Vietnam Fire Support Base
In Vietnam fire support bases (FSB) were established to provide artillery coverage in the surrounding areas. There were either semi-permanent bases designed to provide consistent support, or temporary one with the guns being air-lifted by helicopter to assist on-going operations.
During the Battle of the Ia Drang Valley, November 14-16, 1965, Fire support Base Falcon, located five miles away from the battle site, contained 105mm howitzers of A and B batteries, 1st Battalion, 21st Artillery supporting elements of the 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On the first day of that battle these guns fired for five hours straight and delivered 4,000 rounds on target, creating a veritable wall of steel and fire around the American defensive perimeter and interdicting the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) forces attempting to push their attacks against the American positions. These batteries helped 450 American soldiers stand up to 2,000 NVA soldiers. This helps explain why the Artillery has be called the “King of Battle”.
Erected by U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, Vietnam. A significant historical date for this entry is November 14, 1965.
Location. 40° 12.317′ N, 77° 9.435′ W. Marker is near Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in Cumberland County. It is in Middlesex Township. It can be reached from Army Heritage Drive. Located at the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center (Open to Public). Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Carlisle PA
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Regionally, this marker is in South-Central Pennsylvania and in Greater Harrisburg. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Time On Target (a few steps from this marker); Colonel Vincent J. Tedesco, Jr. (a few steps from this marker); The Ia Drang Battlefield (a few steps from this marker); One-Oh-Five (a few steps from this marker); Selfless Service (within shouting distance of this marker); Duty (within shouting distance of this marker); 360 Degrees of Fire (within shouting distance of this marker); The Battle of the Ia Drang Valley (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Carlisle.
Also see . . . Fire support base.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 13, 2017, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 1,311 times since then and 106 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on June 13, 2017, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
