Ban Me Thuot is the capital city of Darlac Province and the largest urban concentration in the Central Highlands. Its 1970 population was
estimated at more than 65,000 people. In 1975, Ban Me Thuot was the main objective in the NVA's attempt to seize the Central Highlands
during the Final Offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign. Known as Campaign 275, the attack on Ban Me Thuot was led by General Van Tien
Dung, commander of ten NVA divisions. On March 10, 1975, Dung had the NVA 10th, 316th, and 320th Divisions move on Ban Me
Thuot and the ARVN 23rd Division. Intense fighting lasted for two days, but on March 12, 1975, the NVA were in control of the city. The fall of
Ban Me Thuot had great strategic significance because there were no ARVN troops left between the NVA soldiers in Ban Me Thuot and the South
China Sea. The North Vietnamese had an unprecedented opportunity to cut South Vietnam in half. Ultimately, they abandoned that strategy and
concentrated on the April massive assault on Saigon.
And Other Vietnam War Short Stories
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