Vietnam in HD

Episode 3: The Tet Offensive

1968
In mid-January 1968, the North Vietnamese (NVA)
surround and attack the Marine base at Khe Sanh,
shocking the American forces and the public back home.
Less than two weeks later, what becomes known as the Tet
Offensive is launched. It is the largest enemy offensive of
the entire war; more than 120 cities, towns and
installations are simultaneously hit. Though U.S. forces
prevailed, it seems that the war in Vietnam may not be
winnable.

1. How many American soldiers are there in Vietnam at the

beginning of 1968?
2. Describe the US military strategy?
3. What is the measure of success at this point in the war?
4. What do President LBJ and General Westmoreland assure the
American people at the beginning of 1968?
5. Why do the Vietnamese believe they will eventually win?
6. What does this mean for Americans in the field of battle?
7. What is Vietnams most important holiday? Why is it
celebrated?
8. What is supposed to occur on Tet?
9. Describe the Tet Offensive:
10. Explain the battle at Khe Sanh:
11. Describe napalm:
12. What is the REAL cost of the Tet Offensive?\
13. What happened on Feb. 1, 1968 on national TV?
14. What happened 3 weeks after the Tet Offensive began?
15. What did Walter Cronkite tell the American public as he
offered his opinion to the nation as a result of his time spent in
Vietnam?
16. What happened 2 days after Cronkites speech to
Americans?
17. How do many Americans view this resignation?
18. What is the credibility gap?
19. Who challenges President LBJ for the Democratic Party
nomination for President in the election of 1968?
20. What does LBJ tell the American people in his speech in
1968?
21. How long was the Battle of Khe Sanh? How Americans
were killed?
22. Describe the losses faced to the Vietcong after the Tet
Offensive.
23. Who won the Tet Offensive militarily?
24. How did the Tet Offensive effect the American publics
view of the war?