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Dầu Tiếng Base Camp

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Dầu Tiếng Base Camp
Coordinates11°16′59″N 106°21′47″E / 11.283°N 106.363°E / 11.283; 106.363 (Dầu Tiếng Base Camp)
TypeArmy Base
Site history
Built1966
In use1966-75
Battles/wars
Vietnam War
Garrison information
Occupants3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division
25th Infantry Division
1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division
Dầu Tiếng Airfield
Summary
Elevation AMSL76 ft / 23 m
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
2,500 762 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 Dầu Tiếng District in Bình Dương Province in southern Vietnam.

History

The base was established in November 1966 as part of Operation Nisqually. The 3rd Bde, 4th Division was tasked with building the base camp and arrived from Camp Bearcat (east of Saigon) around November 19th by truck convoy. Prior to their arrival, the 2nd Bde 1st Infantry Division arrived several weeks earlier and conducted Operation Battle Creek, intended to secure the surrounding area and clean out any hostiles that might be found there prior to the 4th Divisions arrival. The camp was located in the Dầu Tiếng District, 60km northwest of Tan Son Nhut Air Base and 24km 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 November 1966-August 1st 1967. On or around August 1st, the 4th and 25th Divisions reflagged their respective 3rd Brigades rather than relocate them to their tactical areas of operation.

The 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division comprising:

was based at Dầu Tiếng from August 1967-July 1969 and from August-November 1970. During this time of the war, various elements of the 3rd Bde and 2nd Bde were interchanged in order to complete their combat operations. The entire 3rd Bde was moved to Hoc Mon area in July 1968 until Sept 1968 when some elements returned to Dau Tieng. The 2/12th was OPCON'd (operationally controlled) to the 2nd Bde for the remainder of the war, until April 16, 1971 when the unit returned home to Ft Lewis, Washington.

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.[3] 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

The base no longer exists and has been taken over by the civilian population. The airfield is no longer used but the runway is still there and in reasonable shape for its age. Verified by a November, 2010 visit to the area by a former 2/12th veteran.

References

  1. ^ Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. p. 5-138. ISBN 978-1555716257.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Stanton, Shelby (2003). Vietnam Order of Battle. Stackpole Books. p. 145. ISBN 9780811700719.
  3. ^ "Medal of Honor Vietnam War". Military Working Dog Teams National Monument. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
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