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derivative filename/jpeg
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363-07646 to 363-07647.pdf
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Digital Object Identifier
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363-07646 to 363-07647
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Title
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Article about a Việt Cộng fighter's description of tunnel complexes
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Description
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Original title: "LETTER", Keever's title: "'A number of underground tunnels collapsed', Viet Cong utter [?] sketches harships fighting Gis", article about a Việt Cộng fighter's description of tunnel complexes, for the New York Herald Tribune
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Transcript
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"--------------------
- Page 1
--------------------
Deepe
LETTER--page 1
March 4, 1966
SAIGON""Have spent four days in tunnel,"" Viet Cong
fighter Tran Bang wbote in his diary. ""About 8,000 to 9,000
American soldiers were in for a sweep-operation. The attack
was fierce..."" 11
Shortly after two o'clock in the hot afternoon,
Tran Bang finished the entry in his diary--it was to be his
last entry--giving an intimate portrait of a Viet Cong soldiers'
view of a battle with American troops. The date was January 11,
three days after thousands of American, Australian and New
Zealand troops launched Operation Crimp in the famed Iron
Triangle northwest of Saigon.
At the end of the operation the allied troops destroyed
an intricate eight-mile-long tunnel complex headquartering
the Viet Cong's Saigon-Gia Dinh Capital Military Zone Command,
killing 128 Viet Cong, capturing more than 1500 prisoners,
suspects and refugees, 90 weapons--and two truckloads of
precious documents,
including the diary of Tran Bang.
(More)
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- Page 2
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Deepe
Letter--page 2
His diary continued:
""The attack was fierce, in the last few days. A
number of underground tunnels collapsed.
Some (of our men)
were caught in them and have not been able to get out yet.
It is not known what have become of sisters BA, BAY, HONG HANH
and FAN HO in these tunnels. In their attempt to provide
security for the agency, TAN and UT were killed. Their bodies,
left unattended and deteriorated, have not been buried yet.
In the afternoon,
one of our village unit members trying to
stay close to the enemy for reconnaissance was killed and
his body has not been recovered.
Fifteen minutes ago, enemy jets dropped bombs:
houses collapsed and trees fell. I was talking when a rocket
exploded 2 meters away and bombs poured down like a torrent.
We should fight them, we should annihilate them,
you (US soldiers) will have no way out...
It is always dark before sunrise.
After cold days,
warm days will come...
The most tiresome moment is when one moves up a hill.
One must rise up disregarding death and hardships, determined
to defeat the American aggressors.
Oh! What hard days, one has to stay in tunnel, eat
cold rice with salt, drink unboiled water!
free and feels at ease.
However,
one is
1445 hours
Officials presume Tran Bang was killed in action.
"
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Date
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1966, Mar. 9
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Subject
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Vietnam War, 1961-1975; Mặt trận dân tộc giải phóng miền nam Việt Nam; Soldiers; Tunnel warfare; Tactics
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Location
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Saigon, South Vietnam
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Coordinates
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10.8231; 106.6311
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Size
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20 x 26 cm
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Container
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B188, F3
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Format
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dispatches
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Collection Number
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MS 363
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Collection Title
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Beverly Deepe Keever, Journalism Papers
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Creator
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Keever, Beverly Deepe
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Collector
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Keever, Beverly Deepe
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Copyright Information
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These images are for educational use only. To inquire about usage or publication, please contact Archives & Special Collections.
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Publisher
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Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries
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Language
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English
