Fire Base Illingworth

On April 1, 1970, a fierce and intense battle unfolded at FSB Illingworth as over four hundred North Vietnamese soldiers launched a bold assault, leading to hours of combat marked by explosions and close-quarters fighting. The engagement resulted in significant casualties on both sides, with twenty-four American deaths and fifty-four wounded, and was characterized as one of the most brutal small-unit firefights in U.S. Vietnam War history. In this revealing account, author Phil Keith uncovers a harrowing story of bravery and sacrifice from the soldiers who fought to defend the base—an extraordinary tale of resilience and heroism.