Landing Zone Baldy

Landing Zone Baldy (also known as FSB Baldy or Hill 63) was a U.S. Marine Corps, Army and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) base located northwest of Chu Lai, Quảng Nam Province in central Vietnam.

Landing Zone Baldy
LZ Baldy, 7 November 1968
Coordinates15.766°N 108.324°E / 15.766; 108.324 (Landing Zone Baldy)
TypeMarines/Army
Site history
Built1967
In use1967-72
Battles/wars
Vietnam War
Garrison information
Occupants196th Light Infantry Brigade
7th Marine Regiment
5th Marine Regiment
Airfield information
Summary
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
2,400 732

History

The base was located at the intersection of Highway 1 and Route 535, approximately 28 km northwest of Chu Lai.[1]

Baldy was originally established by the U.S. Army 196th Light Infantry Brigade and was then taken over as the headquarters for the 7th Marines.[2]

On the morning of 3 January 1968 the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) 2nd Division mortared Baldy as part of a series of attacks on four Marines bases.[3]

In August 1969 a logistics support unit of Force Logistic Support Group Bravo was established at Baldy.[2]: 260  In late 1969 the 3rd Battalion 11th Marines moved to Baldy.[2]: 244 

In September 1970 the 7th Marines began to withdraw from the Quế Sơn Valley and the Baldy tactical area of operations as part of Operation Keystone Robin Alpha handing over control to the 5th Marine Regiment.[4]

“K” Battery, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines at Baldy, March 1970

From 2–15 October 1970 the U.S. Army's Task Force Saint comprising the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry and a battery from the 3rd Battalion, 82nd Artillery was based at Baldy for Operation Tulare Falls I and returned again as Task Force Burnett from 27 to 31 October.[4]: 118 

From 14 October 1970 the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing deployed a force of six CH-46Ds, 4 AH-1Gs and one UH-1E command ship to Baldy on a daily basis from Marble Mountain Air Facility to support 5th Marine quick reaction force (QRF) operations.[4]: 106  In late November the Korean 2nd Marine Brigade also stationed a QRF platoon at Baldy.[4]: 113 

Baldy was a base for Marine combined action and pacification programmes throughout 1969–70.[4]: 155 

In January 1971 as part of the general drawdown of U.S. forces the 23rd Infantry Division took over the Marines' tactical area of responsibility, but made it clear they would not take over the Marine bases at Baldy, Firebase Ross or Firebase Ryder.[4]: 212  On 4 March 1971, Logistics Support Unit 3 at Baldy ceased operations.[4]: 319  On 20 March 1971 the Marines turned over Baldy to the ARVN.[4]: 222 

Current use

The base appears to remain in use by the PAVN.

References
  1. Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. p. 30. ISBN 978-1555716257.
  2. Smith, Charles (1988). US Marines in Vietnam High Mobility and Standdown 1969. History and Museums Division Headquarters United States Marine Corps. p. 206. ISBN 9781494287627.
  3. Shulimson, Jack (1997). US Marines in Vietnam: 1968 The Defining Year. History and Museums Division Headquarters United States Marine Corps. p. 100. ISBN 9781494285715.
  4. Cosmas, Graham (1986). US Marines in Vietnam Vietnamization and Redeployment. History and Museums Division Headquarters United States Marine Corps. p. 96. ISBN 9781494287498.

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

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