Hill 950 (also known as Hickory Hill Mission Support Site, Hickory Hill MSS, Hickory Hill Radio Relay Site or Lemon Tree) was a U.S. Marine Corps and
MACV-SOG base located north of
Khe Sanh, in
Quảng Trị Province.
History
The base was located approximately 3.5 km north of Khe Sanh.
The base was first established by the Marines in late 1966. In May 1967 the site was defended by a company from the
1st Battalion, 26th Marines
The 1st Battalion, 26th Marines (1/26) is an inactive infantry battalion of the United States Marine Corps. They were part of the 26th Marine Regiment and 5th Marine Division and fought during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. They were a ...
. On the morning of 6 June a
People's Army of Vietnam
The People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN; vi, Quân đội nhân dân Việt Nam, QĐNDVN), also recognized as the Vietnam People's Army (VPA) or the Vietnamese Army (), is the military force of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the armed wi ...
(PAVN) force attacked the base, but were forced back for the loss of 6 Marines and 10 PAVN killed. CPL John Roland Burke would be posthumously awarded the
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps' second-highest military decoration awarded for sailors and marines who distinguish themselves for extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force. The medal is eq ...
for his actions during the battle.
In September 1969 as part of
Operation Keystone Cardinal Operation Keystone Cardinal was the withdrawal of the 3rd Marine Division from South Vietnam, taking place from 30 September to 27 November 1969.
Background
Following the withdrawal of the 9th Marine Regiment from South Vietnam in Operation Keyst ...
the
4th Marines
The 4th Marine Regiment is an infantry regiment of the United States Marine Corps. Based at Camp Schwab in Okinawa, Japan, it is part of the 3rd Marine Division of the III Marine Expeditionary Force.
Mission
Close with and destroy the enemy by fi ...
abandoned the base as part of the withdrawal of the 3rd Marine Division from Vietnam.
The base was later used as an operations base and radio relay site to allow SOG teams to remain in contact while on operations in Laos and to monitor sensors emplaced on the
Ho Chi Minh Trail.
[ The base also housed the Army Security Agency's (ASA) Explorer VHF automated interception system linked to the ]Phu Bai Combat Base
Phu Bai Combat Base (also known as Phu Bai Airfield and Camp Hochmuth) is a former U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps base south of Huế, in central Vietnam.
History
1962-5
The Army Security Agency, operating under cover of the 3rd Radio Rese ...
.[ Four wounded U.S. servicemen, including the base commander and several Bru commandos were evacuated by helicopter at midday on 4 June. The helicopter was hit by PAVN fire and had to make an emergency landing and the occupants were transferred to another helicopter. Additional helicopters arrived at the base to evacuate U.S. personnel, but Sergeants Jon R. Cavaiani and Robert Jones chose to remain to defend the base with some 20 Bru.][ The top-secret Explorer system was destroyed with thermal charges as the base was evacuated.][ On the morning of 5 June the PAVN launched a final assault, overrunning the base, while many of the Bru managed to escape, Cavaianai and Jones held out in a bunker until Jones was killed and Cavaiani was taken prisoner.][ Cavaiani was released in April 1973, he would be awarded the ]Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of val ...
for his actions in the battle.
Current use
The base has reverted to jungle.
See also
* Leghorn Mission Support Site
* Sledgehammer Mission Support Site
References
{{Marine Corps
External links
Photos of Hickory Hill Video of former base in 2012
Buildings and structures in Quảng Trị province
Military installations of the United States Marine Corps in South Vietnam
Military installations closed in 1971