This is coolbert: The siege and defeat of the French at Dien Bien Phu and the understanding of same are germane to an understanding of the siege of Khe Sanh in 1968. There are many similarities. Not totally the same similarities, but enough to warrant attention. It would seem that the North Vietnamese did intend to assault and destroy the base at Khe Sanh and kill or capture the entire Marine force defending. Such a victory by communist forces would surely have caused an immediate U.S. withdrawal from Vietnam. It is obvious that this possibility was much on the minds of the U.S. military and the President and his staff in the days leading up to the 1968 siege and the subsequent battle that was to follow.

coolbert.