Combat· Vietnam War
Da Nang Tet Attacks
The Tet attacks on Da Nang were part of the nationwide Communist offensive launched during the lunar new year, when North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces struck the great Marine base complex and the surrounding city in a bid to spark a general uprising and overwhelm the allied centers in I Corps. The enemy assaulted the airfield, key installations, and approaches to the city, infiltrating units into the populated areas around the base. The Marines and their allies fought to blunt the attacks, defending the perimeter and clearing infiltrators from the city and its outskirts in sharp local actions. The offensive against Da Nang was contained and defeated, the attackers failing to seize their objectives or ignite the hoped-for uprising, though the fighting underscored the enemy's reach and audacity. The defense of the Da Nang area was a significant part of the Marines' role in turning back the Tet Offensive across the northern provinces.
Record no. 683