Firebase Thunder III was a U.S. Army

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located south of An Lộc, Binh Phuoc Province, in southern Vietnam.

History

Thunder III was located along Route 13 (known as Thunder Road by U.S. forces) approximately 23 km south of An Lộc and 28 km north of Lai Khê. The 2nd Battalion, 2nd Mechanized Infantry was based at Thunder III. On 11 January 1969 a convoy of vehicles from the 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment was ambushed on Route 13 near Thunder III.

First Lieutenant First lieutenant is a commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces; in some forces, it is an appointment. The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations, but in most forces it is sub-divided into a se ...

Harold A. Fritz was later awarded the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, military decoration and is awarded to recognize American United States Army, soldiers, United States Navy, sailors, Un ...

for his actions during the engagement. On 22 August 1969, a Boeing CH-47C Chinook medium-lift helicopter, #68-15824, crashed 8 km east of Thunder III with six fatalities. F battery 16th arty was there in November 1969 Thunder III was assaulted by

People's Army of Vietnam The People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN), officially the Vietnam People's Army (VPA; , , ), also recognized as the Vietnamese Army (), the People's Army () or colloquially the Troops ( ), is the national Military, military force of the Vietnam, S ...

(PAVN) sappers under cover of mortar fire on the early morning of 5 November 1969. Units based at Thunder III included: * 2nd Battalion, 12th Artillery * 3rd Battalion, 197th Artillery * B Company and elements of C Company, 554th Engineer Battalion

References

{{Reflist Installations of the United States Army in South Vietnam Buildings and structures in Bình Phước province