Firebase Ross

Firebase Ross (also known as Hill 51) was a U.S. Marine Corps, Army and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) fire support base located in the Quế Sơn Valley southwest of Hội An, Quảng Nam Province in central Vietnam.

Firebase Ross
Firebase Ross as the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines prepares to leave, 14 February 1971
Coordinates15.671°N 108.222°E / 15.671; 108.222 (Firebase Ross)
TypeMarines/Army
Site history
Built1968
In use1968-72
Battles/wars
Vietnam War
Garrison information
Occupants3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division
1st Marine Division

History

The base was located in the Quế Sơn Valley along Route 535, approximately 27 km southwest of Hội An.[1]

In January 1968 the 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division had its headquarters at Ross. On the afternoon of 2 January, elements of the 12th Cavalry Regiment engaged a unit from the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) 2nd Division in a four-hour-long battle 5 km south of Ross resulting in 3 U.S. and 39 PAVN killed.[2]: 99–100  On the early morning of 3 January the PAVN attacked four U.S. firebases in the Quế Sơn Valley, launching ground attacks against Ross and Landing Zone Leslie, which were defeated by dawn for the loss of 18 U.S. and 331 PAVN killed.[2]: 100 

In late June 1969 the 3rd Battalion 7th Marines moved by road to Ross. On 22 August two Marine companies were sent by road to assist the Army's 4th Battalion, 35th Infantry which was heavily engaged with elements of the PAVN 2nd Division in the Hiệp Đức District and became involved in a running battle lasting until 29 August.[3]: 205–8  On 9 December the 1st Battalion 7th Marines replaced the 3/7 Marines at Ross.[3]: 211 

In the early morning of 6 January 1970 under the cover of monsoon rains the Vietcong 409th Battalion attacked Ross with mortars and sappers penetrating the wire. The attack was repulsed by 04:00 resulting in 13 Marines and 38 Vietcong killed.[4]: 48–50  In March the 2nd Battalion 7th Marines replaced the 1/7 Marines at Ross.[4]: 51  From April through June the PAVN and Vietcong carried out regular mortar and rocket attacks on Ross and Quế Sơn town. In September the 7th Marines began to withdraw from the Quế Sơn Valley as part of Operation Keystone Robin Alpha handing over control to the 5th Marine Regiment.[4]: 96–7 

In January 1971 as part of the general drawdown of U.S. forces the 23rd Infantry Division took over the Marines tactical area of responsibility but made it clear they would not take over the Marine bases at Ross, Landing Zone Baldy or Firebase Ryder.[4]: 212  On 15 February 1971 the Marines turned over Ross to the ARVN 411th Regional Force Company.[4]: 220 

On 18 August 1972 following an artillery barrage by 130mm guns the PAVN 711th Division attacked and captured Quế Sơn town and Ross, including 15-20 of the then secret TOW missiles among the abandoned equipment.[5] The ARVN 5th Regiment, 2nd Division troops defending Ross were said to have failed to carry out their mission, while the Regional Forces defending Quế Sơn were said to have performed "surprisingly well". The ARVN forces retreated to Firebase Baldy and mounted a defence from there.[6] South Vietnamese sources said that since the start of the Easter Offensive there had been practically no South Vietnamese presence between Quế Sơn and the Laotian border, allowing the PAVN to bring in the 130mm guns without detection.[7] On 23 August ARVN forces attempting to recapture Quế Sơn claimed to have killed 108 PAVN for the loss of one killed in fighting 3 miles (4.8 km) from the town.[8] On 24 August the 5th Regiment commander, Colonel Nguyen Van Lu and a battalion commander, were arrested for their role in losing Ross and it was reported that as many as 2,500 ARVN troops remained unaccounted for.[9]

The ARVN 4th Regiment recaptured Ross on 9 September 1972.[10]

Other units stationed at Ross included:

Current use

The base is now the site of a park and PAVN victory monument.

References
  1. Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. p. 448. ISBN 978-1555716257.
  2. Shulimson, Jack (1997). US Marines in Vietnam: 1968 The Defining Year. History and Museums Division Headquarters United States Marine Corps. ISBN 9781494285715.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. Smith, Charles (1988). US Marines in Vietnam High Mobility and Standdown 1969. History and Museums Division Headquarters United States Marine Corps. ISBN 9781494287627.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. Cosmas, Graham (1986). US Marines in Vietnam Vietnamization and Redeployment. History and Museums Division Headquarters United States Marine Corps. ISBN 9781494287498.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  5. "U.S. confirms enemy captured secret missiles". Washington Post News Service. 22 August 1972. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  6. Sydney Schanberg (21 August 1972). "District capital in Vietnam falls to enemy forces". The New York Times. p. 1.
  7. Malcolm Browne (23 August 1972). "Fighting lessens in Queson region". The New York Times. p. 8.
  8. "Saigon bid to retake Queson thwarted". The New York Times. 24 August 1972. p. 4.
  9. "Saigon arrests Queson officers". The New York Times. 25 August 1972. p. 6.
  10. Melson, Charles (1991). US Marines in Vietnam The War That Would Not End, 1971-1973. History and Museums Division Headquarters United States Marine Corps. p. 286. ISBN 9781482384055.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

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

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