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Charlie 2

Coordinates: 16°51′18″N 107°00′18″E / 16.855°N 107.005°E / 16.855; 107.005
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Charlie 2
  
Đông Hà, Quảng Trị province in Vietnam
Charlie 2, 3 June 1970
Charlie 2 is located in Vietnam
Charlie 2
Charlie 2
Shown within Vietnam
Coordinates16°51′18″N 107°00′18″E / 16.855°N 107.005°E / 16.855; 107.005
TypeMarines/Army base
Site information
OperatorArmy of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN)
United States Marine Corps
United States Army (U.S. Army)
ConditionAbandoned
Site history
Built1966 (1966)
In use1966-1972 (1972)
Battles/wars
Vietnam War
Battle of Con Thien
Easter Offensive
Garrison information
Garrison3rd 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

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1966-7

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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

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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

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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

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The base has been turned over to farmland.

References

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

  1. ^ Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. pp. 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.
  4. ^ a b 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.
  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.