Firebase Illingworth
Firebase Illingworth is a former U.S. Army firebase northwest of Tây Ninh in southwest Vietnam.
| Firebase Illingworth | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 11.569°N 105.944°E |
| Type | Army |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1970 |
| In use | 1970 |
| Battles/wars |  Vietnam War Cambodian Incursion |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants | 8th Cavalry Regiment |
History
This firebase was named for US Army Corporal John James Illingworth, a member of Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, posthumous recipient of the Silver Star.[1][2]
The firebase was first established in March 1970 by the 8th Cavalry Regiment, 35 km northwest of Tây Ninh and approximately 5 km from the Cambodian border.[3]
On 1 April the base was occupied by Companies C and E, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry, B Battery, 5th Battalion, 2nd Artillery, A Battery, 1st Battalion, 30th Artillery, A Battery, 2nd Battalion, 32nd Artillery and B Battery, 1st Battalion, 77th Artillery. At approximately 02:00 the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) hit the base with over 300 rounds of mortar and recoilless rifle fire and then assaulted the base with a force of over 400 troops. During the attack an ammunition dump containing over 190 rounds exploded. By 05:00 the attack had been repulsed at a cost of 24 U.S. killed and 54 wounded and 88 PAVN killed. SP4 Peter C. Lemon would be awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle.[4]
Current use
The base has reverted to farmland.
References
- Jury, Mark (1971). The Vietnam Photo Book. Grossman Publishers. p. 102. ISBN 0-670-74603-7.
- "Memorial Page for John James Illingworth". The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. 8 February 2004. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
- Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. pp. 5–127. ISBN 978-1-55571-625-7.
- "Battle survivors reunite 40 years later at Fort Sill monument". US Army. 1 April 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2015.