Description: The siege of Khe Sanh was often paralleled with the battle of Dien Bien Phu. However, at Khe Sanh, the Marines continued to hold outposts at hills 861, 881, 558, and 950. This allowed them to keep the valley floor under surveillance. The conflict began on 21 January when several hundred rockets hit Khe Sanh and destroyed much of the Marine's fuel supply. The PAVN overran the CIDG camp at Lang Vei and settled in for the siege by building trenches, zigzag approaches, and parallels. The 304th PAVN Division attacked ARVN 34th Ranger positions in the only serious ground assault of the siege. They were beaten back by the Allies. On April 1, Operation Pegasus worked to reopen Route 9. Finally on 8 April, the 2d Battalion, 7th Cavalry reached the Marines and the siege ended. There is controversy as to what the PAVN goal was at Khe Sanh. Gen. Giap claims it was a diversion to keep the U.S. occupied while the VC and PAVN set up the Tet offensive. The United States believed at the time that the PAVN were really attempting to take Khe Sanh and carry out a Dien Bien Phu. In the end, the Marines held the outpost, but the Communists succeeded in distracting the U.S. long enough to move a great amount of men and supplies into place for the Tet offensive in 1968.

Vietnam Center & Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive