Country Vietnam Capital An Khê Area 199 km² | Region Central Highlands Time zone UTC + 7 (UTC+7) Province Gia Lai Province | |
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An Khê is a town (thị xã) of Gia Lai Province in the Central Highlands region of Vietnam.
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As of 2003 the district had a population of 63,118. The district covers an area of 199 km². The district capital lies at An Khê.
Located on the main highway, QL-19 between Qui Nhơn on the coast and Pleiku in the Central Highlands, An Khe was of strategic significance during the Vietnam War.
First Indochina War
An Khê was the seat of one of the latest battles of the First Indochine War : the Battle of Mang Yang Pass. On Jun. 24, 1954, G.M. 100 received orders to abandon its defensive positions at An Khe and fall back to Pleiku, some 50 miles away over Route Coloniale 19. At the road marker 'Kilometer 15' the column was ambushed by Viet Minh troops belonging to the 803rd Regiment and suffered heavy losses.
Second Indochina War
In August 1965 the U.S. 1st Cavalry Division established their main base, Camp Radcliff at An Khê. Camp Radcliff remained in use by various U.S. Army units until late-1970 after which it was turned over to the ARVN.