27. Disappointing Losses

In January 1968, the Tet Offensive marked a turning point in the Vietnam War. North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces launched simultaneous attacks on 100 cities across South Vietnam, targeting key military and government installations, including the U.S. Embassy in Saigon.

This audacious move caught the Allied forces off guard, drawing comparisons to the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. Despite being a military setback for North Vietnam, as Allied forces regained most territories within weeks, the Tet Offensive achieved a significant political victory. It shattered the U.S. government’s portrayal of the war, revealing the stark reality of the conflict to the American public.