Attack On The American Embassy During Tet, 1968: Factors That Turned A Tactical Victory Into A Political Defeat
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This thesis first examines the attack on the U.S. Embassy during the Tet Offensive of 1968, and what factors turned a tactical victory into a political defeat. The Marine Security Guards (MSGs) and Military Police (MP) were effective at preventing the enemy from entering and holding the Chancery. The MSGs and MPs at the Embassy achieved a clear tactical victory, yet the action was portrayed as a political defeat. Two sets of factors contributed to this portrayal: the political situation, including shifting public opinion and declining media-military relations; and actions taken by the State Department that directly affected the conduct of the action at the Embassy.
Major Robert J. O'Brien
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Attack On The American Embassy During Tet, 1968 - Major Robert J. O'Brien
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Text originally published in 2009 under the same title.
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THE ATTACK ON THE AMERICAN EMBASSY DURING TET, 1968: EFFECTIVENESS OF MARINE AND MILITARY POLICE RESPONSE
BY
MAJOR ROBERT J. O’BRIEN.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS 4
ABSTRACT 5
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 6
ACRONYMS 8
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 10
CHAPTER 1 — INTRODUCTION 12
Public Opinion 13
Alert Issued 14
Media 17
Overview of the Tet Offensive 17
Overview of the Embassy Battle 18
Media Reaction 19
Host Nation Forces 20
CHAPTER 2 — BACKGROUND 23
Significance of Tet Holiday 23
Description of Physical Structure of Embassy 24
Mission, Organization, Training, and Equipment: MSGs 25
Mission, Organization, Training, and Equipment: MPs 28
CHAPTER 3 — POLITICAL SITUATION 33
Public Opinion 34
The Johnson Administration’s Good News Campaign 34
The American Embassy as a Symbol and a Target 37
Media and Military Relations and Selective Reporting 37
CHAPTER 4 — THE BATTLE AT THE AMERICAN EMBASSY 41
The Gate 41
The Chancery 42
The Roof 42
The Reaction Teams 44
1st Military Police Patrol Dispatched 44
Captain O’Brien’s Reaction Team: Mac Dinh Chi Street Side 46
Staff Sergeant Banks Team: Norodom Side 51
Lieutenant Ribich 527th Military Police Company Alert Force 52
The Viet Cong Sapper Survivors 53
State Department Reaction to the Battle 55
CHAPTER 5 — CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE TODAY 58
Information Operations 59
Relevance Today 60
Areas for Further Study 60
Summary 61
ILLUSTRATIONS 62
APPENDIX A — TIMELINE 66
31 January 1968 66
1 February 1968 68
APPENDIX B. — RANK ABBREVIATIONS CONFORM TO THE SERVICE, ARMY OR MARINE CORPS 69
MARINE RANKS 69
ARMY RANKS 69
REQUEST FROM THE PUBLISHER 70
BIBLIOGRAPHY 71
ABSTRACT
What could have made the Military Police (MP) and Marine Security Guard (MSG) response more effective, averting negative media coverage and public opinion? The Tet Offensive has been widely acknowledged as the turning point of the United States (U.S.) effort in Vietnam. The Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces attacked over 100 cities and towns on 31 January 1968, during the Tet holiday. At the epicenter of this cataclysmic event was the attack on the U.S. Embassy. Although this was a platoon level action, the publicity generated would be wildly disproportionate to the value of the Embassy as a military target. Controversy has continued unabated four decades later. The media role in conveying the outcome of the attack is still a subject of debate. The fact that the U.S. forces that successfully defended the Embassy were greatly outnumbered and not organized or equipped as combat troops was not portrayed in media reports.
