Fire Support Base Hertigen was built by Company C, 1/16th Mechanized Infantry and attached units. The fire support base(FSB) was located about 8 kilometers west of Lai Khe, and about 6 kilometers west of Ben Cat, in the area known as the Iron Triangle.
Construction of FSB Hertigen started on November 6, 1968. Upon completion, the FSB was occupied by Company C, 1/16th, nicknamed Bandido Charlie, a unit of 105mm howitzers from the 1st Battalion, 5th Artillery, and a platoon of M48 tanks from the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry.
Location
of FSB Hertigen.
Starting
construction of FSB Hertigen. This was a large clearing in a rubber plantation.
At the start, it was covered with elephant grass about 6 feet tall.
A
CH-54 Sky Crane delivering supplies to the new FSB.
An
OH-6 light observation helicopter pilot checking out the new FSB.
Filling
sandbags and building a new bunker on the south side of the new FSB.
More
bunker construction.
Mid
December 1968, building another bunker on the north side of the FSB.
Finishing
a bunker. The roof was made of steel posts, chain link fence and sandbags.
Some
NFL players came in January.
A
squad leaving on a night ambush patrol set up north of FSB Hertigen.
Recreation
time. Behind the three members of first platoon playing "stretch"
is our shower.
The
monsoon rains came the end of January and February 1969. This hole is where
we normally parked out APC at night.
Cleaning
the mud from our bunker after the monsoon rains finished.
Finally
drying out after the monsoon rains.
A
rare inspection by a batallion or division commander.
Looking
south across FSB Hertigen.
FSB
Hertigen from the observation tower in the middle of the base camp. A fire
mission is under way using the 81mm mortars.
Weapons
cleaning time.
The
outer perimeter of FSB Hertigen, from the southeast corner.
A
Sky Crane picking up a damaged APC from FSB Hertigen.
Sunset
in the Iron Triangle.
At
night, playing cards in a bunker at FSB Hertigen. Out platoon sergeant on
the far right usually came out the big winner.
