Biographies of the Men of Firebase Ripcord — FSB Ripcord Association
A-Shau Valley, Vietnam — March 12 – July 23, 1970

Firebase
Ripcord

For Survivors, Family, and Friends of The Battle of Fire Support Base Ripcord — 101st Airborne Division. The battle the world never knew.
2026 Reunion — Myrtle Beach → The Battle ↓
Firebase Ripcord — May/June 1970
Reunion Myrtle Beach, SC — Oct 25–29, 2026 — Register Now →
Newsletter Issue 145 — September 2026 — Download PDF →
Annual Reunion
2026 Ripcord Reunion
🏠Ellie Resort by Hilton — Myrtle Beach, SC
📷Reunion photos coming soon!

Thank you to everyone who joined us in Myrtle Beach. Photos from the 2026 reunion will be posted here soon. In the meantime, browse the yearbooks from past reunions.

Questions? Call Pete Meloro: 732-947-1664 or Frank Marshall: 609-472-0970

Past Reunion Yearbooks →
Quarterly Newsletter
The Ripcord Report
📰Issue 145 — September 2026
📅Published quarterly since 1985
👥614 members receive by email — 133 by postal mail

Download the latest issue or browse all 145 newsletters in our complete archive going back to 1985.

Download Latest Issue → All 145 Issues →
New Book — Now Available!
The End of the Rope

The Ripcord Campaign and American Disengagement in Vietnam by James R. Smither. The most comprehensive account of the battle ever written — based on 15 years of veteran interviews.

Order Now →
What’s happening
Latest News & Updates
Nov 2026
New Song: “The Battle of Fire Support Base Ripcord”
A song written for the men of Ripcord by Taylor Davis and Charlie Lieb (October 2025). Listen right here, or visit the song page for the full lyrics. Listen & read the lyrics →
Sep 2026
Newsletter Issue 145 Now Available
The latest Ripcord Report is available for download. Download Issue 145 →
Jun 2026
New Photo Gallery: Firebase Ripcord Photos by Chris Jensen
A remarkable collection of photographs of Firebase Ripcord taken by Chris Jensen. View the Jensen Photos →
Mar 2026
Website Rebuilt & Expanded
The Ripcord Association website has been completely rebuilt and expanded with new pages covering the battle history, casualty list, unit roster, videos, books, diorama, and more. Explore all pages →
Quick Links
👤 Free Membership Application 👥 Member Roster — 740 Members 🏧 KIA Casualty List — 138 Men 📰 Newsletter Archive — 145 Issues 🏁 Board of Directors 📖 Reunion Yearbooks 🎵 The Song of Ripcord 🎥 Videos About the Battle 📚 Books About the Battle 📷 Jensen Photos of Firebase Ripcord 📄 Operation Texas Star ❤ Support the Association ✉ Contact Us
Firebase Ripcord after evacuation July 1970
Firebase Ripcord — July 1970. Photographed a few days after the evacuation on July 23, 1970. The hill was bombed immediately after our men left.

The Battle the World Never Knew

The military discouraged the media from covering Firebase Ripcord to avoid another Hamburger Hill controversy. So almost no one ever knew that 138 Americans were killed here — in one of the last major battles fought primarily by American ground forces in Vietnam.

The Ripcord Association was founded in 1985 to find the survivors, honor the fallen, and make sure the world finally knows what happened in the A-Shau Valley in the summer of 1970.

Read the Facts →
138 Americans Killed in Action
740 Association Members
144 Newsletters Since 1985
40+ Years of Reunions
#10 Deadliest Battle of Vietnam War