Close Air Support and the Battle for Khe Sanh

The U. S. Marines history division has undertaken the publication of various studies, theses, compilations, bibliographies, monographs, and memoirs, as well as proceedings at selected workshops, seminars, symposia, and similar colloquia, which it considers to be of significant value for audiences interested in Marine Corps history. These ?occasional papers,? which are chosen for their intrinsic worth, must reflect structured research, present a contribution to historical knowledge not readily available in published sources, and reflect original content on the part of the author, compiler, or editor. It is the intent of the division that these occasional papers be distributed to selected institutions, such as service schools, official department of defense historical agencies, and directly concerned Marine Corps organizations, so the information contained therein will be available for study and exploitation. This manuscript was developed from a master?s thesis written by then-Major Shawn P. Callahan while an Advanced degree program student at George Washington University. The research was financially supported by the naval historical Center?s rear Admiral Samuel Eliot Morison naval history supplemental scholarship program and the Marine Corps heritage foundation?s lieutenant Colonel Lily H. Gridle Memorial Master?s thesis fellowship program. As an occasional paper, this work is presented with limited stylistic correction and essentially stands as the author?s revised thesis.