The Rockpile

For other uses, see Rockpile (disambiguation).

The Rockpile
Drawing showing the Rockpile in relation to the DMZ and other northern bases
Coordinates	16°46′49.82″N 106°51′7.37″E
Type	Marines
Site history
Built	1966
In use	1966-9
Battles/wars	Vietnam War
Garrison information
Occupants	3rd Marine Division, 1st Marine Division

The Rockpile (also known as Elliot Combat Base) and known in Vietnamese as Thon Khe Tri, is a solitary karst rock outcropping north of Route 9 and south of the former Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). It rises to an elevation of 240 metres (790 ft) MSL, about 210 metres (690 ft) above the surrounding terrain. Its relatively inaccessible location, reached only by helicopter, made it an important United States Army and Marine Corps observation post and artillery base from 1966 to 1969.

Gallery

• 
  The Rockpile from Highway 9, February 11, 2004.
• 
  Marine UH-34 resupplies the Rockpile
• 
  The Rockpile as seen in 2010 from Route 9.

See also

• History of the United States Marine Corps
• List of United States Marine Corps installations
• Khe Sanh

References

• "The Rockpile". Time. October 7, 1966. Retrieved 2008-05-14.
• Jewett, Rus. "Gruntfixer: An accounting of my experiences as a Hospital Corpsman attached to "Ripley's Raiders" Lima Company 3rd Battalion 3rd Marines – 1967". {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.