archives
The Triangle
At 1220 HQ/2/5 left Phu Bai in a convoy along Highway 1, guarded by an additional two Army M42 dusters. In addition to Col. Cheatham and more Marines, a large arsenal was loaded onto the trucks, including grenades, old M20 bazookas, flamethrowers and recoilless rifles. Also brought along were several mechanical mules, which could be used for a variety of tasks including transporting casualties, munitions, or even be mounted with a recoilless rifle.
An M48 supports Marines in street fighting
US National Archives
The convoy arrived in the city at 1258, having encountered no trouble on the drive from Phu Bai, and Cheatham lost no time in taking command. “Big Ernie” is an imposing presence, and had actually played football professionally before leaving sports to serve in the Marine Corps in Korea. Having found his calling, he elected to remain with the Corps rather than return to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and by early 1968 was the commander of 2/5. Arriving in the city, he promptly set up a forward command post in Hue University, with a clear view down a street lined with VC flags.
A Marine takes cover from sniper fire near Hue University as an M48 advances
US National Archives
Reinforced and resupplied, the Marines launched another attack at 1345, pushing across Ly Thuong Kiet Street to attack the Treasury and the Health Department buildings. The Treasury in particular, a strongly build concrete structure with a commanding view of the street, quickly proved to be a difficult target to subdue. Supported by smoke rounds fired from mortars near MACV and covered by machine guns on the roof of Hue University, elements of Hotel/2/5 joined into the attack, but immediately began to sustain heavy casualties. In addition to the NVA firing from the strongly built Treasury, a well concealed machine gun nest down the street in the Le Loi Elementary School was able to hit anyone who stepped into the street in front of the Treasury.
M48s on the streets near Hue University
US National Archives
Marines of Alpha/1/1, meanwhile, had taken control of part of the Joan of Arc School directly across the street from the Treasury, and were using the elevated positions provided by it to rain fire on the building. 15 LAWs, 50 M79 grenades and 30 bazooka rockets are fired at the building, with only the large, old bazookas proving capable of any kind of damage to the building. One Marine is able to cross the street and enter the Treasury yard, but is quickly shot down, another who attempts to rescue him is also killed in the attempt.
Marines hoist bazooka rockets onto the roof of Hue University.
US National Archives
An M48 tank attempted to move into position to cover the assaults, but was driven back by the intense RPG fire on Ly Thuong Kiet Street. Despite this, Marines of Hotel/2/5 were still able to gain access to the Health Department complex by 1758, and would be in control of it by 1855. Despite this victory, the Marines had still not been able to enter the Treasury, or even to gain a foothold across the street in front of it. The fighting continued for another half hour before, at 1924, the Marines abandoned the Public Health complex, rather than risk being flanked as night fell.
Civilians cross the Truoi Bridge into part of the ruined city
Original Color
In another area of the new city, two French journalists, including photographer Catherine Leroy had spent the previous evening in the Hue Cathedral amongst a crowd of civilian refugees. These refugees had, however, forced them to leave in the morning, fearful of VC reprisals should they be found with Europeans. The journalists had been captured later in the day by an NVA patrol and bound before being taken to the power plant. A visit by an NVA officer later secures their release, and they spend the rest of the day photographing the NVA in the city. They eventually make it back to the cathedral and from their to the MACV be evening.
Marines fire an M60 from behind a tree
USMC Photo
In a far more grim turn of events, closer to the MACV, one of the Sea Knights attempting to leave the Doc Lap LZ is almost shot down trying to take off. One wounded tanker takes off his evacuation tag and walks back to his tank at MACV. He returns to his tank, but sees several Marines running from a building, vomiting and obviously upset. Upon investigation he discovers the NVA had killed and chopped up an entire family inside.
An M48 moves past a line of refugees on a street
US National Archives
The Triangle: 2-3-1968
MACV Compound
Doc Lap Park LZ
LCU Ramp
Hue University
USAF Communications Post - Another attempt to relieve it by the Marines fails today
AFVN Detachment 5 - Remains surrounded by the NVA
Treasury and Public Health Complex - These structures see heavy fighting today, but the Marines are unable to dislodge the NVA
Le Loi Elementary School - An NVA machine gun nest here causes considerable difficulty to the Marines assaulting the Treasury
Outside the City
2/12Cav had remained overnight encamped near PK17 to the north of the city, and in the morning moved out on foot toward the red glow on the horizon that was the burning city. All four companies of the regiment were participating in the operation, advancing on foot as an infantry formation. Under normal circumstances, the cavalry would operate as an airmobile force, but due to the redeployment of forces that had been ongoing when the Tet Offensive began, there was not sufficient fuel or parts for the helicopters at Camp Evans. This disadvantage was somewhat offset by the fact that Lt. Col. Sweet was a veteran infantry commander, and had even served as an infantry instructor at Fort Benning.
A Marine takes cover along Tran Cao Van Street
USMC Photo
The troopers of 2/12Cav set out at 0700 into the grey mist that hung over the region, moving through the more remote areas off of Highway 1 due to the danger of ambush on the main road. They would see no contact until 0850, when they began to take sniper fire. An attempt to call in artillery fire from the ARVN guns at PK17 was made, but came to naught due to the language barrier. The troopers moved on, with no casualties.
At 0950 Alpha/1/12Cav entered the hamlet of Thon Que Chu, discovering no enemy within, but clear signs of it being recently abandoned. As they proceed beyond it they spot civilians fleeing toward the next village, and NVA troops dug in between the two towns. Encountering these positions, the cavalrymen are quickly pinned down, and even the arrival of UH-1 “hogs”is not sufficient to break the NVA positions.
Marines wait in Doc Lap Park
USMC Photo
Pinned down near a small graveyard between Thon Que Chu and Thon La Chu, the cavalrymen face a difficult choice. On Sweet’s orders, they prepare to charge the NVA line, some men even fixing their bayonets. They are able to gain 200 hards toward La Chu, but suffer nine men KIA and a further 48 WIA. Despite this victory, the troopers cannot withdraw or advance further, with the Americans stuck in a position that will soon be named TFP, or “This Fucking Place”.
“How are goin’ to get outa this fucking place?”
Tanks and jeeps on a war torn street in Hue
Original Color
In the afternoon helicopters arrive to extract casualties, as well as bring in more supplies. The troopers were generally underprepared for the weather conditions, and the supplies of dry socks were especially appreciated, even if there were not enough to go around.
“Get to General Tolson and tell him if we don’t get artillery support soon, this battalion will be completely lost. It will cease to exist”
Scudder promptly reported the situation to General Tolson, who had relocated his divisional headquarters to PK17, and was told that divisional artillery would be available to support 2/12Cav within the hour. A load of 1500 shells would be sent south on Highway 1 from Camp Evans at 1650, arriving at 1745, finally alleviating the munitions problem at PK17. Two howitzers had already been flown into the camp via Chinooks, but the helicopters had dropped them outside the perimeter, forcing the crews to manhandle them into position for firing. The guns are able to begin providing support at 1800, preventing the cavalrymen from being overrun at TFP as night falls.