Đồng Tâm Base Camp
| Đồng Tâm Base Camp | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 10°21′N 106°17′E / 10.35°N 106.29°E |
| Type | Army/Navy Base |
| Site information | |
| Condition | abandoned |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1966 |
| In use | 1966–75 |
| Battles/wars |
 Vietnam War |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants |
9th Infantry Division ARVN 7th Division |
| Đồng Tâm Army Airfield | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 5 ft / 2 m | ||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Đồng Tâm Base Camp (also known as Đồng Tâm Army Airfield) is a former U.S. Army and Navy and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) base west of Mỹ Tho in the Mekong Delta, southern Vietnam.
History
1966–72
Đồng Tâm Base Camp was established on the banks of the Mekong 7 km west of Mỹ Tho. Due to lack of available dry land, the base was created by dredging from the river.[1] Dredging work to create the base commenced in August 1966 and involved the reclamation of 600 acres of swampland.[2] The Vietcong attempted to sabotage the base construction sinking the dredgeship Jamaica Bay on 9 January 1967 with the loss of 3 crewmembers.[2]:189 In January 1967 the 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry was deployed to Đồng Tâm to provide base and construction security followed in March by Headquarters, 2nd Brigade, 9th Infantry Division which moved from Bearcat Base. In April the US Navy River Assault Squadron 9 was deployed to Đồng Tâm to support operations.[2]:189
On 1 June 1967, the Mobile Riverine Force (MRF) comprising the 2nd Brigade, 9th Infantry Division and the US Navy River Assault Squadrons 9 and 11 was established at Đồng Tâm. By this time the base occupied 12 square kilometres and included a 500m runway and a loading basin for boats.[2]:190[3]The name Đồng Tâm meaning "united hearts and minds” or “singleness of mind, in thoughts, and actions” was chosen by the U.S. Commander General William Westmoreland.[2]
From June–December 1967 base facilities grew providing improved support and rest and recreation for the MRF. The Vietcong regularly harassed the base with mortar fire.[2]:190
Other units stationed at Đồng Tâm included:
- 1st Battalion, 11th Artillery (1968 – August 1969)[3]:98
- 3rd Surgical Hospital (May 1967 – September 1969)[3]:214
1972–75
Đồng Tâm was a base for the ARVN 7th Division until April 1975.
Current use
The base is abandoned. The harbour area is used for fishing and transport vessels while the land side is turned over to farmland and housing.
References
- ↑ Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. pp. 5–156. ISBN 978-1555716257.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sherwood, John (2015). War in the Shallows: U.S. Navy and Coastal and Riverine Warfare in Vietnam 1965-8. Naval History and Heritage Command. p. 188. ISBN 9780945274773.
- 1 2 3 Stanton, Shelby (2003). Vietnam Order of Battle. Stackpole Books. pp. 149–50. ISBN 9780811700719.