Posted on 06/09/2018 12:16:49 PM PDT by rktman
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Tet Offensive, in which the North Vietnamese orchestrated a massive coordinated attack throughout South Vietnam. A book out in paperback on May 8, entitled The Odyssey of Echo Company: The 1968 Tet Offensive and the Epic Battle to Survive the Vietnam War, takes readers on the journey of Stan Parker. Americans need to be reminded of soldiers like Parker who fought patriotically for this country.
While in Afghanistan, researching another book, Horse Soldiers, Doug Stanton met Sergeant Major Stan Parker, one of the U.S. Army's longest serving soldiers. Parker convinced him to write a book about the stories of the men he served with in Vietnam. Like many in Echo Company, a Recon Company in the 101st Airborne Division, Parker enlisted to fight for his country against the evils of communism. They arrived in mid-December 1967 in Vietnam just prior to Tet. Parker speaks to Stanton about the unending list of horrors, losses, and miseries, not just overseas, but also on the home front, that he and his peers endured.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
American forces never lost a major battle in the Vietnam War, including Tet. It was people like LBJ, McNamara, and Walter Cronkite who lost it.
The Left celebrated the Tet Offensive as the beginning of what they saw as a military defeat for the United States. The NVA and VC achieved at best a draw in the battle thanks to brave soldiers like Parker. Yet Tet did strengthen opposition to the war back in the states and set the stage for the eventual fall of Saigon. The political will to win was broken. Thank you Uncle Walter.
Wish more people knew of the horrible crimes committed by the North and the VC in Hue.
Upwards of 6,000 civilians were murdered, many buried alive.
A real preview of things to come once the communists took over.
High Five to those from 1968 that made it home, but still have that nasty taste in their mouth from their homecoming reception. Like the excerpt from the article stated, the middle east vets today deserve their standing ovations at homecoming, plus their first class flights, news coverage at the airport showing reunion with family. They earned the outpourings. A stark difference from the hostility shown in the 60’s for anyone unluckily recognized as having anything to do with the military. Big difference 50 years makes.
IMHO, Vietnam was no different than Korea - a Soviet/Communist supported ake over of an East Asian country through invasion and guerrilla tactics.
In Korea, we met the challenge and the aggressor understood that continued fighting was useless. The USA built and protected what became a great and successful country - South Korea. America is rightly proud of its role there.
In Vietnam, part of the government and population undermined the war. It gave the enemy encouragement.
Yes indeed. And, it was not confined stateside either. We used firehouses in Copenhagen to water down some protestors. With rocks and bottles inbound. Kinda like the same thing today with aunt teefuh with different targets.
I guess some would call it a ‘draw’
1968 Tet Offensive troop deaths
US Forces 1,536
ARVN 2,788
NVA/VC 45,000
If you use real fuzzy math or common core.
In no way can this possibly be true?
I landed in country during Tet of 68.
If this were true I would be, like ancient, or elderly; no way, Jose...
Clearly fake.
They (media) said Khe Sanh would end the same as Dien Bien Phu because, as I realized, they wanted it to. Finished me with the media.
4Ltr
and don’t forget John F’n Kerry and McLame
I went back for an old soldier visit in 03. I got to know some soldiers from the other side. The attitude from the old city boy from Hà Nội was typically Asian/Buddhist. The time and participants in that war was fate. The war is gone. Have more tea.
All of them consider that America, unlike Japan and France and China was in Việt Nam to help at least some Vietnamese. America was not believed to desire conquest or to stay. Almost all Vietnamese love Americans and desire that their country be friends with Nước Hoa ky- the USA.
I had heard about the reception that troops got when they were separated, especially at SF and steeled myself for it. I and an infantry guy were walking together on Hayes and market Streets right after separation and before our buses were scheduled to take us out of there. We were not in uniform except for our boots but surely we looked like new returnees. I saw many signs and graffiti but no untoward attitudes on the street. I think that was a weird hiatus because others who followed me a couple of days later got the treatment.
The enemy were prepared to lose millions of lives to win. We weren’t. So we didn’t.
The f-tard a-hole Democrats decided the war was to be lost because their agenda comes first. They were scum then and scum now.
I blame the South Vietnamese government which gave preferential treatment to their Catholic minority and alienated the Buddhist majority.
Step dad was in the Thick of Tet with the Casper Platoon 173rd Airborne. Never got to find out what he went through, he took it with him to his grave. RIP to all the men that died in Vietnam.
Walter Cronkite is one of the people I hate in life. What he caused was reprehensible to our boys and I will damn him to hell till my last breath. That goes for hippy,Liberal, Communists. I am triggered!
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