720th Military Police Battalion Vietnam History Project |
7th U.S. Campaign |
Counteroffensive
Phase IV, 2 Apri1 1968-30 June 1968 |
During this period friendly forces conducted
a number of battalion-size attritional operations against the enemy. Operations PEGASUS-Lam Son 207 relieved
the Khe Sanh Combat Base on 5 April and thereby opened Route 9 for the
first time since August 1967. This operation not only severely restricted
the North Vietnamese Army's use of western Quang Tri Province but also
inflicted casualties on the remnants of two North Vietnamese divisions
withdrawing from the area. This success was followed by a singular allied
spoiling operation in the A Shau Valley, Operation DELAWARE-Lam Son. These
two operations prevented the enemy from further attacking I Corps Tactical
Zone population centers and forced him to shift his pressure to the III
Corps Tactical Zone. During the period 5-12 May 1968 the Viet Cong launched an offensive with Saigon as the primary objective. Friendly forces defended the city with great determination. Consequently Saigon was never in danger of being overrun. Small Viet Cong units that did manage to get into the outskirts were fragmented and driven out with great loss of enemy life. By the end of June 1968 friendly forces had decisively blunted the enemy's attacks, inflicted very heavy casualties, and hindered his ability to attack urban areas throughout the Republic of Vietnam. The enemy was forced to withdraw to his
sanctuaries. The strength of the U.S. Army in Vietnam reach a peak of nearly 360,000 men during this period. |
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