Landing Zone Kate
{{Short description|US Army base from the Vietnam War}}
{{Infobox military structure
|name=Landing Zone Kate
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|location=
|coordinates={{Coord|12.238|N|107.363|E|display=inline|name=Landing Zone Kate}}
|image=
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|type=Army
|code=
|built= 1969
|builder=
|materials=
|height=
|used= 1969
|demolished=
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|ownership=
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|commanders=
|occupants= 5th Special Forces
|battles= 60px
Vietnam War
|events=
}}
Landing Zone Kate (also known as Firebase Kate, LZ Kate or Firebase White) is a former U.S. Army base northwest of Quang Duc Province in southern Vietnam near the Cambodian border.{{cite book|last=Kelley|first=Michael|title=Where we were in Vietnam|publisher=Hellgate Press|year=2002|isbn=978-1555716257|page=270}}
History
The base was defended by men from 5th Special Forces Detachments A-233 and A-236 and their Montagnard forces and elements of the 5th Battalion, 22nd Artillery and 1st Battalion, 92nd Artillery when it was subjected to a siege by the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) 66th Regiment from 27 October to 1 November 1969.{{cite book|last=Sharp|first=Arthur|title=The Siege of LZ Kate: The Battle for an American Firebase in Vietnam|publisher=Stackpole Books|year=2014|isbn=9780811713863|page=213}} On the morning of 30 October a PAVN force attacked the base but was beaten back with artillery and air support. A Bell UH-1B Iroquois helicopter gunship #63-08587 was shot down with the loss of four U.S. killed.{{cite web|url=http://www.vhpa.org/KIA/incident/69103099KIA.HTM|title=Helicopter UH-1B 63-08587|publisher=Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association|access-date=18 January 2015}} By 31 October two of the three artillery pieces at the base had been disabled and the artillerymen were fighting as infantry and 1LT Ronald A Ross of 5/22 Artillery was killed by a B-40 rocket.{{cite web|url=http://www.virtualwall.org/dr/RossRA02a.htm|title=CPT Ronald Alan Ross|publisher=The Virtual Wall|access-date=18 January 2015}} The base was abandoned on the night of 1 November and the US and Montagnard forces evacuated towards the nearby Bu Prang Camp. PFC Michael Norton disappeared during the escape and evasion and was listed as missing in action.{{cite web|url=http://www.virtualwall.org/dn/NortonMR01a.htm |title=SFC Michael Robert Norton |work=The Virtual Wall|access-date=18 January 2015}} The base was bombed on 2 November to destroy any materiel that had been left behind.
Current use
The base has reverted to jungle.{{fact|date=November 2024}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
[http://escapefromfirebasekate.com Escape from Fire Base Kate, a 2015 documentary]
Category:Buildings and structures in Dak Nong province
Category:Installations of the United States Army in South Vietnam
Category:History of Đắk Nông province
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