Battle of Firebase Cầy Hương

Battle of Firebase Cầy Hương
Part of the Vartaxian Civil War
FSB Cầy Hương in the afternoon before the battle
Date Late 1997/Early 1998 (11 days) Location Vartaxia Result Quenminese victory
Belligerents
Quenmin	Vartaxian separatists
Commanders and leaders
Col. Thạch Nhật Thịnh Maj. Hoàng Bích Ngà Capt. Huỳnh Thiện Khiêm Capt. Tống Thùy Oanh	placeholder placeholder
Units involved
File:Vietnam People's Army insignia.png 3rd Battalion, 83rd Infantry Regiment File:Vietnam People's Army insignia.png Battery C, 15th Field Artillery Battalion File:Vietnam People's Army insignia.png Chiếnphi Unit Two 2nd Squadron, 5th Aviation Wing

Template:Campaignbox Vartaxian Civil War

The Battle of Firebase Cầy Hương, also known as the Battle of Firebase Civet and the Battle of Mount Marineh, was a military confrontation situation in and around the Quenminese-built fire support base codenamed Cầy Hương, Civet in English. It was fought between Quenminese soldiers of the Royal and Imperial Quemminese Expeditionary Force Vartaxia and Vartaxian separatists for 11 days, and resulted in a Quenminese victory.

Firebase Cầy Hương was built on Mount Marineh for supporting Quenminese operations in Northwwestern Vartaxia, with Colonel Thạch Nhật Thịnh's 3rd Battalion of the 83rd Infantry Regiment assisting in its construction. A day later, much to their surprise, Vartaxian separatists laid siege to the base in an attempt to cut the base off from the rest of the 83rd and the 145th Mechanized Infantry, and capture it. The 3rd Battalion and Battery C of the Quenminese 15th Field Artillery Battalion contributed to the defense of the base, with Chiếnphi Unit Two and playing a role later after their relief mission went awry, and later the 2nd Squadron of the Quenminese 5th Aviation Wing. After eleven days had passed, the separatists withdrew.

The battle was one of the bloodiest engagements of the conflict. The ferocity of the Quenminese defense cemented the awardings of four Kunai Grass Order medals and seven Distinguished Service Medals to the defending personnel, and inspired the 2007 film 11 Days at Cầy Hương.

Notable award recipients

Kunai Grass Order

• Maj. Hoàng Bích Ngà
• Capt. Huỳnh Thiện Khiêm
• Sgt. Triệu Chiến Thắng

Distinguished Service Medal, Leadership Medal, Gallantry Medal

• Col. Thạch Nhật Thịnh, awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and Leadership Medal, 2nd Class
• Capt. Nguyễn Thùy Oanh, awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, Leadership Medal, 2nd Class, and Air Force Gallantry Medal
• Sgt. Uất Uyên Nhi, awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and Ground Force Gallantry Medal, alongside a promotion to Sergeant First Class.

In media

Films

• 11 Days at Cầy Hương (2007), a film directed by Nguyễn Thanh Vũ.

Literature

• Cầy Hương: Mountain on Fire (2004), authored by Thạch Nhật Thịnh
• Sentinels on the Marineh (2011), authored by Hoàng Bích Ngà