Spt med headquarters and support company 326th medical bn located at camp eagle supported the 101st airborne div rear elements. The military discouraged the media from covering the battle because they did not want another hamburger hill controversy. Rendezvous with destiny quarterly magazine of the 101st airborne division, vietnam, 196971. This map depicts approximately 150 landing zones and firebases that were used in northern i corps south vietnam during the war see list below.
Jensen a bulldozer tows away a 105mm howitzer destroyed in the chinook crash of july 18, 1970, on firebase ripcord. Dec 10, 2017 101st airborne division airmobile apo san francisco 96383. Nolans book ripcord focuses primarily on small unit actions of the 2506 infantry of the 101st airborne in the a shau valley in springsummer 1970 with specific emphasis on seizing and holding a hillmass that was called firebase ripcord. Intended to provide information about the battle of ripcord in vietnam, march 12 july 23, 1970, the soldiers who. The 2nd battalion of the 502nd infantry regiment often referred to as the o deuce was part of the 1st brigade of the 101st airborne division in vietnam. Aug 19, 2009 101st airborne division at fire support base ripcord, vietnam war, july 1970. Americas last major battle in vietnam hell on a hill topfor four months in 1970, hell raged on the hill tops of ripcord, 805, 902 and, all just east of the a sh. How a vietnam captain led an escape from firebase kate. Thua thien province base campsfirebases and locations used by the 101st airborne division air cavalryairmobile 19681972 courtesy, tony mabb, history buff for reference purposes the book where we were by michael p. Home firebase list ed mitchells command tracking alpha company members lost under the command of ed mitchell on fsb henderson and fsb granite firebase locations. In july 1970 he fought on a hill top in the battle of ripcord, the last major battle involving americans in vietnams ashau valley against the 324th division of the north vietnamese army. B company 326th medical bn supported the 1st brigade 101st airborne div. I held off because of two related works in progress, one a memoir by chuck hawkins, the other a historical analysis of the battle by james fairhall, ph. E company, 506th regiment, 101st airborne from normandy to hitlers eagles nest by stephen e.
C company 326th medical bn located at camp evans supported the 3rd brigade 101st airborne div. A company commander in vietnam confronts the newstyle draftees. The firebase was named lz west and was manned by the troopers of the 196th light infantry brigade forming part of the american division. The original map without added locations is a joint operations graphic air map printed by the dma in september of 1983. The 101st airborne division screaming eagles is a specialized modular light infantry division of the us army trained for air assault operations. Berry ch47 chinook delivering a sling load of supplies to firebase ripcord.
Kelly, hellgate press, 2002, provided much of the information. Mar, 2020 the 2nd battalion of the 502nd infantry regiment often referred to as the o deuce was part of the 1st brigade of the 101st airborne division in vietnam. Screaming eagles under siege, vietnam 1970 hell on a hill top. A company 326th medical bn supported the 1st brigade 101st airborne div. Vanguard of the crusadethe 101st airborne division in ww2 this much soughtafter title is once again available, from this hardcover volume was actually the reprinting of my first 2 books, the 101st airborne at normandymbi, 1994 and the 101st airborne from holland to hitlers eagles nest mbi, 1995. He survived battle of ripcord with 101st airborne in vietnam. Ripcord had been carved out near the top of a 2,800foothigh mountain.
The 101st airborne division screaming eagles 1 is a modular light infantry division of the united states army trained for air assault operations. From march 12 to july 23, 1970, the 101st airborne division battled to hold a mountaintop firebase just west of the a shau valley in a time when richard nixons vietnamization was pulling troops from vietnam. Ripcord was the screaming eagles last chance to do significant damage to the nva in the a. Ripcord was the screaming eagles last chance to do significant damage to the nva in the a shau valley before the division. The battle of fire support base ripcord was a 23day battle between elements of the u. In the early summer of 1970 fsb ripcord, a base for the 101st near the nva stronghold of the a shau valley came under siege. The decision to withdraw was made on the twentysecond day. Battalion, 506th regiment, 101st airborne divisionthe screaming eagles. By heather clark, fort campbell courier may 18, 2012. By july, the activities of the artillery and infantry of ripcord had caught the attention of the nva north vietnamese army and a long and deadly siege ensued. Army 101st airborne division and the north vietnamese army from july 1, 1970 until july 23, 1970.
Glennon, who serves as the chaplain for vietnam veterans of americas chapter 905 in porter county, indiana, put in a 196970 tour of duty as a medic in vietnam for six months in the field with the 101st airborne divisions 2nd506th infantry and later at the camp evans medical evacuation hospital unit, c company, 326th. In the ripcord area, team phoenix, led by ssg fido vodden, engaged an enemy rifle squad carrying a soviet 7. Little was known about the battle until 1985, when the fsb ripcord association 2 was. On april 10, 1970, hill 927 was occupied by troopers of the screaming eagles of the 101st airborne division. Dec 20, 2016 in the early summer of 1970 fsb ripcord, a base for the 101st near the nva stronghold of the a shau valley came under siege. The firebase was named lz west and was manned by the troopers of the 196th light infantry brigade forming part of. Black smoke rises from burning ammunition or fuel after an enemy mortar attack on firebase ripcord. The began to besiege the americans, in the firebase.
