February 6, 1968
The Provincial Administration Building
Original Caption: Twentieth Century “Angle of Mercy” — D. R. Howe (Glencoe, MN) treats the wounds of Private First Class D. A. Crum (New Brighton, PA), Company H, 2nd Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment, during Operation Hue City
US National Archives, Original Color
February 5 had been marked by the most significant gains to date by the Marines in Hue. The taking of the eastern helf of the hospital complex had represented a gain of four blocks, and placed them only one block from their earlier objective at the Thua Thien Provincial prison. The blue and red flag of the Vietcong was now visible flying over the Thua Thien Provincial Administration Building as well, and the commander of 2/5, Lt. Col. Ernie Cheatham, today gave new orders: that flag would come down today.
Hotel/2/5 Marines carry a wounded man to cover
US National Archives
The Citadel
Very little information has presented itself regarding the situation of the ARVN in the Citadel today, so it must be assumed that they simply held their positions.
The Citadel: 2-6-1968
Mang Ca - ARVN 1st Division Headquarters
Tay Loc Airfield
Surrounded ARVN units continue to hold
Imperial Palace - NVA Headquarters
Citadel Gates - Flags indicate controlling faction
Cpl. Gary Keller of Hotel/2/5 fires an M60 from a bathroom window
US National Archives
The Triangle
The fighting began in the hospital complex at 0425, when the NVA attempted to push the Marines out of the southeastern corner. This was repulsed with only one Marine suffering minor casualties, and by 0700 the marines began their attack on the western block of the hospital. By 0734 the hospital administration building had been secured by Golf/2/5, and Hotel/2/5 would begin the assault on the Provincial Administration Building at 0820, while the rest of 2/5 continued the clearing of the hospital.
Marines set up an E8 gas launcher to support the attack on the Provincial Administration Building
US National Archives
The attck on the Provincial Administration Building would be stalled, however, as a truck driver makes a grievous mistake regarding the position of the Marine lines. The Marines of Hotel/2/5 were stunned as it nonchalantly drove straight past them, and directly into the line of fire of the NVA in the building. In the hail of bullets that followed, the truck quickly retreated, but two men were left wounded in the street. One of them is able to crawl to safety, but the other remains where he fell, forcing another Marine to crawl out and drag him to safety. Upon getting him back, the rescuer is outraged to discover the man appears completely fine, although it later is revealed that although the wounded Marine’s flak jacket had stopped the bullet it had still shattered the man’s collarbone and caused internal trauma.
An Ontos in the Triangle
USMC Photo
After attempts to cross the street and attack the Administration Building fail, an Ontos is brought forward to blast an entrance into the wall, as opposed to the heavily guarded front gate. But as the vehicle rolled into position an RPG hit it dead on, leaving the vehicle to careen into the perimeter wall of the Administration Building, belching smoke. Both driver and gunner then clambered out, badly concussed, leaving the vehicle to continue pusing away at the wall in a gesture of futility. Eventually a Marine would run out to shut off its engine.
Gas mask clad Marines prepare to enter the Provincial Administration Building
Just after 0900 the last pockets of resistance in the hospital had been reduced, and the entirity of 2/5 was able to turn against the Provincial Administration Building. The attack resumed at 0950 with two Pattons in support, as well as a barrage of CS gas. The gas did not work as well here as it had at the Treasury, however, as the breeze from the Perfume River carried the clouds of irritant away from the target and dispersed it. The tanks also ran into difficulty, with one taking by two RPGs, although it remained operational. Despite the fierce resistance, the Marines were eventually able to establish a foothold in the Provincial Administration Building, but the NVA continued to fight for the interior.
A Marine with an M60 in a window
US National Archives
Eventually, at 1020, the NVA launched a counterattack, wresting control of the hospital’s TB building from the Marines to prevent their position in the Thua Thien Provincial Prison from being flanked. In addition to this, they had established killzones on the streets approaching both buildings, making it impossible for the Americans to approach them without taking significant casualties. The Marines would soon be reinforced, however, as the withdrawal of the NVA remaining in the area near the Joan of Arc School would allow 1/1 to move up and join in the assault. They begin to move westward, eliminating pockets of resistance as they do so. At 1345 they reach the hospital, linking up with 2/5.
Bravo/1/1 Marines on the streets of Hue
US National Archives
By 1405 the area of the hospital abutting the Provincial Prison had been retaken and secured by Golf/2/5, and plans were put into motion to take the facility. It made for an intimidating target, with the same stone walls and guard towers that had allowed the ARVN to hold it for days now facing the marines tasked with retaking it. The assault began at 1405, with the Marines blasting through the walls at 1415, quickly taking control of the complex. The NVA had rapidly abandoned the prison as they Marines attacked, leaving several captured ARVN soldiers in the cells to be released by the Americans.
