Firebase Vera
| Firebase Vera | |
|---|---|
| Site information | |
| Type | Army |
| Condition | abandoned |
| Location | |
 | |
| Coordinates | 13°42′47″N 107°37′01″E / 13.713°N 107.617°E |
| Site history | |
| Built | October 1968 |
| In use | October- December 1968 |
| Battles/wars |  Vietnam War |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants | 35th Infantry Regiment |
Firebase Vera was a U.S. Army firebase located near the Cambodian border southwest of Pleiku in the central highlands of Vietnam.
History
[edit]Vera was constructed in October 1968 by the 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry approximately 6 km from the Cambodian border, 8 km south of Đức Cơ Camp and 50 km southwest of Pleiku.[1]The fire base was originally a one company size fire base. It was expanded to two companies with the arrival of B Co 3rd Battalion, 8th Infantry.
The day before Vera was assaulted B Co 3rd Battalion, 8th Infantry was moved by helicopters and taken to the special forces camp at Duc Co. This left the two company size perimeter being manned by just one company. Vera was assaulted by People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) sappers under cover of mortar fire on the early morning of 14 November 1968. The assault was repulsed for the loss of six U.S. and six PAVN killed.[2] The six PAVN killed were buried at Vera. B Co 3/8th returned to Vera later that morning. The fire base continued to receive incoming that day and for many days afterwards. Vera was abandoned about the 12th of December when B Co 3/8th was transported by trucks to 4th Division headquarters at Pleiku.
Units based at Vera included:[1]
- B Co 3rd Battalion, 8th Infantry
- 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry
- 2nd Battalion, 9th Artillery
- 1st Battalion, 92nd Artillery
Current use
[edit]The base has been turned over to farmland.
References
[edit]- ^ a b Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. p. 535. ISBN 978-1555716257.
- ^ "Valor Awards for Steve L. Bounds". Military Times. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
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