Tet Offensive

             The Tet Offensive, which occurred on January 31, 1968, proved to be a political
             and a psychological victory for the Vietnamese communists. And, although it only lasted
             for about one month, it was one of America's most notable battles that taught the
             Americans and the Vietnamese valuable lessons about life and war. The background of
             the Tet-Offensive is very interesting, one hidden within the conflict of the Vietnam War.
             While the offensive was being planned, there were anti-war demonstrations taking place in
             the U.S. against the Vietnam War. Lyndon B. Johnson, in a close election, won the
             primary over McCarthy who happened to be against the war, and then went on to running
             In Vietnam, General Vo Nguyen Giap of North Vietnam told his political members
             that the opportunity for a general offensive or uprising was within reach. The offensive
             began in August of 1967, when following Hanoi's decision to proceed with Giap's
             "uprising," Giap began a massive buildup of troops, equipment, and supplies in South
             Vietnam. First, thousands of guns and munitions were bought southward along the Ho
             Chi Minh Trail. The Ho Chi Minh Trail was the vital Vietcong (also known as the South
             Vietnamese) supply line that twisted through the jungles of North Vietnam in a southward
             direction ("Vietnam"). This trail also served as a transportation route for food and
             medical supplies being brought to the south part of Vietnam. Tens of thousands of troops
             poured down from the North, infiltrated the countryside, and wearing civilian clothes,
             easily blended with the local people. By mid-January, 1968, about 84,000 of the North
             Vietnamese Army (NVA), and the Vietcong troops were in South Vietnam ("Massacre").
             And, two weeks before the actual attack would even take place, Giap's troops were
             positioned and ready for an attack (Coteau 2).
             The U.S. began to have susp...

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