Firebase Fuller

Firebase Fuller (also known as Dong Ha Mountain or Hill 549) is a former U.S. Marine Corps, Army and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) firebase in central Vietnam.

Firebase Fuller
Coordinates16.811°N 106.890°E / 16.811; 106.890 (Firebase Fuller)
TypeArmy
Site history
Built1969
In use1969–1972
Battles/wars
Vietnam War
Easter Offensive
Garrison information
Occupants3rd Battalion 9th Marines
2nd Battalion, 4th Marines

History
Battery A, 1/12 Marines prepare to fire their 105mm gun in 1969
Fire Support Fuller before June 1971 siege, looking north.

The base was established on Dong Ha Mountain northeast of The Rockpile north of Highway 9 during Operation Lancaster II.[1][2]

The 3rd Battalion 9th Marines secured Fuller as part of Operation Virginia Ridge on 2 May 1969.[3]:73 By July the 1st Battalion 9th Marines had assumed responsibility of the area around Fuller.[3]:138 Elements of the 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines provided artillery support at Fuller.[3]:243

In late September 1969 as part of Operation Keystone Cardinal the 3rd Marine Regiment began its withdrawal from South Vietnam handing over control of Fuller to the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines.[3]:151 The 4th Marines in turn handed over Fuller to elements of the 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized) on 5 November 1969.[3]:166

On 30 April 1970 at 00:55 a unit of the 1st Brigade at Fuller received mortar fire followed by an attack by People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) sappers. The defenders returned fire supported by artillery and helicopter gunships and the PAVN withdrew leaving 16 dead.[4]

On 16 August 1970 a unit of the ARVN 2nd Battalion, 2nd Regiment at Fuller was hit by 70 120mm mortar rounds killing 14 ARVN and destroying 20 bunkers.[5]

1971

On 22 June 1971 following an artillery barrage the PAVN launched a major attack on the ARVN base on Fuller, despite reinforcements and B-52 strikes the ARVN were pushed out of Fuller, but recaptured the base on 28 June having killed over 500 PAVN. A further PAVN attack on 1 July was repulsed.[6]

1972

By January 1972 the ARVN 3rd Division had assumed responsibility for the area north of Highway 9.[7]:32 Fuller was occupied by the 1st Battalion, 2nd ARVN Regiment.[7]:36 From January the ARVN on Fuller together with the Vietnamese Marines on Firebase Sarge reported a buildup on PAVN forces in the surrounding area.[7]:32

The PAVN launched their Easter Offensive on 30 March 1972 and PAVN artillery fire hit Fuller along with all other ARVN and Marine positions along the DMZ.[7]:38 Units of the PAVN 308th Division assaulted Fuller and by midday on 31 March the PAVN had overrun Fuller.[7]:45

Current use

The base has reverted to jungle.

  • Dong Ha Mountain
  • Firebase Fuller in 2008
  • Firebase Fuller 2008

References
  1. Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. p. 5–192. ISBN 978-1555716257.
  2. Shulimson, Jack (1997). U.S. Marines in Vietnam: 1968 The Defining Year. History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. p. 366. ISBN 0-16-049125-8. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. Smith, Charles (1988). U.S. Marines in Vietnam: High Mobility and Standdown 1969. History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. ISBN 978-1494287627. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. "Headquarters MACV Monthly Summary April 1970" (PDF). Headquarters United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. 17 August 1970. p. 73. Retrieved 26 March 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  5. "Headquarters MACV Command History 1970 Volume III 1970" (PDF). Headquarters United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. 19 April 1971. p. E-19. Retrieved 26 March 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. "South Vietnamese fight for Fire Base Fuller". History Channel. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  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. ISBN 978-1482384055. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

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

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