OBSERVATION HELICOPTER TAKING OFF FROM CON THIEN; GUNSHIP HELICOPTER FLYING OVER JUNGLE; POSITIONS FIRING; RECONNAISSANCE PATROLS.




Initials RE/N-TELE/MR/PF



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Background: FOUR AMERICAN MARINES WERE KILLED AND 41 WERE WOUNDED ON MONDAY, AFTER NORTH VIETNAMESE ROCKETS HIT UNITED STATES POSITIONS ACROSS THE DEMILITARISED ZONE. THE AMERICAN BASE OF CON THIEN WAS HIT BY ROCKETS FIRED FROM POSITIONS INSIDE THE DEMILITARISED ZONE ACCORDING TO UNITED STATES OFFICIALS.

THIS ATTACK WAS THE FIRST FROM THE DEMILITARISED ZONE SINCE THE BOMBING PAUSE.

THE CON THIEN BASE, TWO MILES FROM THE DEMILITARISED ZONE (DMZ), IS A KEY OBSERVATION POST FROM WHICH NORTH VIETNAMESE POSITIONS ARE OBSERVED. AMERICAN ARTILLERY AND AIRCRAFT WERE CALLED INTO ACTION AFTER AERIAL OBSERVATION OF THE NORTH VIETNAMESE FIRING POSITIONS. MARINE GUNSHIPS AND ARTILLERY WERE USED, THEY SMASHED A ROCKET SITE AND 10 BUNKERS ACCORDING TO UNITED STATES OFFICIALS.