Đức Cơ Camp


Đức Cơ Camp is a former U.S. Army and Army of the Republic of Vietnam base west of Pleiku in Gia Lai Province, central Vietnam.
The base was located on QL-19 13 km from the Cambodian border and approximately 55 km west of Pleiku.

History

The Operational Detachment Alpha-224, 5th Special Forces Group first established a base at Đức Cơ in December 1964 to monitor communist infiltration along the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
In late May 1965 the People's Army of Vietnam besieged the camp which was defended by the 5th Special Forces Detachment A-215 and Civilian Irregular Defense Group program forces. On 3 August a force of Army of the Republic of Vietnam Paratroopers with Major Norman Schwarzkopf as senior military adviser was sent to relieve the camp. The paratroopers took heavy casualties and a second, larger force was required to relieve them. That force too came into heavy contact on 5 August. Schwarzkopf and his group fought continuously for several days. On 17 August additional ARVN forces supported by two battalions of the 173rd Airborne Brigade arrived and broke the siege.

1966

In May 1966 Operation Paul Revere was launched in the Đức Cơ tactical area. On 24 June the 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry and 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment engaged a PAVN Battalion close to the Cambodian border losing 15 U.S. killed. On 3 July a 35th Infantry platoon was ambushed and overrun with the loss of 17 U.S. and 23 PAVN killed.

1967

The 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry was based at Đức Cơ in June 1967.
The 3rd Battalion, 12th Infantry was based at Đức Cơ from September 1967 to February 1968.
The 1st Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment was based at Đức Cơ at various times in 1968/9.
The base was transferred to 81st Border Rangers.

1973

On 20 January during the War of the flags period before the Paris Peace Accords came into effect on 28 January 1973, the PAVN 320th Division attacked the camp and by the next day seized the camp. The International Commission of Control and Supervision established to monitor the Paris Peace Accords set up a base at Đức Cơ to monitor PAVN movements into Pleiku Province, however the ICCS team was never permitted outside its compound without PAVN escort and was not allowed to observe any traffic or military activity. Because of inadequate health protection and sanitation facilities provided by the PAVN, all the ICCS members became ill with malaria, dysentery, or other ailments and the ICCS base closed in May 1973.

Current use

The base has been turned over to farmland and housing.