History of Oscar Company - USMC Combined Action Platoon ...

(Courtesy of HN "Doc" John Roberts, O-2)
“Big Tet” - The Assault on the Khe Sanh CAPs
Sometime in mid-December, I contracted a case of malaria and pneumonia, and
was eventually med-evaced to NSA Da Nang. I remained there during the rest of
the month and was therefore not in the village for the initial assault of the 1968
Tet Offensive, which preceded the Siege of Khe Sanh.
(However, I was able to evade a further month in recuperation and return to my
unit a few days after the initial assaults, after the company was pulled back to
KSCB. For any who may be interested to know how I accomplished this when the
only thing going in to KSCB was, in the words of the air travel clerk; "Beans,
bullets, and bandages" my story will eventually appear after I have gotten the
other stories posted.)
Since I was not there, I will rely on official and eye-witness accounts for that
eventful period. I also refer the interested reader to the sub-section under this
history In Their Own Words, which will, as the name implies, give the story in the
words of the participants themselves. Currently, the accounts of John Balanco of
O-1 and "Doc" John Roberts of O-2 are posted, as well as a pre-Siege article by
Bob Hall (a radio relay man attached to CAP Oscar in 1967). This section will be
expanded as I get more information.
Like the rest of Oscar's story, this has never been adequately treated, despite the
fact that it constituted an almost phenomenal feat of arms, and almost incredible
bravery and tenacity (on both sides).
(NOTE: The following account is in the process of being re-drafted in deference to
the request of COL Bruce Clarke, one of the participants, who has written what is
without a doubt the most complete, detailed, and authoritative account of this
action and other lesser-known actions that occurred at Khe Sanh. {I am pleased
to say that my conversations and correspondence with COL Clarke in the
mid-1990s asking him for his account of the action for my history of Oscar
company were the motivating factor that spurred him to write what became the
draft for his book}. At such time as he publishes his book, this article will reappear
with more detail and quotes. I believe that every man who was there at