1965 Qui Nhơn hotel bombing
| 1965 Qui Nhơn hotel bombing | |
|---|---|
| Location | Quy Nhon, South Vietnam |
| Date | 10 February 1965 |
Attack type | Bombing |
| Deaths | 23 U.S. Army 2 Viet Cong 7 civilians |
| Perpetrators | Viet Cong |
The Viet Cuong Hotel in Quy Nhon was bombed by the Viet Cong on the evening of 10 February 1965, during the Vietnam War.[1] Viet Cong (VC) operatives detonated explosive charges causing the entire building to collapse. The operation killed 23 U.S. servicemen, seven Vietnamese civilians, and two of the Viet Cong attackers.[2]
Background
The 4-storey Khách Sạn Viet Cuong or Viet Cuong Hotel ("Strength of Vietnam") was used as a U.S. Army enlisted men's billet in the city of Qui Nhơn (Quy Nhon). Many of the 60 men billeted there came from the 140th Transportation Detachment (Cargo Helicopter Field Maintenance) who provided maintenance support for the 117th Assault Helicopter Company based at Qui Nhơn Airfield.
Following the VC Attack on Camp Holloway on 6–7 February 1965, the U.S. and South Vietnamese launched Operation Flaming Dart, a series of retaliatory airstrikes against North Vietnam. In retaliation for the Flaming Dart attacks the VC immediately planned to hit another U.S. target.[3]
Explosion
At 20:05 the VC began their assault on the hotel, while 2 VC were killed by machine-gun fire by a U.S. sentry on the hotel roof; VC killed the South Vietnamese guards posted outside the building and placed satchel charges at the main door. A 100-pound plastic charge was detonated next to the staircase which provided the main structural support for the building. The explosion caused the entire hotel to pancake to the ground. 21 members of the 140th Transportation Detachment were killed as were 2 other soldiers and 7 Vietnamese civilians.[3] At this stage of the war, U.S. troops in country were mostly regulars. Of the 140th Detachment members killed, 19 had enlisted; just three were drafted. They ranged in age from 18 to 39; 55% were married.[1]
Aftermath
No Viet Cong terrorist attack took a greater toll in American lives during the Vietnam War than the Viet Cuong Hotel tragedy.[1] Following this attack President Johnson ordered Operation Flaming Dart II.[4] All U.S. dependents in South Vietnam were returned to the U.S.[5]
References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.
- ^ a b c Fournier, Richard (2015-01-09). "Qui Nhon, 1965: Terrorism Takes A Toll". VFW Magazine - February 2015.
- ^ "Bomb Hits G.I. Barracks". New York Times. 11 February 1965. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
- ^ a b Tucker, Spencer (2011). The Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War: A Political, Social, and Military History, 2nd Edition. ABC-CLIO. p. 372. ISBN 9781851099610.
- ^ Tilford, Earl (1993). Crosswinds: The Air Force's setup in Vietnam. Second Texas A&M University Press. p. 68. ISBN 9781603441261.
- ^ Borch, Frederic (2001). Judge Advocates in Combat. Government Printing Office. p. 10. ISBN 9780160876615.