Khe Sanh

In the Vietnam War, US Marine outpost near the Laotian border and just south of the demilitarized zone between North and South Vietnam. Garrisoned by 4,000 Marines, it was attacked unsuccessfully by 20,000 North Vietnamese troops 21 January–7 April 1968.

In mid-January about 20,000 NVA troops began to close around the fire base and the US force occupied a series of heights around the base to prevent the NVA coming too close. By 21 January the base was entirely surrounded and besieged, helicopters being the only means of supply. In order to reassure the South Vietnamese of US commitment, especially after NVA victories in the Tet Offensive, General William C Westmoreland, the US theatre commander, decided to fight for Khe Sanh and provided heavy air support. Even so, a nearby smaller base held by Special Forces was overwhelmed by the NVA using light tanks, and heavy artillery bombardment of Khe Sanh drove the defenders underground. A succession of NVA attacks were repulsed, and finally, on 1 April, a US attack to relieve the besieged base began. The column forced its way through and the siege was lifted 7 April.