Landing Zone Oasis

Landing Zone Oasis
An aerial view of the landing zone in April 1967
Coordinates13°48′18″N 107°52′19″E / 13.805°N 107.872°E / 13.805; 107.872 (Landing Zone Oasis)
TypeArmy Base
Site history
Built1965
In use1966-71
Battles/wars
Vietnam War
Garrison information
Occupants1st Cavalry Division
25th Infantry Division
4th Infantry Division
Oasis Airfield
Summary
Elevation AMSL1,770 ft / 539 m
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
3,500 1,067 laterite

Landing Zone Oasis (also known as LZ Oasis or LZ Tuttle) is a former U.S. Army base southwest of Pleiku in central Vietnam.

History

The base was first established in 1965 by the 1st Cavalry Division for the Battle of Ia Drang, just south of QL-19 and approximately 24 km southwest of Pleiku.[1] The base was originally named after SSGT Arlen Tuttle, an Engineer from the 8th Engineer Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division who was killed in action on 5 November 1965.[2]

The base was reopened in May 1966 by Task Force Walker of the 25th Infantry Division.[1]

The base was later used by the 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division.

On 11 May 1969 the base was attacked by an estimated 600 People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) troops, resulting in 11 U.S. and approximately 100 PAVN killed and 3 U.S. captured.[3]

On 30 October 1970 the base, occupied by 6th Battalion, 14th Artillery and elements of B Battery, 4th Battalion, 60th Artillery, was attacked by the PAVN, resulting in 3 U.S. deaths and 20 U.S. wounded.[4]

Other units stationed at Oasis included:

The base was abandoned by U.S. forces in late 1971.[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ a b c Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. p. 374. ISBN 978-1555716257.
  2. ^ "SSG Arlen Tuttle". The Virtual Wall. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  3. ^ "SP5 Edward Barlow". The Virtual Wall. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  4. ^ "6th Battalion - Warbonnets". 14th Field Artillery. Retrieved 2 March 2018.