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It was the site of the Battle of Khe Sanh in early-1968, one of the bloodiest engagements of the Vietnam War. Khe Sanh was the location of a US Marine base, so it was often attacked by Viet Cong guerrillas as well as North Vietnamese regulars The district is mountainous and rugged, and is around 20 km to the east of the border with Laos.
Whether the PAVN actually planned to capture Khe Sanh or the battle was an attempt to replicate the Việt Minh triumph against the French at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu has long been a point of contention. Westmoreland believed that the latter was the case, and his belief was the basis for his desire to stage "Dien Bien Phu in reverse."
Khe Sanh is the district capital of Hướng Hoá District, Quảng Trị Province, Vietnam, [1] located 63 km west of Đông Hà. During the Vietnam War, the Khe Sanh Combat Base was located to the north of the city. The Battle of Khe Sanh took place there. The Khe Sanh Combat Base is a museum where relics of the war are exhibited.
1]: 313 [2] Map showing location of U.S. positions around Khe Sanh. On 16 April 1968, Company A 1st Battalion, 9th Marines began a patrol southwest of Hill 689, when it was ambushed by PAVN soldiers in bunkers concealed in the thick vegetation. Two more companies from 1/9 Marines were dispatched to save them, but they became ensnarled in this ...
On 20 April operational control of the Khe Sanh area passed to the 3rd Marine Regiment. [1]: 35 On 22 April 1967 SLF Bravo comprising 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines supported by HMM-164 had commenced Operation Beacon Star on the southern part of the Street Without Joy straddling Quảng Trị and Thừa Thiên Provinces against the Vietcong (VC) 6th Regiment and 810th and 812th Battalions.
The battle continued for two hours when the PAVN withdrew, leaving 30 dead and 15 individual weapons and two RPG launchers; U.S. losses were two killed. At 12:20 a helicopter gunship from the air cavalry squadron of the 101st Airborne received fire 5 miles southeast of Khe Sanh and attacked the firing position, killing seven PAVN.
There is a small museum on the site of the old Khe Sanh Combat Base. Items on display include a Bell UH-1H Huey, Boeing CH-47 Chinook, M41 Walker Bulldog tank and artillery pieces. On display in the museum are various small arms together with photos from the battles around Khe Sanh and also Operation Lam Son 719.
[2]: 61 [3]: 47 The 26th Marines conducted Operation Ardmore a search and destroy mission in the Khe Sanh area from 17 July-31 October 1967. At the conclusion of Operation Ardmore the Marines commenced Operation Scotland, the defense of Khe Sanh Combat Base and search and destroy missions against People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) infiltration.