Vietnam War

Fighting in Vietnam's civil war intensified as America aided the South:

• A Marine flame thrower tank in action.

• In March, 1966, the Viet Cong attacked a South Vietnamese village with particular ferocity. The U.S. Air Force airlifted villagers to a safe area near Saigon.

• The USS Enterprise cruised the waters of the Gulf of Tonkin.

• Troops from "A" company, 1st Air Cavalry, on "house patrol," checked for North Vietnamese saboteurs.

• Marines bathed in a stream.

• Soldiers take a break and drink coconut milk during the search and seizure phase of "Operation Pershing."

• While a Marine sentry stands guard, his comrades celebrate an outdoor Mass.

• A familiar sight during the war: Carrying a wounded man from the scene of battle.

• The President and General Westmoreland visited troops at Cam Ranh Bay on December 23, 1967.

Unknown to LBJ and his generals, however, North Vietnam was planning a massive invasion of the south to coincide with "Tet" (the Vietnamese New Year). Called the "Tet Offensive," it was responsible for huge losses in the South and major draft increases in America. Most people believe it was the turning point of the Vietnam War.

Tet's terror was widespread. With little doubt, the worst events took place in the ancient city of Hue where the Viet Cong massacred thousands of people.