News>51st SFS marks 40th anniversary of Tet offensive
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OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Members of the 51st Security Forces Squadron fire a 21-gun salute to end a ceremony marking the 40th anniversary of the Tet Offensive and the lives of six Air Force members who died defending their bases during the attack. The Tet Offensive was a three-phase military campaign launched across South Vietnam between Jan. 30 and Sept. 23, 1968, in which many security policemen gave their lives. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Chad Strohmeyer)
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea – Members of the 51st Security Forces Squadron color guard stand at attention during a ceremony marking the 40th anniversary of the Tet Offensive and the lives of six Air Force members who died defending their bases during the attack. The Tet Offensive was a three-phase military campaign launched between Jan. 30 and Sept. 23, 1968, in which many security policemen gave their lives. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Chad Strohmeyer)
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Members of the 51st Fighter Wing stand at attention during a ceremony marking the 40th anniversary of the Tet Offensive and the lives of six Air Force members who died defending their bases during the attack. The Tet Offensive was a three-phase military campaign launched across South Vietnam between Jan. 30 and Sept. 23, 1968, in which many security policemen gave their lives. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Chad Strohmeyer)
by Staff Sgt. Candy Knight
51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
2/1/2008 - OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- The 51st Security Forces Squadron marked the 40th anniversary of the Tet Offensive, and the ultimate sacrifice of six Air Force members who died defending their bases during the attack, in a ceremony Jan. 31.
"At this very hour, security policemen of this very same 7th Air Force, were engaged in a fight to save their fellow Airmen, their aircraft and their critical resources," 1st Lt. Nicholas Brence, 51st SFS and master of ceremonies, said during the ceremony.
The North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong insurgents staged attacks on 19 U.S. military bases and 161 villages and cities throughout the Republic of Vietnam on Jan. 31, 1968. The offensive was planned to take advantage of reduced readiness levels due to the Lunar New Year holiday, known as Tet.
Lieutenant Brence described the attack and the actions of the six defenders through slideshows and actual archival footage. Afterward, during an honorary roll call, the names of the six defenders were called. The response -- "absent sir."
"It is important to honor them because the men of the Tan Son Nhgut and Bein Hoa Security Police Squadrons stopped two and three battalions of NVA Regulars and Viet Cong from taking over two key air bases in Vietnam and changing the course of the war," said Lt. Col. Greg Reese, 51st SFS commander. "Had these two air bases been overrun, it would have been a major battlefield defeat for the U.S. military and enormously embarrassing, much less a loss of critical command and control during the Tet Offensive."
A 21-gun salute and the playing of "Taps," followed the roll call.
"The six Air Force defenders who died, and hundreds who stood their ground that day, bravely did their duty despite overwhelming enemy numbers," Colonel Reese said. "It was also a testament to joint operations -- Air Force ground defense calling in Army aviation for close air support because the Air Force could not take off since the runways were partially overrun."
Colonel Reed also said he hoped the defenders in the audience understand the importance of ceremony and that they come from a proud heritage.
"We held this ceremony as a way to remember our career field combat heritage and to pay tribute to the sacrifices of Vietnam War heroes," he said. "We have a proud combat heritage, and we must embrace the values and sacrifice of those in past campaigns as well as current campaigns, such as Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom, just as their brothers and sisters are doing every day today to ensure peace in the Middle East."
The colonel added that, although the number of security forces members killed in OIF and OEF continues to grow, the brave, dedicated men and women willing to hold their ground and put their lives on the line make a difference.
The colonel's sentiment and advice is not lost on his fellow defenders.
"This is one reason why we exercise and train so hard," said 1st Lt. Schneider Rislin, 51st SFS. "Living on Osan, we don't always expect anything to happen, but neither did they (the Tet defenders) and you see what happened. That's why we train to be ready to fight tonight."
