Fire Base Illingworth: An Epic True Story of Remarkable Courage Against Staggering Odds

By Philip Keith

Book Overview

Fire Base Illingworth is an epic, never-before-told true story of a North Vietnamese Army attack and how the men of this nearly overrun Fire Base survived. In the early morning hours of April 1, 1970, more than four hundred North Vietnamese soldiers charged out into the open and tried to over-run FSB Illingworth. The battle went on, mostly in the dark, for hours. Exposed ammunition canisters were hit and blew up, causing a thunderous explosion inside the FSB that left dust so thick it jammed the hand-held weapons of the GIs. Much of the combat was hand-to-hand. In all, twenty-four Americans lost their lives and another fifty-four were wounded. Nearly one hundred enemy bodies were recovered. It was one of the most vicious small unit firefights in the history of U.S. forces in Vietnam. As in his acclaimed book Blackhorse Riders, a finalist for the prestigious Colby Award, Philip Keith uncovers a harrowing true story of bravery and sacrifice by the men who fought valiantly to hold FSB Illingworth-a tale never-before-told and one that will not be soon forgotten.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1250024951
• ISBN13: 9781250024954
• Release Date: October 2013
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.16 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.4" x 1.2" x 6.4"

Customer Reviews

Amazing Courage Of The Vietnam Soldiers !

Imagining being on a small base without any Hardline Defense for Protection from the Enemy - Knowing you are setup as Bait for a Enemy Attack ! The Fire Support Base Illingworth open up , Dog Head / War Zone C , on March 17 , 1970 and the Soldiers had a Job to do ! Two previous Battles near by - We all knew we were going to be next Battle - going to be Soldiers Killed or Wounded but we had a Job to do ! On April 1 , 1970 - early in the Morning - some 400 to 500 N.V.A. Soldiers attacked 208 American Soldiers Of F.S.B. Illingworth ! Hand to Hand Combat - we fought like History Of The Alamo - morning / 3 Hours after the Battle - we put up the American flag - everyone could seeing it - we are AMERICAN Soldiers !