How Did Ted Hughes Lose The Tet Offensive

The battle for the city of Hue, Vietnam began January 31 and officially ended the night of February 27, 1968. Having lasted 26 days, it was the longest and bloodiest battle of the Tet Offensive. 216 American’s were killed during the event. Although an antiwar movement had begun in America, it was after this event that the movement took on renewed vigor. The battle for the city of Hue had been a tactical victory but a strategic failure. The response to what happened in Hue and the images that were seen, was more than the American public was able to accept. Support for the war effort in Vietnam was slowly fading away. The gradual loss of support for the war eventually lead to the full withdraw of forces from Vietnam and the defeat of South

He had American and Vietnamese troops working towards the goal of securing the city of Hue from the enemy forces. He had to use his staff to gain an understanding of what they knew about the situation on the ground at Hue. He needed to know what each team had to work with and what they were going to need. In return, he had to communicate what he brought to the fight to support their effort. Additionally, he had to communicate that same understanding to his higher to get what he needed to support the effort at Hue. On the afternoon of February 3rd, COL Hughes held a conference with his two battalion commanders. This was his first meeting with his commanders on the ground. He could get their evaluation of what was going on at Hue. He could then give them his understanding of what he wanted each of them to do. He said, “sweep and clear operations in assigned area of operations to destroy enemy forces, protect U.S. Nationals and restore that portion of the city to U.S. Control.”3 COL Hughes would quickly learn this attack would be measured in feet and bodies, both friendly and

One such initiative was the easement of the restrictive rules of engagement. The friendly forces had to be mindful of all of the sensitive areas around the city such as the church and palace. They were not allowed to engage the enemy at any of these areas. The enemy knew our forces would not attack them in these areas and used that to their advantage. They would hide in them and fire on his men, knowing full well his men could not return fire. COL Hughes argued for, and successfully obtain, and easement of the restrictive rules of engagement. Once he was able to get permission to engage the enemy at these locations, his men could directly fire on and destroy them. Part of the disciplined initiative is working to solve unanticipated problems. The commanders determined enemy fighters were in those areas and they requested permission to fire on these areas. Without that permission, they would probably have committed an unlawful act. Disciplined initiative does not give a commander permission to do whatever they want. A commander is still expected to know the difference between right and wrong even in the middle of a battle. If the commander believes something is inherently wrong, they are expected to check with their higher to get clarification or a change to the rules. Sometimes a commander has the time to get clarification and sometimes they do not. When they do not have time, a