This is an account of the North Vietnamese attempts to seize control of the provinces Quang Tri and Thua Thien and of the response of the Free World Military Assistance Forces. The period covered by the narrative is from the spring of 1966 to the spring of 1968 and is primarily the story of U.S. Army units. Highlights of the document include background on early developments, preparation, bleakness in the war, U.S response to the TET offensive, Khe Sanh and Pegasus, the free world counteroffensive, and analysis of North Vietnamese goals and failures.

Contains index.

Ch. I. Early Developments -- Background -- Northern Border, 1965-1967 -- Continuing Activity along the Demilitarized Zone -- Ch. II. Preparing for a Showdown -- Anti-Infiltration System -- Free world forces -- Growth of logistic facilities -- Ch. III. Bleak Picture -- Operation Niagara -- Battle of Khe Sanh -- Tet Offensive -- Battle for Hue -- Intelligence -- Battle for Quang Tri -- Enemy attacks on the logistical system -- Task force clearwater -- Ch. IV. U.S. Response to the Tet Offensive -- Planning for relief of Khe Sanh -- Single manager for air concept -- Khe Sanh and Pegasus -- Planning for Pegasus -- Operation Orders -- Ch. VI. The Free world counteroffensive -- Opening operations -- Back to A Shau -- Ch. VII. Analysis of North Vietnamese Goals and Failures -- Intelligence -- Organization for Combat -- Airmobility -- Superior Firepower -- Communications -- Logistics -- Improvement of Vietnamese armed forces -- The other war -- Conclusion. Includes maps of: I Corps Tactical Zone -- Northern Quang Tri Province -- Hill Fight Area -- Hill Fights, April-May 1967 -- Enemy Operations, Khe Sanh, December 1967-January 1968 -- Battle of Hue - Enemy Attack, 30-31 January 1968 -- Battle of Hue - Friendly Situation, 24-25 February 1968 -- Battle of Quang Tri City - Enemy Attack, 31 January 1968 -- Battle of Quang Tri City -Counterattack, 31 January-1 February 1968 -- Battle of Lang Vei - Enemy Attack, 7 February 1968 -- Relief of Khe Sanh - Operation Pegasus, 1 April 1968 -- Relief of Khe Sanh - Operation Pegasus, 2-4 April 1968 -- Relief of Khe Sanh - Operation Pegasus, 5-6 April 1968 -- Relief of Khe Sanh - Operation Pegasus, 7-8 April 1968 -- Battle of A Shau Valley - Friendly Situation, 19 April-12 May 1968.