Dầu Tiếng Base Camp Explained

Dầu Tiếng Base Camp
Type:Army Base
Built:1966
Used:1966-75
Occupants:3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division
25th Infantry Division
1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division
Battles:
Vietnam War
Dầu Tiếng Airfield
Elevation-F:76
R1-Length-F:2500
R1-Surface:laterite

Dầu Tiếng Base Camp (also known as LZ Dầu Tiếng or Camp Rainier) is a former U.S. Army and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) base in the town of Dầu Tiếng in Bình Dương Province in southern Vietnam.

History

The base was established in October 1966. The camp was located in the Dầu Tiếng District, 60 km northwest of Tan Son Nhut Air Base and 24 km east of Tây Ninh between the Saigon River and the Michelin Rubber Plantation.[1]

The 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division comprising:

was based at Dầu Tiếng from December 1966-June 1967. On 1 August 1967 the 3rd Brigade became part of the 25th Infantry Division, while the 25th Infantry Division's 3rd Brigade at Đức Phổ Base Camp became part of the 4th Infantry Division.[3] The 3rd Brigade was based at Dầu Tiếng from March 1968-July 1969 and from August–November 1970.[2]

On 24 June 1967 a Vietcong (VC) mortar attack on Camp Rainier disabled 29 UH-1 helicopters of the 188th Assault Helicopter Company.[4]

On 4 July 1968 the base was subjected to a heavy People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) rocket and mortar attack followed by probes on the base perimeter resulting in 5 U.S. and 16 PAVN killed.

On 23 February 1969 the base was attacked by PAVN sappers. SSGT Robert W. Hartsock would be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the attack.[5] 21 U.S. and 73 PAVN were killed in the attack.

The 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division comprising:

was based at Dầu Tiếng from July–November 1969 and January–February 1970.

The 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division comprising:

was based at Dầu Tiếng in August and from October–December 1970.

Other units based at Dầu Tiếng included:

Current use

Part of the base appears to remain in use by the PAVN. The airfield is no longer used but remains visible on satellite images

Notes and References

  1. Book: Kelley, Michael. Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. 2002. 978-1555716257. 138.
  2. Book: Stanton, Shelby. Vietnam Order of Battle. Stackpole Books. 2003. 9780811700719. 145.
  3. Book: Villard, Erik. United States Army in Vietnam Combat Operations Staying the Course October 1967 to September 1968. Center of Military History United States Army. 2017. 9780160942808. 73.
  4. Book: Davies, Peter. UH-1 Huey Gunship vs NVA/VC forces Vietnam 1962-75. Osprey Publishing. 2021. 9781472845153. 43.
  5. Web site: Medal of Honor Vietnam War. Military Working Dog Teams National Monument. 19 November 2014.