Description Con Thien (Vietnamese: căn cứ Cồn Tiên, meaning the "Hill of Angels"), was a United States Marine Corps combat base located near the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone about 3 km from North Vietnam. It was the site of fierce fighting from February 1967 through February 1968. Cồn Tiên, Gio Linh District, Quảng Trị Province.
Con Thien was originally established as a Special Forces/CIDG camp before being taken over by the Marines in December 1966. Together with Marine bases at Gio Linh, Dong Ha and Cam Lo, Con Thien enclosed the area known to the Marines as Leatherneck Square.
Con Thien was intended to be used as a base for the McNamara Line to prevent NVA infiltration across the DMZ. The firebase was strategically important because it offered unfettered views for 15 km east to the coast and north into North Vietnam. It was also very vulnerable because it was within range of NVA artillery north of the DMZ which was largely immune to counter-battery fire.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
January / 1967
To Month/Year
December / 1967
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Memories One evening during siege, witnessed A6 Intruder hit by SAM missle. No survivors. Ran into our bunkers like ground squirrels when plane exploded.