1/1 Marines engaged in house to house fighting
USMC Photo
As for the Provincial Administration Building, even after the Marines pressed into the building it remained a maze of offices and corridors filled with NVA. As the fighting continues, 2/5 XO Major John Salvati leads a bazooka team into a hospital ward littered with dead patients to fire at the enemy in the building below. The group receives a shock when the backblast from the first rocket elicits shouts and remonstrations from the “corpses”, who, as it turned out, had only been feigning death. The backblast of the rocket launcher had physically blown several of them out of their beds, and as one could imagine, they were not overly pleased. In another incident with backblast, when a 106mm recoilless rifle is brought up to fire from the street. No call is made before it is fired, and Pfc. Walter Kaczmarek is knocked out by the force of the backblast.
A Marine climbs through a broken wall
US National Archives
At 1425 the attack on the Provincial Administration Building was called off to allow for bombardment to soften up the NVA within, as well as another barrage of CS gas. After the initial attack goes awry when the Marines get turned around in the thick clouds of gas, they are forced to regroup and try again. This time the Marines, with Pfc. Kaczmarek on point as Hotel/2/5’s 1st Platoon enters the building, with a ban on the use of grenades due to the thin interior walls.
The NVA stages a fighting withdrawal from the building, taking shots over their shoulders at the Marines as they push inside the structure. As they Marines reach the far side, they set up their M60s to rain fire on the retreating NVA fleeing toward the power plant, and finally, at 1603, a CBS camera crew films as Pfc. Walter Kaczmarek and Pfc. Alan McDonald hauled down the VC flag. After a quick search, another Marine produces an American flag from his flak jacket, and it is hoisted over the building.
The US flag goes up over the Provincial Administration Building
US National Archives
“Be advised we have taken Provincial Headquarters. Somehow or other, an American flag is flying over there”
The flag raising is technically not allowed, as only the gold and red RVN flag is supposed to be raised over anything other than American military posts in South Vietnam, but Cheatham understands fully that Americans who had fought and bled so much over the last few days would want their flag to be raised over the prize that was the Provincial Administration Building.
Hotel/2/5 Marines pose with the flag they tore down from the Provincial Administration Building
Despite the flag raising, the building was not yet entirely secure, with Gunnery Sgt. Frank Thomas leading the clearing of the remaining pockets of resistance, shotgun in hand. It would take until 1800 before the Marines stood down for the night. The Marines had taken the two most prominent objectives in the Triangle, and had destroyed the best of the 4th NVA Regiment in the process. To top it all, despite several wounded, only one American was killed in action during today’s fighting in the Triangle.
Gunnery Sgt. Frank Thomas poses in a toy car after the fighting ended
US National Archives
The Triangle: 2-6-1968
MACV Compound
Doc Lap Park LZ
LCU Ramp
Hue University - With the Americans having pushed several blocks away, the University is rapidly becoming a refugee center
Joan of Arc School - Today 1/1 is able to leave the school to support the attacks to the west
Hospital - Jump-off point for the Marines today
Thua Thien Provincial Administration Building - Today the building falls to the Marines, with the US flag hoisted over the building
Thua Thien Provincial Prison - Despite the defensibility of the structure, the NVA retreats without major resistance here
Le Lai Military Camp - As they spread out from the prison, the Marines storm the camp and clear out the NVA
Power Plant - The NVA retreats here in disarray after loosing the Provincial Administration Building.
The Hamlets
Having pulled back to defensive positions through the night, the cavalrymen of 5/7 Cav resumed their march to Thon La Chu today, quickly reaching the Huey helicopter that had been shot down yesterday. Despite this, the crew were nowhere to be found, and will never be seen again.
Soon afterward, they enter Thon Lieu Coc Thuong, finding the village abandoned by the NVA. Evidence of their recent occupation is scattered about, and it soon becomes apparent that the village was a major supply dump. In addition to the strong defenses in nearby Thon La Chu, the significance of the area to the NVA is finally becoming apparent to the Americans.
The battle outside the city: 2-5-1968
Thon Lieu Coc Thuong - 5/7 Cav retake the village today with no resistance
Nui Nha Nhan - 2/12 Cav remains at ARVN outpost
Thon La Chu - NVA Thua Thien Hue Front Headquarters