Vietnam War History: The Battle of Loc Ninh

On this day, November 9, in 1967, the fierce ten-day battle for the Loc Ninh Special Forces Camp came to an end.

Just miles from the Cambodian border, the camp was a strategic stronghold in South Vietnam, defended by U.S. Army Special Forces and South Vietnamese irregular forces. On October 29, the Viet Cong launched a powerful offensive, hoping to capture the camp.

U.S. forces, including battalions from the 1st Infantry Division, deployed to reinforce the camp and block enemy escape routes into Cambodia. The battle was brutal, with significant casualties on both sides. By November 7, U.S. forces had inflicted heavy losses, nearly decimating two of the five attacking Viet Cong regiments.

The Battle of Loc Ninh set the stage for the Tet Offensive in early 1968, as North Vietnamese forces shifted their strategy to draw U.S. troops into the countryside. This was a turning point, marking the resilience of the U.S. and South Vietnamese forces even in the face of intense assaults.