In my studies of the history of
warfare, it always has amazed me how seemingly
insignificant places take on tremendous strategic
importance. The Alamo, Gettysburg and Bastogne are
but a few that come to mind. The Vietnam War was no
exception: Chu Lai, Khe Sanh and Hue City were
important battles during the conflict.
There was one area just below the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that was watched closely by the Allies during the fighting. Sadly, few except the men who served there remember it. It was known as Con Thien.
Con Thien, loosely translated, means "a place of angels." But anyone who fought at Con Thien will tell you no angels resided there. It was a mud-covered hill rising just 158 meters that anchored "Leatherneck Square"- consisting of Gio Linh, Dong Ha, Cam Lo and Con Thien. These four Marine combat bases kept a watchful eye on the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) in and around the DMZ.
Colonel Richard B. Smith, commanding the 9th Marines, commented: "Con Thien was clearly visible from the 9th Marines HQ on the high ground at Dong Ha ten miles away, so good line-of-site communications were enjoyed. If the enemy occupied it, he would be looking down our throats."
And the enemy wanted desperately to occupy it. The Marines were a thorn in their side. In the spring of 1967, they decided to drive the leathernecks from Con Thien.
In the pre-dawn hours of May 8, 1967, the communists struck with a vengeance at the base. For the first time in the war, the NVA used flamethrowers as two enemy battalions breached the perimeter. Elements of the 1st Battalion, 4th Marines fought hand-to-hand to push the enemy back. By dawn, the Marines had succeeded. The price, however, was high: 44 Marines KIA and another 110 wounded.
Having nearly been driven out of Con Thien, the Marines were ordered to conduct a series of operations to keep the NVA away from the all-important firebase. A three-pronged strategy was planned. Operation Hickory commenced on 18 May with a huge 700 round 105mm and 155mm salvo hammering NVA fortifications near the village of Phu An. Fighter aircraft let loose 750 and 1000-pound bombs and inundated the area with napalm. Elements of the 9th Marines and 26th Marines fought the enemy in sharp firefights near the DMZ.
Meanwhile, in an operation dubbed Lam Son 54, several battalions from the 1st Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) Division pushed towards the Ben Hai River while three ARVN airborne battalions moved in a westerly direction. The South Vietnamese encountered the 31st and 812th NVA Regiments the following day and killed 342 NVA, snaring 30 prisoners and seizing 51 weapons.
In the meantime Hanoi decided to pound the outpost with mortars and heavy artillery to keep the Marines off balance while they maneuvered their forces for another possible assault on Con Thien. This cat-and-mouse game continued through 1967. The combat resembled the trench warfare of World War I. Because of the incessant shelling, some men developed "shell shock", relatively unheard of in Vietnam at that time. Marine battalions were rotated in and out regularly. It became known as one's "time in the barrel" when sent to Con Thien. It was also referred to as the "meat grinder" and the DMZ became the "Dead Marine Zone."
The worst, however, came on 2 July, 1967. In an operation dubbed Buffalo, companies A and B, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines swept an area north of Con Thien. As the infantrymen moved along Route 561 in an area called the Marketplace, the NVA pounced like a horde of fire ants. Company B was cut to pieces. When a relief force finally arrived, CO Captain Henry Radcliffe asked where the remainder of the company was.
"Sir, this is the company, or what's left of it," answered one staff sergeant.
Only 27 Marines escaped unscathed.
Numerous other operations finally made the NVA pull back to the DMZ. The close quarters combat, air and artillery strikes were taking their toll on them as well. Death showed no prejudice at Con Thien.
September 1967 was a particularly bad month. NVA gunners hammered the small base with more then 3,000 rounds. On 25 September alone, 1200 shells roared into the tiny area.
Pfc. Jack Hartzel of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines watched as a young Marine, both legs lost to artillery fire, calmly puffed on a cigarette as he waited his MVAC. Men became numb to the death and pain surrounding them.
When historians discuss the Vietnam War, Con Thien is largely overlooked. Most are unaware of the tremendous sacrifices made by the young men that had to endure the savagery. As to the hundreds killed defending that small piece of real estate, their spirits remain as testament to their bravery.
They are the Angels of Con Thien.