Combat· Vietnam War
Con Thien
Con Thien was a low rise just south of the Demilitarized Zone that became one of the most fought-over and shelled positions of the entire war, a Marine strongpoint anchoring the eastern end of the planned barrier across the northern frontier.
Holding the hill gave observation deep into the zone and the territory beyond, which made it indispensable to the Marines and an obsession for the North Vietnamese, who subjected it to relentless artillery and rocket bombardment from positions across the border. The Marines occupying Con Thien endured punishing shelling and repeated ground probes, living in mud and bunkers under fire that made the place infamous, while the enemy sought to overrun or neutralize the outpost. The struggle for Con Thien epitomized the static, artillery-dominated warfare along the DMZ, where the Marines held exposed positions at heavy cost to deny the enemy the commanding ground near the border.
Record no. 676