Hill 55

Hill 55
Coordinates 15°55′15.73″N 108°9′23″E / 15.9210361°N 108.15639°E / 15.9210361; 108.15639 (Hill 55, Vietnam)
Type Marines
Site information
Condition abandoned
Site history
Built 1966
In use 1966-71
Battles/wars
Vietnam War
Garrison information
Occupants 3rd Marine Division

Hill 55 (also known as Nui Dat Son or Camp Muir) was a hill 16 km southwest of Da Nang, Quảng Nam Province, Vietnam. The hill was located 3 km northeast of the confluence of the Yen, Ai Nghia and La Tho Rivers.[1][2]

History

In the First Indochina War, two battalions of the French forces were wiped out on Hill 55.[3]

The hill was extensively mined by the Viet Cong. As the hill was the dominant terrain feature in the area, the 7th Marines, supported by mine-clearing LVTE-1s of the 1st Amphibian Tractor Battalion and engineers from the 3rd Engineer Battalion took control of the hill, demined it and established a base there in late January/early February 1966.[1]:48–49

The base was named Camp Muir after LTC Joseph Muir, commanding officer of the 3rd Battalion 3rd Marines who was killed by a booby-trap on 11 September 1965.[2]

In September 1966 the Marine 1st LAAM Battalion based a MIM-23 Hawk missile assault fire unit on the hill.[1]:270

Captain Edward James Land[4] operated a sniper school on the hill.[5][6] The 1st Battalion placed a 105 mm artillery battery there Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 13th Marines.[7] Notable snipers Carlos Hathcock and John Roland Burke were stationed on Hill 55.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Shulimson, Jack (1982). U.S. Marines in Vietnam: An Expanding War, 1966. History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. p. 48.
  2. 1 2 Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. pp. 5–344. ISBN 978-1555716257.
  3. ↑ "Small Unit Action in Vietnam Summer 1966" History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U. S. Marine Corps Retrieved June 14, 2008
  4. ↑ http://www.tactical-life.com/online/tactical-weapons/the-father-of-usmc-sniping/
  5. ↑ "SHARPSHOOTER EMPLOYMENT OFFICER" Retrieved June 14, 2008.
  6. ↑ "U.S. Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 4 Tom Cierley: Bulk Fueler Brings Bulk of Experience to Iraq" DefendAmerica News - Profile Article Retrieved June 14, 2005
  7. ↑ "CHAPTER 17 Artillery and Reconnaissance Artillery Operations, 1910-1971—Reconnaissance Operations, 1970-1971 Artillery Operations, 1970-1971" Retrieved June 14, 2008.

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

External links

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