The Siege of Khe Sanh Began January 20, and Continued for 77 Days

Khe Sanh was located about seven miles from Laos, close to the North Vietnam border. Khe Sanh was almost completely surrounded by ridges and stood in the center of four valley corridors leading through the mountains to the north and northwest of the base. To the south Khe Sanh overlooked Route Nine, the only east-west road in the area. The base itself was laid out on a flat plateau. It was shaped somewhat like an uneven rectangle and covered an area approximately one mile long and one-half mile wide.
Leading up to the Siege on Khe Sanh were a series of battles referred to as the "Hill Fights" which began in April 1967. The United States marines successfully gained control of the hilltops surrounding Khe Sanh. In order for the North Vietnamese Army to gain any sort of triumph they had to figure out a way to make the marines at Khe Sanh be at a disadvantage. In order to do so the North Vietnamese demolished sections of the Route 9, which was the only road in the area.…