This thesis first examines the attack on the U.S. Embassy during the Tet Offensive of 1968, and what factors turned a tactical victory into a political defeat. The Marine Security Guards (MSGs) and Military Police (MP) were effective at preventing the enemy from entering and holding the Chancery. The MSGs and MPs at the Embassy achieved a clear tactical victory, yet the action was portrayed as a political defeat. Two sets of factors contributed to this portrayal: the political situation, including shifting public opinion and declining media-military relations; and actions taken by the State Department that directly affected the conduct of the action at the Embassy.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to thank my committee, especially my committee chairman, Dr. Jack D. Kem who offered crystal clear guidance. Thanks to Dr. Stephen Bourque, CH (MAJ) Steve Roberts, and Ed Kennedy. Also to Dr. Robert F. Baumann, Director of Graduate degree programs, for the opportunity and kind assistance.
I owe my eternal gratitude to Mrs. Venita Krueger, whose countless hours of technical support and words of encouragement were instrumental in the completion of this project.
SSG Thomas L. Egor
Johnson (ret) wrote the best source that describes the battle in detail. His encouragement and support are deeply appreciated. His unique perspective as the crew chief on the MEDEVAC at the battle, then as an MP and author, culminating as a civilian chief of police enriched my understanding of how significant this event was. He is a true American hero.
My thanks and deepest respect to all of the veterans of the battle that communicated with me, especially: MAJ (ret) Frank Ribich, (now deceased), SFC (ret) Arthur Pancho
Rivera, LTC (ret) Robert J. O’Brien, Mr. Robert Furey (Dept. of State), James Singer (MP), SSG (ret) John Shook, Former MSGs Warren Caudle, Ken Ariola, Mike Patullo, Rick Johnson, Dick Huss and all who contributed.
My thanks and deepest respect to all the Vietnam Veterans that aided me in this research, especially: COL (ret) Bob Ulin, COL (ret) Stu Herrington, Ambassador (ret) David Lambertson, Rod Herrick an MP Veteran of the Battle of Saigon, and Doug Thomsen, who left Vietnam days before his unit was slaughtered in the Alley fight of BOQ # 3.
I owe a great debt of gratitude to my Staff Group Leader, LTC (ret) Tom Meara and my colleagues in Staff Group 23A who endured my endless forays and non sequiturs into Saigon, 1968, regardless of the topic at hand, especially MAJ Tom Clair, MAJ Larry Jenkins, USMC, and MAJ Bryan Kilbride.
Kevin Reed and the entire security staff at the Lewis and Clark Center have been great friends and a source of support over many nights and weekends.
Thanks to the staff of the Combined Arms Research Library, especially Liz, John Dubuisson and John Russell. The staff at the Center for Military History, especially Dr. Erik Villard, Andy Watson of the MP Museum, MAJ Oliver Rose, Sean McCrohan, researcher, Noreen Begley, for her patience, Rhonda Quillen for her editing and prodding, Dr. Deborah Kidwell, all of the Marine Security Guards of Saigon that served before and after the battle, especially Gus Tomschatt who keeps the reunions alive. My thanks to LTC (ret) Willburn Bud
Meador who arranged the interviews with the MSG Association members and provided indispensable help throughout the project. They are some of the finest Marines that have ever worn the uniform. The Marines who served at the Embassy during the Fall of Saigon (1975) taught me the true meaning of honor and fidelity during the reunion.
In memory of and deepest respect for Cpl. James C. Marshall, USMC MSG, who fought on courageously after he was wounded and gave his life to defend the Embassy; SP4 Charles L. Daniel and PFC William E. Sebast (MPs) who steadfastly and valiantly fought the enemy at the cost of their own lives, SGT Jonnie B. Thomas and SP4 Owen Mebust (MPs) who were the first to answer the call for help and were cut down immediately.
ACRONYMS
AP—Associated Press
ARVN—Army of Viet Nam
BEQ—Bachelor Enlisted Quarters
BN—Battalion
BOQ—Bachelor Officer Quarters
Cahn Sats—South Vietnamese National Police
CDR—Commander
Cholon—Chinese section of Saigon
CMIC—Combined Military Intelligence Center
COORDS—Combined Operations for Rural Development Offices
CQ—Charge of Quarters
CSS—Combat Service Support
DIME—Diplomatic, Information, Military,