Khe Sanh

We are staying in Khe Sanh for a week, teaching at two Medical Clinics near here.  The town is lovely.  The area is beautiful.  Very rugged and I can't imagine fighting a war here.  Yes, I have been thinking about the war a lot since we arrived.  It is hard not to when you are my age.  I graduated from High School in 1966 so the Vietnam war was very much a part of my life.  I have many friends who fought in the war and it was just a part of my generation. 

Khe Sanh is the district capital of Hướng Hoá District, Quảng Trị Province, Vietnam, located 63 km west of Đông Hà. During the Vietnam War, the Khe Sanh Combat Base was located to the north of the city. The Battle of Khe Sanh took place there.

The Battle of Khe Sanh was conducted in northwestern Quant Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam  (South Vietnam), between 21 January and 9 July 1968 during the Vietnam War. The belligerent parties were elements of the United States military III Marine Amphibious Force  (III MAF), 1st Calvary Division,   the US Seventh Air Force, minor elements of the South Vietnamese Army (ARVN) against two to three division-size elements of the North Vietnamese Army(NVA).

On 19 June 1968, another operation began at Khe Sanh, Operation Charlie, the final evacuation and destruction of the Khe Sanh Combat Base. The Marines withdrew all salvageable material and destroyed everything else. The NVA continued shelling the base, and on 1 July launched a company-sized infantry attack against its perimeter. On 9 July 1968, the flag of the Viet Cong was set up at Ta Con (Khe Sanh) airfield. On 13 July 1968, Ho Chi Minh sent a message to the soldiers of the Route 9–Khe Sanh Front affirming their victory at Khe Sanh. It was the first time Americans abandoned a major combat base because of enemy pressure.

Ho Chi Minh Trail

Communist Victory Monument in Khe Sanh.

 

We are here to help the people of Vietnam. It is not about the war, even though I can't get the war our of my mind.  Everyone is so nice and welcoming in this beautiful country.  Here, in the more rural cities, people live very simply.  They seem happy.  Children are everywhere, making us nervous as they (and dogs and livestock) play by the side of a busy road.  They wave and say 'hello' when they see us.  Everyone smiles.  We are blessed to be here enjoying the climate, the food, the beautiful and lush landscape and the people.