# Firebase Cunningham

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{{Infobox military structure
|name=Firebase Cunningham
|partof=
|location=  
|coordinates={{Coord|16.4|N|107.04|E|display=inline|name=Firebase Cunningham}}
|image= File:A192655.tif
|caption= [UH-1Es](/source/UH-1_Iroquois) at Firebase Cunningham during Operation Dewey Canyon
|type=Marines
|code= 
|built=1969
|builder=
|materials=
|height=
|used=1969
|demolished=
|condition= 
|ownership=
|controlledby=
|garrison=
|commanders=
|occupants= [2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines](/source/2nd_Battalion%2C_3rd_Marines)
|battles= 60px<BR>[Vietnam War](/source/Vietnam_War)
|events=
}}

'''Firebase Cunningham''' (also known as '''FSB 2''', '''FSB Cutlass''', or '''Hill 672''') was a U.S. Marine Corps [firebase](/source/Fire_support_base) southwest of [Đông Hà](/source/%C4%90%C3%B4ng_H%C3%A0), [Quang Tri Province](/source/Quang_Tri_Province) in central [Vietnam](/source/Vietnam).
 
==History==
The base was established overlooking the [Đa Krông Valley](/source/%C4%90a_Kr%C3%B4ng_Valley) 38&nbsp;km southeast of [Vandegrift Combat Base](/source/Vandegrift_Combat_Base) 1&nbsp;km north of [Route 922](/source/Ho_Chi_Minh_Highway).<ref>{{cite book|last=Kelley|first=Michael|title=Where we were in Vietnam|publisher=Hellgate Press|year=2002|isbn=978-1555716257|page=126}}</ref> The base was named after [Alfred A. Cunningham](/source/Alfred_A._Cunningham), the first Marine Corps aviator.<ref name=Smith>{{cite book|last=Smith|first=Charles|title=U.S. Marines in Vietnam: High Mobility and Standdown 1969|publisher=History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps|year=1988|isbn=978-1494287627|page=31}}</ref>

The base was established on 25 January 1969 by the [2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines](/source/2nd_Battalion%2C_3rd_Marines) in support of [Operation Dewey Canyon](/source/Operation_Dewey_Canyon). Over the next five days the Regiment command post and five artillery batteries from [2nd Battalion, 12th Marines](/source/12th_Marine_Regiment_(United_States)) moved to Cunningham.<ref name=Smith/>{{rp|31}} On 2 February the base was hit by 30-40 rounds of [People's Army of Vietnam](/source/People's_Army_of_Vietnam) (PAVN) 122mm artillery fire resulting in five Marines killed.<ref name=Smith/>{{rp|34}} On the early morning of 17 February PAVN sappers attacked the base resulting in four Marines and 37 PAVN killed.<ref name=Smith/>{{rp|39}} From 10 March the Marine units began withdrawing back to Vandegrift and by 18 March Cunningham was closed.<ref name=Smith/>{{rp|49–50}}

==Current use==
The base has reverted to jungle.

==References==
{{reflist}}

Category:Military installations of the United States Marine Corps in South Vietnam
Category:Military installations closed in 1969
Category:Buildings and structures in Quảng Trị province

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Firebase Cunningham](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firebase_Cunningham) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firebase_Cunningham?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.