Firebase Bastogne
| Firebase Bastogne | |
|---|---|
 Firebase Bastogne, 15 July 1968 | |
  Firebase Bastogne | |
| Coordinates | 16°21′20″N 107°26′55″E / 16.35556°N 107.44861°E |
| Type | Army |
| Site information | |
| Condition | Abandoned |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1968 |
| In use | 1968-75 |
| Battles/wars |  Vietnam War Easter Offensive |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants | 101st Airborne Division |
Firebase Bastogne was a U.S. Army and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) firebase, located along Highway 547 halfway between the city of Huế and the A Sầu Valley, a feeder route from the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
Creation and Early Years
Bastogne was originally constructed in late March 1968, by the 101st Airborne Division during Operation Carentan and was named after the Battle of Bastogne where the 101st Airborne and other U.S. units held the town of Bastogne against seven German divisions during World War II. The base was then used to support Operation Delaware, following which it was closed, but was reopened in August 1969 by the 2nd Battalion, 501st Infantry.[1] Bastogne had three artillery batteries: 105, 155, and heavies (175 and 8 inch two of each in one battery). It also had two M42 Duster (from D Battery 1/44th Artillery), 2 quad 50's and 1 searchlight.
Easter Offensive and abandonment
Firebase Bastogne, like most other support bases in Thừa Thiên Province, came under intense fire during the Easter Offensive of 1972. On 28 April Bastogne fell to People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) forces while bases nearby, including Firebase Birmingham just 6km east, continued to repel the offensive.[2]: 308 A force of over 4,000 ARVN soldiers of the 1st Division launched a counterattack due to the strategic importance of Firebase Bastogne as it was approximately 32km southwest of Huế and within shelling distance.[2]: 311 The base was recaptured by 15 May, however heavy shelling forced the ARVN troops to ultimately abandon Firebase Bastogne on 28 July 1972.[2]: 318
References
- ^ Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. pp. 5–44. ISBN 978-1555716257.
- ^ a b c Bowman, John S. (1985). The Vietnam War: An Almanac. New York: World Almanac Publications. ISBN 0-911818-85-5. OCLC 14098994.