EARLY WARNING OF VIET CONG TET OFFENSIVE

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Tet Declassified
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02986838
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: April 27, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 30, 2019
• Publication Date: February 14, 1968

- -Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 CO2986838
MEMORANDUM FOR: Chief, RAB
14 February 1968
SUBJECT : Early Warning of Viet Cong Tet Offensive
1. On 29 January 1968 received information3.3(h)(2)
from the Saigon Municipal Police Director that he expected shooting,
possibly machine guns, within the city on the night of 29 January.
He further stated that the VC would attempt to utilize the sound*
of firecrackers to mask the sounds of their own weapons. Station
officers were advised of this information orally and by memorandum.
A copy of the memo is attached.
2. On the morning of 29 January 1968, National Police
Director General Loan advised of security 'Measures that he was
taking and reported that the DGNP had received two reliable reports
indicating that the VC had infiltrated special action units and
agents into Saigon to conduct operations during Tet. The Station
was advised of this information by means of a Daily Brief which
was forwarded to ID on the afternoon of 29 January. A copy of
this Daily Brief item is attached.
3. On the afternoon of 30 January received/3(h)(2)
reports which it was unable to confirm indicating that VC special
action units had infiltrated the city within the past 24 hours.
Further, police believed that there had been heavy infiltration
of B-40 rocket launchers and AK-54 weapons. The police additionallp
believed that the VC were planning an attack on 'GNP Headquarters,
This information was telephoned to the office of 3.3(h)(2)
4. The information in Paragraph 3, above, was discussed with
the Director of Saigon Municipal Police Department at 1615 hours
on 30 January but he was not able to confirm it. He stated that
the city had been relatively quiet and there had been no significant
infiltrations by the VC. He added that there had been several
reports of B-40 rocket launchers during the last several weeks but
none of these reports had been confirmed. Attempts to reach other,
knowledgeable security officers within the city were not succesSful,
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Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 CO2986838
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5. prepared a memorandum on the information
in Paramraph 3, above and had it handcarried to the office of
A copy of this memo is attached.
6. As a result of reports received, which are described
above, , during the course of a general staff meeting held
at 1500 hours on 30 January, advised all Branch personnel to
stay off the streets on the night of 30 January 1968.
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Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 CO2986838
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