On March 30, 1972, South Vietnamese military outposts came under sudden and intense artillery fire. It was the first action of a major North Vietnamese campaign that would come to be known as the Easter Offensive. Its intent was to destabilize South Vietnam and strengthen North Vietnam’s hand in the ongoing peace talks taking place in Paris. The offensive was particularly noteworthy due to its duration and ferocity—as well as the extensive use of tanks by North Vietnamese force, a rarity to that point in the war.
In this episode of The Spear, MWI’s Charlie Faint is joined by retired Colonel Rick Cassidy. He describes what it was like to be a US Army officer in Vietnam during the offensive and recounts his role in a particular battle during the pivotal period in the war, for which he received a Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal for valor.
You can listen to the full conversation below, and if you aren’t already subscribed to The Spear, please be sure to do so on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn, or your favorite podcast app.
Image credit: Rick Cassidy