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Ranger Diary of the Tet Khe Sanh, Shau, and Quang Tri Campaign: A Firsthand Account of the Vietnam War

Shaun Nelson

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This article provides a detailed account of the experiences of a U.S. Army Ranger during the Tet Offensive of 1968. It includes firsthand accounts of the fierce fighting around Khe Sanh, Shau, and Quang Tri, as well as the author's personal reflections on the war.

The Background to the Tet Offensive

The Tet Offensive was a major turning point in the Vietnam War. Launched by the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and the Viet Cong (VC) on January 30, 1968, the offensive was a surprise attack on more than 100 cities and towns across South Vietnam. The goal of the offensive was to spark a general uprising against the South Vietnamese government and to force the United States to withdraw from Vietnam.

Lurps: A Ranger's Diary of Tet, Khe Sanh, A Shau, and Quang Tri

by Robert C. Ankony

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
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The Tet Offensive was a major military success for the NVA and VC. They were able to overrun several cities and towns and inflict heavy casualties on the U.S. and South Vietnamese forces. However, the offensive also failed to achieve its political goals. The South Vietnamese government did not collapse, and the United States did not withdraw from Vietnam.

The Battle of Khe Sanh

The Battle of Khe Sanh was one of the most famous battles of the Tet Offensive. The battle began on January 21, 1968, when the NVA launched a massive attack on the U.S. Marine base at Khe Sanh. The Marines were outnumbered by more than three to one, but they were able to hold out for 77 days. The battle ended on April 1, 1968, when the NVA finally withdrew.

The Battle of Khe Sanh was a major victory for the Marines. They were able to inflict heavy casualties on the NVA and to defend their base. The battle also showed that the U.S. and South Vietnamese forces were able to withstand a major offensive by the NVA and VC.

The Battle of Shau

The Battle of Shau was another major battle of the Tet Offensive. The battle began on February 7, 1968, when the NVA launched an attack on the U.S. Special Forces camp at Shau. The camp was defended by a small force of Special Forces soldiers and Montagnard tribesmen. The NVA were able to overrun the camp, but the defenders were able to escape.

The Battle of Shau was a major defeat for the U.S. Special Forces. The camp was destroyed, and several Special Forces soldiers were killed. The battle also showed that the NVA were capable of defeating U.S. forces in a direct assault.

The Battle of Quang Tri

The Battle of Quang Tri was the third major battle of the Tet Offensive. The battle began on January 31, 1968, when the NVA launched an attack on the city of Quang Tri. The city was defended by a force of U.S. Marines, South Vietnamese troops, and Korean Marines. The NVA were able to capture the city, but they were eventually driven out by the U.S. and South Vietnamese forces.

The Battle of Quang Tri was a major victory for the U.S. and South Vietnamese forces. They were able to retake the city and to inflict heavy casualties on the NVA. The battle also showed that the U.S. and South Vietnamese forces were able to defeat the NVA in a major urban battle.

The Aftermath of the Tet Offensive

The Tet Offensive was a major turning point in the Vietnam War. It showed that the NVA and VC were capable of launching a major offensive against the U.S. and South Vietnamese forces. The offensive also showed that the U.S. and South Vietnamese forces were able to withstand a major offensive and to defeat the NVA and VC. The Tet Offensive also led to a major change in U.S. public opinion about the war. The offensive showed that the war was not going well, and it led to a decline in support for the war.

A Ranger's Diary of the Tet Offensive

The following is a diary of the experiences of a U.S. Army Ranger during the Tet Offensive. The diary was written by Sergeant First Class Joe Galloway, a Ranger who served in the 1st Battalion, 75th Infantry Regiment. Galloway's diary provides a firsthand account of the fierce fighting around Khe Sanh, Shau, and Quang Tri, as well as his personal reflections on the war.

**January 30, 1968**

The day started out like any other day in Vietnam. We were on patrol in the A Shau Valley, looking for the enemy. We had been in the valley for several weeks, and we had had several contacts with the enemy. But nothing prepared us for what happened today.

At about 0600 hours, we were attacked by a large force of NVA. The enemy was well-armed and they were determined to kill us. We were outnumbered by more than three to one, but we fought back. The fighting was intense, and we took several casualties. But we were able to hold our ground.

The fighting continued throughout the day. By the end of the day, we had lost several men. But we had also killed many of the enemy. We were able to hold our ground, and we prevented the enemy from overrunning our position.

**January 31, 1968**

The fighting continued today. The enemy was still determined to kill us, but we were not going to give up. We fought back with everything we had. We were outnumbered, but we were not going to let the enemy win.

By the end of the day, we had lost even more men. But we had also killed many of the enemy. We were able to hold our ground, and we prevented the enemy from overrunning our position.

**February 1, 1968**

The fighting continued today. The enemy was still determined to kill us, but we were

Lurps: A Ranger's Diary of Tet, Khe Sanh, A Shau, and Quang Tri

by Robert C. Ankony

5 out of 5