Thường Ðức Camp Explained

Thường Ðức Camp
Type:Army Base
Built:1966
Used:1966-74
Occupants:5th Special Forces Group
Battles:
Vietnam War
Battle of Thượng Đức (1974)
Ha Tan Airfield
Elevation-F:66
R1-Length-F:2300
R1-Surface:dirt/clay/rock

Thường Ðức Camp (also known as Thường Ðức Special Forces Camp) is a former U.S. Army and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) base southwest of Da Nang in Quảng Nam Province, central Vietnam.

History

The 5th Special Forces Group Detachment A-109[1] first established a base here in March 1966 to monitor communist infiltration into the Da Nang vital area. The base was located near Route 14 approximately 40 km southwest of Da Nang.[2]

On 28 September 1968 the PAVN attacked and temporarily overran the base.[3] In response the U.S. Marines launched Operation Maui Peak from 6 to 19 October to relieve the siege. The forces involved included the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines and 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines and resulted in an estimated 353 PAVN killed for the loss of 28 Marines.[4]

On 19 October 1970 the PAVN/VC attacked Thường Ðức but were repelled by ARVN forces with artillery, helicopter gunship and air support. The PAVN/VC withdrew after two days losing 163 killed and 20 captured.[5]

In July 1974 Thường Ðức was attacked again by a Regiment of the PAVN 324th Division starting the Battle of Thượng Đức (1974). At the conclusion of the battle in November 1974 the PAVN occupied Thường Ðức.[6]

Current use

The base is now partly a cemetery while the remainder has returned to jungle.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Stanton, Shelby. Vietnam Order of Battle. Stackpole Books. 2003. 9780811700719. 246.
  2. Book: Kelley, Michael. Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. 2002. 978-1555716257. 510.
  3. Web site: September 28 1968 Battle for Thuong Duc begins. History Channel. 19 November 2014.
  4. Book: Shulimson, Jack. U.S. Marines in Vietnam: 1968 The Defining Year. History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. 1997. 0160491258. 418–423.
  5. Book: Willbanks, James. Vietnam War Almanac: An In-Depth Guide to the Most Controversial Conflict in American History. Simon and Schuster. 2013. 9781626365285. 350.
  6. Book: Veith, George. Black April The Fall of South Vietnam 1973-75. Encounter Books. 2012. 9781594035722. 95–7.