The Viet Cong Hotel Bombing: A Night of Tragedy in Qui Nhon

On the evening of February 10, 1965, one of the earliest and deadliest Viet Cong (VC) terrorist attacks against American forces in Vietnam took place at the Viet Cuong Hotel in Qui Nhon, Binh Dinh Province, Republic of Vietnam (RVN). The hotel served as the bachelor’s enlisted men’s quarters for the 140th Transportation Detachment (Cargo Helicopter Field Maintenance).

At approximately 8:05 PM, a coordinated assault by Viet Cong operatives turned a routine night into a catastrophic event. The attack resulted in the complete destruction of the four-story building, 23 American deaths, and dozens of serious injuries, making it one of the most devastating single incidents involving U.S. troops early in the Vietnam War.

The attack was meticulously planned. Two Viet Cong gunmen eliminated the South Vietnamese guards posted outside the hotel, clearing the way for two more VC operatives to plant satchel charges at the main entrance. Moments later, a 100-pound plastic explosive detonated, obliterating the central staircase and bringing down the entire building.

The Viet Cuong Hotel collapsed instantly, reduced to a 30-foot-high pile of rubble. The building’s weak construction—lacking reinforced concrete and steel reinforcement bars—contributed to the complete structural failure.

At the time of the explosion, 43 American servicemen were inside, either in their rooms or at the hotel’s ground-floor bar.

Following the blast, the Viet Cong disabled the local power station, plunging Qui Nhon into total darkness. The blackout delayed rescue efforts, forcing rescuers to work under extremely difficult conditions.

Throughout the night, the desperate cries of trapped men echoed from beneath the rubble, some calling out for their mothers—a heart-wrenching sound that left rescuers in tears. The lack of proper equipment and lighting made recovery efforts slow and grueling.

One rescuer, risking his life, crawled through shifting wreckage to reach survivors. His extraordinary bravery earned him the Silver Star Medal for heroism under extreme danger.

It would take 35 hours before the last American survivor was pulled from the debris.

The attack claimed the lives of 23 American servicemen, nearly all from the 140th Transportation Detachment, except for one Green Beret, Special Forces Staff Sergeant Merle O. Van Alstine.

Van Alstine, on his third tour in Vietnam, had been in the bar at the time of the explosion. According to reports, seconds before the blast, he engaged two Viet Cong operatives on a motorbike with his sidearm. His remains were not found until six days later.

The attack also killed seven South Vietnamese civilians, including women and children.

Survivors faced severe injuries, with all 21 remaining members of the 140th Transportation Detachment requiring medical evacuation back to the United States.

The following 23 American servicemen lost their lives in the Viet Cuong Hotel bombing:

• SP5 James B. Alexander Jr.
• SP5 Everett L. Anderson
• PFC Paul E. Bays
• SP4 Tommy J. Belcher
• PFC Robert J. Betz
• SP5 David N. Clayton
• SP5 Clarence L. Coleman
• PFC Delmer L. Ferris
• SP5 Glenn H. Kelley
• PFC Dallas Lawson
• PFC Larry B. McClanahan
• SP5 Robert S. Mosier
• PFC Walter L. Rickard
• SP5 Harry E. Rowley
• SP5 Ernest M. Schultz
• PFC Peter A. Semmer (died from injuries on February 11, 1965)
• SP4 Robert L. Simon
• SP4 Harry L. Summers
• SSG Francis J. Valkos
• SSG Merle O. Van Alstine
• PVT Melvin L. Waters
• SP4 Lavon S. Wilson
• PFC Floyd Wynn

Their sacrifice is honored as part of the military history of the Vietnam War, a solemn reminder of the cost of duty and the unpredictability of war.

The Viet Cuong Hotel bombing was a wake-up call for the U.S. military in Vietnam. The attack exposed serious vulnerabilities in how American troops were housed outside secure military bases. In response, the U.S. military revised security protocols, reinforcing American quarters and limiting off-base accommodations.

For the families of the fallen, the bombing was a devastating loss, and for the survivors, a trauma that would remain with them for life.

Decades later, the Viet Cuong Hotel bombing remains a significant chapter in the history of the Vietnam War. It serves as a reminder of the dangers U.S. service members faced, the heroism of those who fought and rescued, and the sacrifices made by so many.

The names of those lost continue to be honored in military memorials and remembrance ceremonies, ensuring that their bravery and sacrifice will never be forgotten.