February 10, 1968 is a "touchstone" day for any soldier who was in Vietnam on that day. Invariable if two Vietnam vets meet and begin to talk about their experiences and they happened to have been there on February 10, 1968 each will recall what he did during Tet.  

I am no different. I was assigned to the 3rd brigade headquarters in Tan An as a signalman. My job was to run a cryptographic radio net 12 hours a day seven days a week. It was always a happy day for me when the equipment broke down because it meant I had the day off.

In early February a couple of us had a bright idea to take an "in country R & R." We asked the commo First Sergeant if we could take a jeep to Saigon for a couple of days. He said "sure -- no problem as long as your shifts are covered." Three of us made arrangements to drive to Saigon on February 8, 1968. The three of us were myself, Sal Tarantino, Walter Bismark, and a third guy who's name now escapes me.

On the morning of February 8th the three of us drove off to Saigon, the land of the big P.X. and Saigon tea. We were very excited. I remember us staying at the Caravel Hotel, Walter told me recently it was another hotel. Oh well, in any case I believe it was on Tu Do street.

We were warned by other guys who had taken this "informal" R&R that we would have to check our rifles at the hotel front desk in order to check in !!  

As you can imagine that thought made us all nervous so we all carried pistols under our shirts, "just in case." I also stuck a hand grenade in my shirt pocket, you never know when you might need one. After we checked in we drove around the city and wound up at the "Big P.X." It was the most surreal day of my whole year in Vietnam. Some of the American women from the American embassy were having a fashion show and were walking on a "run way" modeling clothes. Unbelievable. I still have pictures of that event.

I shopped in the P.X. and bought a quart of Beefeaters gin and a case of soda. I thought it would be a good idea to have another party in Tan An when we got back. As I later found out that was almost a fatal mistake.

Needless to say we had a few beers, enjoyed a little dancing and generally "fraternized" with the local ladies that night.

The next morning February 9, 1968 a little "hung over" but thoroughly "refreshed" we drove back down to Tan An.

As promised that night I broke out the gin and soda and we had a fine hooch party. Although we were on a high state of alert, extra guys on guard duty, we didn't think that was any reason not to celebrate. After drinking more than my share of gin I went to sleep in my bunk as the whole hooch whirled around me.

The next conscious thought I can remember was the "whoosh" of RPG/B40 rockets and the sound of M-60 machine guns. One of the guys in my hooch kicked my bunk and said, "Sal incoming - incoming." I remember sitting up and seeing flashes of light from explosions all around me. I grabbed my riffle and two bandoleers of ammo I kept around the front sight of my M-16, slipped in to a pair of sandals and ran out the back door of my hooch.

The rest of the night was sporadic fighting in the base camp. The N.V.A company that attacked us tried to penetrate our camp and I believe they did in one small area. Bunker 13 which is the tall corner bunker that's blown up was a center of heavy combat. Austin Cox and Ernie Martinez fought in that bunker and survived. I know Ernie received the Silver Star for his actions and I believe Austin did too. Luckily where I was did not receive heavy ground action. The N.V.A. did not break contact with us until "Spooky" opened up on them.

The "Octofoil" magazine of the 9th Infantry division has a good after action account of what N.V.A. company attacked us and what the casualties were. I believe we lost a few dead and about 40 or 50 wounded if my memory serves me correctly. The photos attached to this shows what the base camp looked like the next morning. Luckily my hooch was one of the few that didn't get hit and I still had a working camera.

Sal Tarantino

 The above story and photos are by Sal Tarantino HHC 3rd Bge. of the 9th Inf. Div. Tan An South Vietnam 1968-1969 To e-mail Sal jstmilo1@cox.net

Thank you Sal for your hard work and photos in helping the 709th & the 99th CSB