During world war ii, it was renowned for its role in operation overlord the dday landings and airborne landings on june 6, 1944, in normandy, france, operation market garden, the liberation of the netherlands and, perhaps most famously, its. July 1970 keith nolans notes and timeline for his book ripcord. Imagine the surprise registered on the face of a north vietnamese soldier when, wandering down a trail in northern military region 1 about 18 miles southeast of hue. With the pandemic, the uncertainty of the length of its impact and the fact that our members are all in the high risk category of contracting the disease, we have decided to try again in 2021. Ripcord was the screaming eagles last chance to do significant damage to the nva in the a shau valley. Secretary of defense robert gates and the most potent and tactically mobile of the u. Siege of fsb ripcord in vietnam in 1970 improved video. I have wanted to write about what happened at ripcord since first learning of the battle in 1984 while researching into laos, a book about operation lam son 719. During the remainder of the month other ranger teams were active in the abandoned firebase ripcord area. New movie tells the battle of fire support base ripcord. The 101st airborne division battled to survive a fierce enemy, vietnamization and a media blackout. Jun 26, 2000 on april 10, 1970, hill 927 was occupied by troopers of the screaming eagles of the 101st airborne division. The 101st was surrounded, outnumbered almost ten to.
After weeks of reconnaissance, on the morning of july 1, 1970, the north vietnamese started firing mortars at the firebase. Battle of fire support base ripcord project gutenberg. Here the emphasis was placed upon reconnaissance and surveillance of roads and trails through out the area. The screaming eagles has been referred to as the tip of the spear by former u. Army 101st airborne division and the north vietnamese. How a vietnam captain led an escape from firebase kate duration. Phoenix nest online c158 ahc 101 abn vietnam 19681972.
Chris brady wrote the book remembering firebase ripcord which has over 100 interviews by ripcord veterans. Oct 14, 2015 from march 12 to july 23, 1970, the 101st airborne division battled to hold a mountaintop firebase just west of the a shau valley in a time when richard nixons vietnamization was pulling troops from vietnam. Units involved with the battle of ripcord print units assigned to 3rd brigade, 101 st airborne division, with their rear base at camp evans, and normally under the operational control of the 3rd brigade. During world war ii, it was renowned for its role in operation overlord the dday landings and airborne landings on june 6, 1944, in normandy, france, operation market garden, the liberation of the netherlands and, perhaps. While searching the bodies the element received small arms. Marines in 1967 and 1968, the firebase had again been operated by the 101st airborne division in 1969 and closed when monsoons prevented its resupply. The 1st brigade of the 101st was one of the first major units in vietnam arriving by boat in july 1965. Chris brady wrote the book remembering firebase ripcord which has over 100. Armys divisions by former chief of staff of the army gen edward c. It backed away from a major engagement, ordering the evacuation and destruction by air strikes of firebase ripcord. At a hilltop firebase west of chu lai in vietnam, a huge army chinook helicopter prepares to lift a conkedout smaller one to a base for repairs, april 27, 1969. There were approx 25,000 nva soldiers in the area of the ashau valley. He survived battle of ripcord with 101st airborne in. Screaming eagles under siege, vietnam 1970 by keith.
The 4 month long battle for support station ripcord. The battle of fire support base ripcord was a 23day battle between the u. Before ripcord could become an american dien bien phu, the 101st airborne division did what the u. Glennon, who serves as the chaplain for vietnam veterans of americas chapter 905 in porter county, indiana, put in a 196970 tour of duty as a medic in vietnam for six months in the field with the 101st airborne divisions 2nd506th infantry and later at the camp evans medical evacuation hospital unit, c company. The fourandahalf month battle claimed over a hundred american lives and featured one of the armys largest air evacuations in history. Dec 18, 2007 on april 10, 1970, hill 927 was occupied by troopers of the screaming eagles of the 101st airborne division. I am sorry to announce that we have had to cancel the2020 fsb ripcord association reunion in springfield, mo. By july, the activities of the artillery and infantry. Notable battles in which the 101st was engaged were the defense of firebase ripcord, supporting the invasion of laos by the arvn forces officially they didnt enter laos, and hamburger hill. Remembering firebase ripcord published by outskirts press. Battle of fire support base ripcord project gutenberg self.
Army 101st airborne division and the north vietnamese army from july 1, 1970 until july 23, 1970 75 americans were killed. Armys divisions by former chief of staff of the army gen edward. This operation included the battle of firebase ripcord, the battles for hill 902, hill, reup hill, hill 805, 882 and hill 714. Ripcord was the screaming eagles last chance to do significant damage to the nva in the a shau valley before the division was. Print 101st airborne division march 12, 1970 july 23, 1970. Operation texas star began on 1 april and continued until 1 september, 1970. It was a divisionwide operation that included all three brigades of the 101st airborne.
It was the last major confrontation between united states ground forces and north vietnam of the vietnam war. During the siege that held on for 23 days, 75 us servicemen were killed. Fire supportoperational base ripcord was to be opened on or about 1 april 1970 as a key forward fire supportoperational base in the. Army 101st airborne division and two reinforced divisions of the peoples army of vietnam pavn that took place from 1 to 23 july 1970.