Tet 68

threetango · Feb 1, 2015

Over the next few days I'm going to post a few pictures of the Battle of Kontum during TET 68 which the majority haven't heard of but more than 1200 NVA and VC were killed.
I was an infantryman in C co I/22 Infantry 4th Division.

http://1-22infantry.org/history/kontumtitle.htm

Heading into the city.

As we were going in this South Vietnamese soldier were going the other way.

More pics to follow.

threetango · Feb 1, 2015

A short break, notice the guy with the M79 grenade launcher in the right foreground.

M79
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M79_grenade_launcher

LT calling for support.

Guest · Feb 2, 2015

Great stuff 3T. Looking forward to seeing more. Thanks.

RibEye · Feb 2, 2015

M79 grenade launcher - do not tell me you have acquired one , love the History - thank you 3Tango

threetango · Feb 2, 2015

There was a 51 cal machine gun set up in this steeple.It was outside of the airfield ( other side of the trees on the right) where we were set up and had us pinned down all night but at daybreak a jeep pulled up towing a 106 recoiless on a trailer.
The gunner fired one 50 cal spotting round and then blew the top of the steeple out with a 106 round.
No more fire!

In the foreground if you look you will see tank round casings and just to the right of the chair 2 NVA no longer in the fight.
The white building far center was full of NVA and we assaulted it behind the two tanks you see .

SHOOTER13 · Feb 2, 2015

Real stories from real heroes...

Thanks for your service Mike !!!!

Guest · Feb 2, 2015

12.7×108mm Russian Havy Machine Gun

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12.7×108mm

http://www.sadefensejournal.com/wp/?p=1439

Guest · Feb 2, 2015

M40 Recoiless Rifle

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M40_recoilless_rifle

SHOOTER13 · Feb 3, 2015

Thanks for the links Ed...

Actually remembered seeing the M40 recoiless in action on the History Channel's Battle of Hue City...January 31st, 1968.

Devastating power for a mobile crew served piece of artillery...

threetango · Feb 3, 2015

Me with a few of the captured weapons.
Right center on the ground more NVA casualties

One of the guys in my squad with a captured NVA RPD machine gun.

Heavy fighting here.

Guest · Feb 4, 2015

That building is in need of some serious renovation 3T

Here's the RPD Machine gun:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RPD_machine_gun

threetango · Feb 4, 2015

On this day 4 Feb in 68 we had defeated the regiment of NVA/VC that were trying to take the MACV compound and here's just a portion of enemy equipment we recovered. Notice the South Vietnamese helmets (American supplied) and used by the NVA/VC.
RPD is front left upside down with drum on the bag.
Just to it's right on a bamboo stick is a large block of explosives.
Notice the (mash potato) stick grenades to the right of the explosive.
The fighting was still going on just outside town.

Explanation of flags.
The 2 on the left were South Vietnamese flags recaptured from the NVA and I also have one that was much more shot up but not pictured.
The flag on the right is a VC flag that they planned on raising to show that South Vietnam was under Cong control. (That didn't happen)
Side note: the Lt that was showing the VC version on the right was hit the next day and medivac'd out to the hospital in Pleiku. He survived and made it home.

tazo2503 · Feb 5, 2015

Thanks so much for sharing these pics 3T. Keep them coming!

threetango · Feb 5, 2015

Last one.
On 5 Feb 68 we passed this on the way out of Kontum and could have used it's support about two hours later when my company was ambushed by a reinforced company of NVA just outside the town.
We had 8 killed and 11 wounded of which I was one.
That was the last combat I saw in Vietnam.

The other pics I have are too graphic to post here.

I now know why men who have been to war yearn to reunite. Not to tell stories or look at old pictures. Not to laugh or weep. Comrades gather because they long to be with the men who once acted at their best; men who suffered and sacrificed together, who were stripped of their humanity. I did not pick these men. They were delivered by fate and the military. But I know them in a way I know no other men.
I have never given anyone such trust. They were willing to guard something more precious than my life. They would have carried my reputation, the memory of me. It was part of the bargain we all made, the reason we were so willing to die for one another. As long as I have memory, I will think of them all, every day. I am sure that when I leave this world, my last thought will be of my family and my comrades…Such good men.

By an unnamed Soldier

Guest · Feb 5, 2015

Thanks 3T for the posts. And thanks for your service.

RibEye · Feb 5, 2015

#respect , thank you for your services threeTango

havasu · Feb 6, 2015

I just finished the Netflix 6 part series called Vietnam in HD. One segment was about the Tet Offensive. Damn, that looked rough.

God bless you Sir!

SHOOTER13 · Feb 6, 2015

Thanks for sharing Mike !!

threetango · Feb 6, 2015

havasu said:
I just finished the Netflix 6 part series called Vietnam in HD. One segment was about the Tet Offensive. Damn, that looked rough.

God bless you Sir!

Here, from the first post is a link that gets into detail on the Battle of Kontum.

http://1-22infantry.org/history/kontumtitle.htm

RibEye · Feb 6, 2015

http://www.snubnose.info/docs/bodyguard.htm

i have the S&W - Model 49 - alot of history

Tet 68

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