Guest blog by Bernie Weisz
Aftermath of battle of Ripcord, July 25, 1970 The Battle of Fire Support Base Ripcord was a 23 day battle between the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division and the North Vietnamese Army from July 1, 1970 until July 23, 1970. It was the last major confrontation between United States ground forces and North Vietnam of the Vietnam War. Little was known about the battle until 1985, when the FSB Ripcord Association was founded. Three Medals of Honor and six Distinguished Service Crosses were awarded to participants for actions during the operations.
President Nixon secretly began the withdrawal of troops from Vietnam early in 1969. As the only full-strength division remaining in Vietnam in early 1970, the 101st Airborne Division was ordered to conduct the planned offensive Operation Texas Star near the A Shau Valley. On March 12, 1970, the 3rd Brigade, 101st began rebuilding abandoned Fire Support Base Ripcord which relied, as with most remote bases at the time, on a helicopter lifeline to get supplies in and the personnel out. The firebase was to be used for a planned offensive by the 101st to destroy NVA supply bases in the mountains overlooking the valley. Located on the eastern edge of the valley, and taking place at the same time as the Cambodian Incursion, the operation was considered covert. As the 101st Airborne Division planned the attack on enemy supply bases, the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) was secretly observing their activities.
From March 12 until June 30, the NVA was sporadically attacking the firebase. After weeks of reconnaissance by the NVA, on the morning of July 1, 1970 the North Vietnamese Army launched a mortar attack on the firebase. During the 23-day siege, 75 US servicemen were killed, including Colonel Andre Lucas, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor; and First Lt. Bob Kalsu, the only active pro athlete to be killed during the war. Fighting from four hilltops, surrounded, and outnumbered nearly ten to one, U.S. forces caused heavy losses on eight enemy battalions, before an aerial withdrawal under heavy mortar, anti-aircraft, and small arms fire.
After the U.S. Army withdrew from the firebase, USAF B-52 heavy bombers were sent in to carpet bomb the area.[4] Major General (ret) Ben Harrison, then the commander of the 3rd Brigade of the 101st Airborne at FSB Ripcord, is of the opinion that perhaps the NVA losses at Ripcord, just as their losses of their major offensives of the Ia Drang in 1965 and Tet in 1968, dulled the offensive capability of NVA for two full years, resulting in the delaying of their Easter Offensive from 1971 to 1972.
Click on the link below to see short videos filmed on Firebase Ripcord.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Should you have a question or comment about this article, then scroll down to the comment section below to leave your response.
If you want to learn more about the Vietnam War and its Warriors, then subscribe to this blog and get notified by email or your feed reader every time a new story, picture, video or changes occur on this website – the button is located at the top right of this page.
I’ve also created a poll to help identify my website audience – before leaving, can you please click HERE and choose the one item best describing you. Thank you in advance!
This was the era of time I spent in the 1st of the 501st 101st Airborn Division. We patroled the surrounding areas as an Infrantry unit. Co. A.2ND Platoon. We later moved up on the DMZ North of Quang Tree. That is where Lt. Peter Durney (Road Runner) Myself and my new RTO ( so new I can’t remember his name) was wounded after I returned from R&R and went wirh Peter to 1st platoon. I was getting short myself when I was wounded, so short that that same day I was to return to the rear to start processing out.
Though we have reunions every two years and have done so for some 6 years now, it is difficult to get everything into proper prospective with Dates and times and even people. I am sure as with most 40 plus years leaves things sketchy @ best.
I do enjoy reading articles regarding the war and events that happened with respect to the mindset of other individuals. At least It gives me a sence of sanity and leaves me not feeling like I was on an Island with all the distorted thoughts that I have encountered.
Thanks to publisher and all who developed this, it is great. If you need help with advertising cost and I can be of assistance, please let me know.
Kindest Regards
Larry Miller (Monk)
LikeLike
Thanks for your support, Monk. See ya in June!
John Podlaski, author
Cherries – A Vietnam War Novel [image: Facebook Page] [image: WordPress] [image: Amazon] [image: LinkedIn] Get a signature like this. CLICK HERE.
LikeLike