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The Battle of Khe Sanh occurred from January 1986 to July 1968 between the North Vietnamese communists and the US Marines in the Khe Sanh area of northwestern Quảng Trị Province. The US marines had a military base in the village of Khe Sanh 1. to block the infiltration of Laos, 2. to provide a base for the military to launch patrols into Laos to monitor the Ho Chi Minh Train and 3. to have a western anchor for defence along the DMZ

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Khe Sanh is located underneath the border of North Vietnam (DMZ).

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Khe Sanh is located underneath the border of North Vietnam (DMZ). The Battle of Khe Sanh was one of the bloodiest, with an intense siege which lasted for 77 days. During the battle of Khe Sanh, roughly 10,000 communist forces were killed compared to less than 500 US troops killed in action. Roughly 20,000 North Vietnamese troops surrounded the combat base held by roughly 5,500 US marines. There were a total of 400 bombs dropped. Towards the end of the Battle of Khe Sanh, the US withdrew from Vietnam in defeat.

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Khe Sanh, South Vietnam, March 1968: US marines using sniperscope to help zero in on North Vietnamese troops surrounding Khe Sanh, this was during the 77 day battle siege.

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US Navy Hospital Corpsman (medical specialist) Theodore Rutkowski using a stethoscope to listen for signs of Viet Cong tunnelling beneath the beleaguered base. Khe Sanh, South Vietnam, 1968, outside outer defence

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US marine troops quickly find cover during NVA rocket attack. This is four days into the 77 day siege, January 25, 1968.

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Wounded US troops waiting for helicopter evacuation after the 77 day siege, 1968, South Vietnam.

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By unknown
"The six men were dressed like Marines and, while no friendly patrols were reported in the area, he challenged the strangers in clear English to be sure. There was no reply. A second challenge was issued and, this time, the lieutenant saw one of the men make a motion as if going for a hand grenade. The Marines opened fire and quickly cut down five of the six intruders. One enemy soldier died with his finger inserted in the pin of a grenade. The awesome hitting power of the M-l6 rifle was quite evident since all five men were apparently dead by the time they hit the ground."

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Entry in the Washington Star
"To be sure, Khe Sanh will be a subject of controversy for a long time, but this much about it is indisputable: It has won a large place in the history of the Vietnam war as an inspiring example of American and Allied valor. One day, in fact, the victory over the siege may be judged a decisive turning point that finally convinced he enemy he could not win."

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By Michael, a 71 year old former soldier
"During the day, we did search-and-destroy missions, and then, at night, we did ambushes. And if you got a little sleep in between, that was OK,"

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Following the Battle of Khe Sanh, a series of attacks were launched by the North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong on more than 100 cities in South Vietnam, this was called the Tet Offensive.

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Edwin Burke, a former soldier.
"When you come home ... you raise your family. You got a career. You're doing your stuff like that," Burke said. "And when you get older ... this war comes back on you. The things you seen. The things you did. ... Do you think, 'Was I wrong doing this?' ... It works on your mind a little bit."