Episode 014: 1964-11-02 | The Mortar Strike on Bien Hoa

Dearest Suzie

In this episode of Dearest Suzie, we delve into a significant attack on Bien Hoa Air Base as documented by Bill Lowie in his diary entry from November 2, 1964. Located just outside of Saigon, Bien Hoa was one of the largest U.S. air bases in Vietnam, housing a substantial concentration of aircraft and personnel and serving as a critical hub for launching tactical missions. Its scale and proximity to strategic locations made it a prime target for the Viet Cong, who launched a devastating mortar assault on the base. The nighttime attack claimed six American lives, injured nineteen others, and damaged seventeen Air Force planes and three Army helicopters, underscoring the ongoing vulnerabilities of American forces in the region.

What’s Covered:

• Significance of Bien Hoa Air Base: Bien Hoa’s pivotal role in supporting major operations, including its history as a logistical and tactical powerhouse for U.S. and ARVN forces, and why its presence posed both a strategic advantage and a risk.
• Details of the Attack: Popi’s entry captures the realities of the Viet Cong’s hit-and-run mortar tactics. Despite the heavy American defenses, the VC inflicted considerable damage without sustaining any known casualties.
• Historical Context and Legacy: A look at Bien Hoa’s history and role in significant U.S. air campaigns, such as Operation Rolling Thunder and Operation Arc Light, as well as a reflection on the 1965 Bien Hoa Disaster, which exposed the dangers of munitions storage at heavily armed bases.
• Environmental Impact: The episode concludes by addressing Bien Hoa’s legacy, as the U.S. and Vietnamese governments collaborate to remediate the severe Agent Orange contamination in the area—remnants of the war still affecting the environment and local communities today.

📷 Featured Photo: Today’s image captures the aftermath of the airfield attack. Bomber planes smolder after the assault, and military personnel can be seen standing beside a firetruck assessing the scene, embodying the tense atmosphere following the assault.

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