As you will soon be able to tell, this article wasn’t written by Kathy. Kathy unexpectently was admitted to the hospital. She expressed concerned to me that she wouldn’t be able to get her article written and sent in. That’s where I come in. I promised her I’d write the article for her so the veterans weren’t forgotten this week.
As a Vietnam Veteran this time of the year I always remember the Tet Offensive. It will be 42 years on the 31st of January that the forces of the National Liberation Front (Viet Cong) and the People’s Army of Vietnam (the North Vietnamese army) launched an offensive that was to strike military and civilian centers throughout South Vietnam.
It is referred to as the Tet Offensive because it began during the early morning hours of January 31, 1968, the first day of the year on a traditional lunar calendar and the most important Vietnamese holiday. Both North and South Vietnam had announced on national radio broadcasts that there would be a two-day cease-fire during the holiday. It was a truce I’ll never forget.
When the attack began that morning the offensive was countrywide and well coordinated, with more than 80,000 communist troops striking more than 100 towns and cities. The offensive was the largest military operation by either side up to that point in the war.
The initial attacks caught us, the U.S. and South Vietnamese, by surprise, but most were quickly beaten back, inflicting large casualties on the communist forces. During the Battle of Hue intense fighting lasted for a month and the North Vietnamese executed thousands of residents in the Massacre of Hue. Around the U.S. base at Khe Sanh fighting continued for two more months. Although the offensive was a military defeat for the communists, it had a big impact on the U.S. government and shocked the American public, which was led to believe by our political and military leaders that the communists were not capable of launching such a massive effort.
Thank you fellow Vietnam veterans for your service and contributions to our freedom.
I’d also like to invite all the veterans who are eligible to join the VFW to please do so. We desperately need your assistance in Veterans helping Veterans. Any mother, wife, sister or daughter of an eligible veteran can join the VFW Women’s Auxiliary and assist with the many worthy causes as well as sending supplies and goodies to our troops. VFW Post 1000 is also forming a Men’s Auxiliary for Husbands, Widowers, Fathers, Grandfathers, Sons, Grandsons, Brothers and Half Brothers of persons who were or are eligible for membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars of The United States.
VFW Post 1000 would welcome and appreciate your membership and participation in helping us to continue helping veterans and their families.
For information, please contact me, Bill Taylor, at WJT004@sbcglobal.net or leave a message for me at VFW Post 1000 by calling 816-836-3015.
Kathy, get well soon as I’m not very good at this.
