From: Joe Ciokon
Date: January 14, 2016
Subject: Jim, re Attack on US Embassy Saigon, Tet 1968
Bob’s right. I was there and documented the whole thing. It began at midnight while I was on radio news. As soon as we could, I grabbed a Marine Sergeant (Conda?) out of Engineering, because he had the only weapon at the time. I grabbed a recorder and we made our way around to the embassy the long way. When we made it to the corner by the US Embassy, I connected with 1/Lt Hoernecker in a radio jeep. I knew him in Panama as a SP5. He was on a routine night radio patrol when he observed the Viet Cong breaching the embassy wall. He called in the first response. Back at the station, by dawn, I grabbed SP4 John Aubuchon and we went back while the attack was nearing the end. He did audio while I filmed using our windup Bell&Howell 16mm. SSG Nick Palladino was the only one besides or OIC, CDR Jim Eaves, to make it to the station from the outside as we continued coverage until the entire crew could relieve us. I know I have more, but who knows where it is. I’ll try to find the rest before the reunion.
Joe C
From: Bob Morecoook
Date: January 14, 2016
Subject: Jim, re Attack on US Embassy Saigon, Tet 1968
Joe Ciokon of this list can address this.
Bob M
From: Mike McNally
Date: January 14, 2016
Subject: Another Study of the TET 1968 Embassy Attack
The attached study is mentioned in the earlier thesis. This PDF is from the Texas Tech Vietnam Archive.
Mike McNally
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US Embassy During TET 68
January 2016
AFVN Group Conversations
From: Dick Ellis
Date: January 14, 2016
Subject: Saigon Embassy - TET '68
Jim... We were trapped in the Keyson for a day or so until they sent a bus to pick us up with armed guards. We came by the embassy and it was surrounded with tanks and wire. There were a couple of holes in the white wall out front from RPG's....they crawled into the grounds through the largest hole. There was also a black car out on the street filled with holes....that was the car used to bring the sappers to the embassy late that night. Joe C was at the station and ran down when daylight came with a camera. The VC were still on the "grounds" at that time. The embassy "manager" was a retired Army LTC...if I recall and when the VC got into the ground floor of the house he lived in on the grounds...he yelled out the window and an MP tossed him a .45. He then shot one or two coming up the stairs. The black car stayed in the street for almost a week before they towed it....I have photos of the car....the black smut holes in the wall and the tanks all around the embassy block.
Dickie
From: Mike McNally
Date: January 14, 2016
Subject: Jim, re Attack on US Embassy, Saigon, TET 1968
Jim, I was in Saigon during Tet 1968, but I was not at the Embassy during the attack. I'm certain some AFVNers who were at 9 Hong Thap Tu, or at their quarters, will weigh in with some personal memories. In the meantime, I've attached a Masters Thesis which has some photos and drawings of the embassy. The thesis also lists some other sources for more information. The thesis mentions that MP reinforcements were sent to AFVN.
The tossing of a weapon was to George Jacobson at his residence inside the grounds. Here's a link to his obituary.
Mike McNally
From: Jim White
Date: January 13, 2016
Subject: Saigon Embassy - TET '68
Please look at the following. It is one of the most detailed descriptions of what happened at the Embassy in Saigon during TET 68 that I have ever come across.
Some of you were there at the time. What is your read on the truth? I was in Tokyo and recall watching NHK (Japanese TV) news showing the attack on the Embassy in Saigon--to include one American throwing a .45 towards the window of the Embassy so another American who was inside could help defend it. At the same time, FEN (AFRS) was saying that "no Viet Cont had gotten into the U.S. Embassy." It may be that they meant "Embassy building" and not "Embassy grounds" but the two reports didn't match all that well in my mind.
Jim
From: Ron Turner
Date: January 14, 2016
Subject: Saigon Embassy - TET '68
Good Morning, the "Six Times...." was interesting particularly the Saigon one. However, the six other times is not all inclusive - the American Embassy in Taiwan was completely overrun, looted, and sacked in May of 1957. Contrary to public announcements, significant crypto material was taken. Easily googled.
Regards, Ron