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The Rhodesia Herald, 8 November, 1965

AS American jets today wiped out two Russian built missile sites and left two others in flames US cavalrymen in the jungle got a severe mauling and suffered heavy casualties.

In this new wave of heavy fighting near the battle-torn Plei Me special forces camp in the Central Highlands, American ground forces met bitter resistance. In a five-hour battle until midnight last night the US forces, completely outnumbered, suffered severe losses.

Today, the fighting started afresh as American fighter bombers pounded Viet Cong positions and helicopters flew in to pull out the dead and wounded US troops. No figures were given as to the casualties.

In the air strike today against the missile bases Air Force officials declined to say how many planes took part, but it is understood to be one of the biggest single air strikes of the Vietnam conflict.

A company-size US force from the First Cavalry was sent in early today to help their comrades and they, too, suffered casualties, described, however, as “moderate”.

Fighting was so close that mortars and artillery could not be brought into play.

The fight was still raging today in jungle territory near Plei Me, where units of the US First Cavalry Division have been trying to ferret out the Viet Cong for the past two weeks.

Before the US cavalry moved into the area a fortnight ago, Viet Cong forces had kept Plei Me under heavy siege. Two regiments of crack North Vietnamese troops are thought to be operating in the area. – Iana-Rtr-AP.

LESSONS FOR TODAY

• The Vietnam War was fought between November 1955 up to the fall of Saigon in April 1975. The war had profound implications for US foreign policy, shaping how the nation approached military interventions and international relations in subsequent decades.
• The Vietnam War represented a critical battleground in the Cold War context where America sought to contain communism while Russia supported its spread through backing North Vietnam.
• The conflict not only shaped regional dynamics, but also had lasting effects on international relations between these two superpowers.
• The Vietnam War led to widespread scepticism about government transparency and honesty.