77 Days Without Sleep
On January 21, 1968, after months of gathering thousands of troops and supplies at the border with Laos, the North Vietnamese Army surprised and encircled the isolated American base of Khe Sanh. There was no way in or way out, but the Devil Dogs trusted each other, cleaned their rifles, and fixed their bayonets to get the job done. For over 77 days, the US Marine garrison would fight against overwhelming odds without a single day of rest. The 6,000 Marines had to resist the violent push of over 16,000 NVA eager to overrun the base, and the Tet Offensive would be drained from men that could have been used elsewhere. Artillery bombardment, mortar fire, and airstrikes carrying explosives or napalm would lead to a daily cacophony that tested the guts of the outnumbered leathernecks. The Siege of Khe Sanh ultimately became one of the longest and bloodiest battles of the Vietnam War.
Credit Dark Docs