Comments on: Tet With Tanks – The NVA Easter Offensive, 1972

By: George A. Gunnoe

George A. Gunnoe — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:50:23 +0000

I was at Bien Hoa during this time…we too got hit bad. I was with the 175thRRFS……(Radio Research Field Station)….just a cover designation.

By: John Phillips

John Phillips — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 21:45:41 +0000

Hello Fran, very good research. Even though I was there, I am only now becoming more interested in the bigger picture of the strategic situation.

Your point about the SA-7s is right on, for sure. The heat seekers forced us to operate at ground level (nap of the earth). That made it difficult for the SA-7 to lock on. Even so, we lost our company commander and his crew (48th AHC) to an SA-7. Also, the down side to nap of the earth flying was that it made us considerably more vulnerable to small arms fire. Small arms was the lesser of the two evils though.

By: John Phillips

John Phillips — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 04:00:29 +0000

I of course respect US marines too. The troop carrying marine helicopter pilots were superb.

Its just I had no experience with any US ground troops when I was there because we were supporting the Vietnamese units. The war was pretty much fully Vietnamized by then, at least on the ground.

But I have known plenty of marines who served in Vietnam in the earlier years of the war and have nothing but the greatest respect for the US marines.

But I would also like to once again mention my respect for the dedication to duty, bravery, and fighting ability of the ARVN marines. So, so many did not survive. Let us remember and honor them too. What’s really sad is they ultimately lost their country.

By: John Phillips

John Phillips — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 03:46:29 +0000

I was a cobra pilot with the US Army 48th assault helicopter company at Marble Mountain, on the beach, east of Danang during the 72 easter offensive.

I flew gun cover for insertions of the ARVN marines around Quang Tri area. The troop ships were flown off a carrier by US marine pilots.

I really respected the ARVN marines. We were inserting them nearly on top of NVA divisional HQ sometimes. They were really ripped up bad. They fought hard.

By: Pringle AO3

Pringle AO3 — Wed, 18 May 2011 12:22:28 +0000

I was with VA94 aboard CVA43 at that time as we. I remember us loading the mines dropped in the Harbor, I also remember Bob Hope not arriving at Xmas and have pictures of my decorating the tree which we eventually threw overboard and the painting of Bob Hopes head on to the Mighty Shrikes aircraft head. This all was a long time ago.

By: Steve Settles

Steve Settles — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 23:53:29 +0000

Bill, VA-94 was my first regular duty station and I was onboard Coral Sea when all of the pilots you mention were shot down.

By: James Green

James Green — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 22:37:57 +0000

God Bless you Brother. I myself have been stricken by the Agent Orange and was in and around Danang during the Easter Offensive. I am suffering from cancer ptsd, hearing loss, not to mention other stuff they claim isn’t related. I to remember the bad days each saw and will continue to dream until we are gone. Take care my brother and Semper Fi.

By: SSGT Ken Terpening

SSGT Ken Terpening — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 22:29:14 +0000

Engineer Command Group MR 1 – I was a 18 yr old acting SSGT in
MR 1 before – during – after tet 72 and yes we/I was in this thick shit and yet no reconition from US Army except 13th unamed campaign metal, a lasting PTSD, and now death due to congested heart failure due to agent orange that is being denied, but I would not trade any one moment of that experience as we/I have been there, witnessed the bull**** and not only survived but thrived to this day! Only thing I request fellow survivors is to not ever ever erver forget our fellow tet 72 survivors as officially it ” never happened – it is all in your head ” as I have been told ” officially ” many times. Percivier and **** them all individuall and collectively. SSGT Ken Terpening EngrCmdGrp 72

By: Lizzie

Lizzie — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:09:43 +0000

Thank you General Truong for giving credit to the Americans that were there assisting the ARVN in the Battles of Quang Tri during the Easter Offensive until the very end and calling them by name. It means so much to me – especially since it has been the only reference that I have found on the Internet doing so.

Our own American military have given them no public credit whatsoever, these troops that stayed and fought and served long after the all of the ground troops went home in August 1972.

But you gave them credit where credit was due. Thank you.
May you rest in peace.

Ngo, Lieutenant General Quang Truong, The Easter offensive of 1972. Washington DC: U.S. Army Center of Military History, 1980.

“In addition to support provided the U.S. Air Force, I Corps forces also received much assistance from the U.S. Army 11th Combat Aviation Group whose activities were closely coordinated with those of ARVN units. This group provided essential support with troop lift logistical support and gunships.”

By: Mike Thomas

Mike Thomas — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:50:30 +0000

I was at Tan My for the entire offensive and watched a good portion of it from a 40ft tower that shook 24/7 from the B52 strikes. I was USAF Security Police. We were same place as the fox/4th Air Cav. We had two marines and a platoon of the 196th helping with security. The mass exudus of the South Vietnamese was scary when, at night, you are seeing the war getting closer and closer. Spookies and Cobras were awesome to watch. We saw plenty.

Mike Thomas, SSgt
DaNang, 366SPS Det 1 TanMy 1972