Charlie 2

Charlie 2
Charlie 2
	Charlie 2, 3 June 1970
	Charlie 2
Coordinates	16.855°N 107.005°E
Type	Marines/Army
Site history
Built	1966
In use	1966–1972
Battles/wars	; Vietnam War; Battle of Con Thien; Easter Offensive
Garrison information
Occupants	3rd Marine Division; 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized)

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.

History

1966-7

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

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

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

The base has been turned over to farmland.

References

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. p. 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.
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.

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[1] Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. p. 5–78. 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. p. 44. ISBN 978-1494285159.

[3] 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.

[Shulimson-4] 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.

[5] 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.

[6] 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-7] 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.