The victims of the Tết Offensive “will never forget how the communists shattered the Tết Truce with such devastation and violence.” The Vietnam War was raging, a battle between the North Vietnamese with the Việt Cộng against the South Vietnamese and their allies, the U.S. 1954 was the end of the First Indochina War and 1955 marked the beginning of the Vietnam War. The Tết Offensive was a series of synchronized, surprise attacks by the North Vietnamese and Việt Cộng on the people of South Vietnam from January 30 to February 25, 1968. The conflict affected the U.S public’s opinions on the war, and President Johnson announced that he would not be running for reelection a month after the attack. Thousands of North and South Vietnamese and U.S.
…show more content…
Village life was peaceful while people were preparing for Tết, an extremely important holiday for the Vietnamese. In 1962, there was a U.S. military presence at Khe Sanh. In the fall of 1967, the People’s Army of Vietnam, PAVN, began to increase their strength causing U.S. officials to suspect that Khe Sanh would be a target. As a part of Operation Scotland, General Westmoreland reinforced the garrison at Khe Sanh and the attack finally came on January 21, 1968 when the PAVN destroyed 90 percent of the artillery. President Johnson agreed with Westmoreland's argument that the base must held at all costs, largely disregarding the signs of a Communist buildup in the more urban areas of South Vietnam (History.com Staff). At the end of January, Saigon was alive and festive while everyone prepared for Tết. The "Tết Truce" proposed by the Communists seemed to promise the people a safe holiday. On the eve of the new year, thousands of Saigon families prayed that peace might be restored before the altars of their ancestors ("Saigon, Target Zero” 0:54- 1:40). The time of Tết was happy and full of excitement until 1968. “This year, however, the traditional firecrackers of the Tết celebration became the fireworks of
Village life was peaceful while people were preparing for Tết, an extremely important holiday for the Vietnamese. In 1962, there was a U.S. military presence at Khe Sanh. In the fall of 1967, the People’s Army of Vietnam, PAVN, began to increase their strength causing U.S. officials to suspect that Khe Sanh would be a target. As a part of Operation Scotland, General Westmoreland reinforced the garrison at Khe Sanh and the attack finally came on January 21, 1968 when the PAVN destroyed 90 percent of the artillery. President Johnson agreed with Westmoreland's argument that the base must held at all costs, largely disregarding the signs of a Communist buildup in the more urban areas of South Vietnam (History.com Staff). At the end of January, Saigon was alive and festive while everyone prepared for Tết. The "Tết Truce" proposed by the Communists seemed to promise the people a safe holiday. On the eve of the new year, thousands of Saigon families prayed that peace might be restored before the altars of their ancestors ("Saigon, Target Zero” 0:54- 1:40). The time of Tết was happy and full of excitement until 1968. “This year, however, the traditional firecrackers of the Tết celebration became the fireworks of