An Hoa Combat Base

An Hoa Combat Base (also known as Duc Duc) is a former U.S. Marine Corps and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) base west of Hội An in Quảng Nam Province, Vietnam.

An Hoa Combat Base
An Hoa Combat Base, 27 January 1969
Coordinates15.785°N 108.073°E / 15.785; 108.073 (An Hoa Combat Base)
TypeMarines
Site information
Conditionabandoned
Site history
Built1966
In use1966–70
Battles/wars
Vietnam War
Garrison information
Occupants3rd Marine Division
1st Marine Division
An Hoa Airfield
Summary
Elevation AMSL66 ft / 20 m
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
2,700 823 asphalt

History

The base was located approximately 28 km west of Hội An and 4 km west northwest of the Mỹ Sơn temple complex, near to the Tinh Yen River and the An Hoa industrial complex.[1]

The base was first used by the Marines in January 1966 during Operation Mallard when the 1st Battalion, 12th Marines established a firebase there while the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines and a Company from the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines swept the surrounding area.[2]:41 On 20 April 1966 the Marines returned to An Hoa on Operation Georgia, the 12th Marines reestablished a firebase while the 3rd Battalion 9th Marines provided security, the base would become permanent at this time as the Marines sought to pacify the area.[2]:93 On 6 July 5 Marine Battalions launched Operation Macon around the An Hoa area, the operation continued into October resulting in 24 Marines and 380 Vietcong killed.[2]:204–10

Marines waiting to board HMM-164 helicopters at An Hoa in 1968

In August 1966 the Marines completed the construction of the MSR (main supply route) between Danang and An Hoa, naming it the "Liberty Road".[2]:209 It was decided that a bridge would be built to shorten the route. From April to September 1967 Seabees of MCB 4 built a 2,040 "Liberty bridge" over the Song Thu Bon for this purpose. [3]

An Hoa base was located southeast of a major Vietcong/People's Army of Vietnam base area known as the Arizona Territory across the Vu Gia River.[4]

The airfield was capable of handling C-7, C-123 and C-130 aircraft.[1]

Marine PFC Dan Bullock, the youngest American serviceman killed in action in the Vietnam War died at An Hoa on 7 June 1969.

The 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines handed over the base to the ARVN 1st Battalion, 51st Regiment on 15 October 1970.[5]

Current use

The base is abandoned and has reverted to jungle. Remains of the runway can still be seen.

References
  1. Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. p. 5–10. ISBN 978-1555716257.
  2. Shulimson, Jack (1982). U.S. Marines in Vietnam: An Expanding War 1966. History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. ISBN 978-1494285159. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. Saga of the Liberty bridge, Sponson Box, Official Publication of the USMC Vietnam Tankers Association, Vol. IX , No 4 2016 October, November, December, p. 6
  4. Buchanan, William (2003). Full Circle: A Marine Rifle Company in Vietnam. Baylaurel Press. pp. 77–9. ISBN 9781931093019.
  5. Cosmas, Graham (1988). U.S. Marines in Vietnam: Vietnamization and Redeployment 1970–1971. History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. p. 102. ISBN 978-1482384123. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.


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