Landing Zone Schueller Explained

Landing Zone Schueller
Type:Army Base
Built:1965
Used:1966-71
Occupants:1st Cavalry Division
4th Infantry Division
Battles:
Vietnam War

Landing Zone Schueller (also known as LZ Road or FSB Schueller) is a former U.S. Army base west of An Khê District in central Vietnam.

History

The base was first established in 1965 by the 1st Cavalry Division, beside QL-19 and approximately 13 km west of An Khê near the Mang Yang Pass.[1] The base was originally named after 1LT James Schueller, from the 2nd Battalion, 17th Artillery who was killed in a Lockheed C-130 Hercules crash at Camp Radcliff on 17 June 1967.[2]

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

On 10 April 1968 a People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) force estimated at 250 men attempted to block Route 19 and create an ambush west of Schueller. A booby-trapped artillery round was discovered on the road by MPs and when a bomb-disposal team arrived the ambush was triggered prematurely. A reaction force from the 1st Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment at Schueller was called forward and quickly overwhelmed the PAVN ambushers some of whom retreated to a nearby hill where they were assaulted by the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry. The engagement resulted in 1 U.S. and 40 PAVN killed.[3]

On the night of 21 January 1969 the 1st Battalion, 50th Infantry based at Schueller mounted a night ambush along Route 19 4 km west of Schueller killing 6 PAVN sappers who had been sabotaging the fuel pipeline beside Route 19.[4]

Other units stationed at Schueller included:[1]

Current use

The base is abandoned and largely turned over to housing and farmland.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Kelley, Michael. Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. 2002. 978-1555716257. 460.
  2. Web site: The Virtual Wall.
  3. Web site: Ivy Leaf Article, 1st Bn 69th Armor. 4th Infantry Division. 5 May 1968. 18 November 2014.
  4. Web site: After Action Interview Report Ambush at the Dak Po 21-22 January 1969. U.S. Army. 18 November 2014.