Posted by F. J. Taylor, USMC (Ret.) on February 22, 2006:

LTCOL Seymoe, a Korean war veteran of the USAF and US Army, died in a gallant attempt to relieve the beleaguered garrison at the District HQ located in Khe Sanh village, southwest of the Khe Sanh Combat Base during the onset of the Tet Offensive of 1968. The garrison was comprised of the indigenous soldiers (ARVN and Bru RFs) under LT Nhi, the MACV Army Advisory Team under CPT Bruce B. G. Clarke (West Point), and the HQ and First Platoon of Marine Combined Action Company Oscar. (Oscar's 2nd Plt. lay approximately 200 meters west.) Altogether, there were about 178 men. The District HQ was a primary target for the PAVN ("NVA") for its propaganda value, which is why so much energy and so many troops were expended in a drive to seize the village, and why CIA operative Robert Brewer and others were so determined to keep it if possible. They therefore determined to send an aerial relief force comprised of ARVN troops, and led by LTCOL Joseph Philip Seymoe of MACV Det. #19, Brewer's deputy. Due to a series of snafus, the relief force landed in the area known as the "French Fort" instead of the District compound. This areaq was by then a strong NVA position. The relief force found itself in serious trouble as soon as it landed. In a short time,13 pilots and 14 enlisted crewmen, as well as LTCOL Seymoe, and the South Vietnamese RFs were killed or missing. A few men somehow managed to escape, but were unfortunately captured by Marines of 0scar 3rd Platoon who initially thought they were Russian "advisors". They were held until the next morning when they finally convinced the CAP members that they were American. LTCOL Seymoe's remains, and a number of the others, were only recovered following the Siege by the 1st Air Cavalry. Several remain MIA.

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