Charlie 2 (also known as C-2, Combat Base C-2, C-2 Strongpoint and Firebase Charlie 2) is a former U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) firebase north of Đông Hà in central Vietnam.
Charlie 2   | |
|---|---|
| Đông Hà, Quảng Trị province in Vietnam | |
 Charlie 2, 3 June 1970 | |
  Charlie 2 Shown within Vietnam | |
| Coordinates | 16°51′18″N 107°00′18″E / 16.855°N 107.005°E |
| Type | Marines/Army base |
| Site information | |
| Operator | Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) United States Marine Corps United States Army (U.S. Army) |
| Condition | Abandoned |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1966 |
| In use | 1966-1972 |
| Battles/wars |  Vietnam War Battle of Con Thien Easter Offensive |
| Garrison information | |
| Garrison | 3rd Marine Division 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized) |
History edit
1966-7 edit
The base was established 12.5 km northwest of Đông Hà and 5 km southeast of Con Thien to protect the land route to Con Thien and particularly the C-2 bridge immediately north of the base.[1][2]
By December 1967 all bunkers at C-2 had been completed and all minefields laid and perimeter barbed wire emplaced.[3]
The Marines constructed Route 561 linking Con Thien to Route 9.[4]
1968–9 edit
During 1968 further improvements were made to the bunker system at C-2, totalling 81 reinforced bunkers.[4]: 46
In August 1969, responsibility for C-2 passed from the Marines to the 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized).[5]
1970-2 edit
On 21 May 1971 30 US infantrymen, many from Company A, 1st Battalion, 61st Infantry Regiment, were killed when a People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) 122mm rocket hit their bunker at Charlie 2.[6]
On 1 April 1972 in the face of the PAVN's Easter Offensive the base was abandoned by the ARVN.[7]
Current use edit
The base has been turned over to farmland.
References edit
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
- ^ Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. pp. 5–78. ISBN 978-1555716257.
- ^ Shulimson, Jack (1982). U.S. Marines in Vietnam: An Expanding War 1966. History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. p. 44. ISBN 978-1494285159.
- ^ Telfer, Gary (1984). U.S. Marines in Vietnam: Fighting the North Vietnamese 1967. History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. p. 94. ISBN 978-1494285449.
- ^ a b Shulimson, Jack (1997). U.S. Marines in Vietnam: 1968 The Defining Year. History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. p. 44. ISBN 0160491258.
- ^ Smith, Charles (1988). U.S. Marines in Vietnam: High Mobility and Standdown 1969. History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. p. 144. ISBN 978-1494287627.
- ^ Richard Kolb (May 2011). "issue_id":"67000","view":"articleBrowser","article_id":"703057" "Deadly climax of ground war on Firebase Charlie 2". Veterans of Foreign Wars.
- ^ Melson, Charles (1991). U.S. Marines in Vietnam: The War That Would Not End, 1971–1973. History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. p. 47. ISBN 978-1482384055.