Qui Nhon, Second Tet, 24 x 30.

The Second Tet offensive got off late and failed to achieve the
initial surprise of the first Tet. Yet Qui Nhon on the night of the
26/27 February 1969 was fairly active. The petroleum dumps at the
dock were ignited, the burning of the large ammunition dump to the
west of town warmed the sky to a dull rose color, and local fires in
the town lit the facades of the buildings. Through the smoke,
magnesium flares spiraled down on their parachutes. We waited through
the night in our separate perimeter defense, prey to uncertainty and
the sound of random firing. In watching the scene from our rooftop,
illuminated by the shifting lights of the inferno, I was constantly
alternating between longing for the dawn and marveling on how
beautiful it was.

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