The Battle of Khe Sanh: Rare Footage of 6,000 Marines Surrounded for 77 Days | Vietnam Documentary

Discover the Battle of Khe Sanh, the 77-day siege that became one of the most iconic and controversial engagements of the Vietnam War, where 6,000 U.S. Marines defended an isolated combat base against an estimated 20,000-40,000 North Vietnamese troops. From January 21 to April 8, 1968, Khe Sanh Combat Base near the Laotian border was completely surrounded by NVA divisions who subjected the Marines to relentless artillery bombardment, ground assaults, and siege tactics designed to replicate France's catastrophic defeat at Dien Bien Phu fourteen years earlier. President Johnson became obsessed with the battle, fearing a humiliating defeat that would break American public support for the war.
The siege began with NVA artillery hitting ammunition dumps and creating massive explosions that destroyed supplies and killed Marines. For 77 days, the base endured constant shelling—up to 1,000 rounds per day during peak bombardment—while NVA forces probed defenses and conducted limited assaults testing Marine positions. Supplies arrived only by air through gauntlet of anti-aircraft fire, with C-130 transports making desperate low-altitude parachute drops and helicopters landing under fire to evacuate wounded. Marines lived in bunkers and trenches, endured near-constant artillery fire, and fought off infiltration attempts while massive B-52 strikes dropped thousands of tons of ordnance on enemy positions surrounding the base.
The military outcome remains debated: approximately 205 Marines were killed defending Khe Sanh while estimated NVA casualties ranged from 10,000-15,000 from bombardment and ground combat. Americans claimed decisive victory through firepower, but the strategic value was questionable—the base was abandoned just months after the siege ended, suggesting it never had the importance both sides believed. Khe Sanh proved American forces could withstand siege through air superiority and firepower, but also demonstrated the costs of defending isolated positions with limited strategic value. This is the 77-day siege where 6,000 Marines held against overwhelming odds, proving courage and firepower could overcome encirclement—but couldn't answer whether the fight was worth it.

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