Đức Cơ Camp

Đức Cơ Camp (also known as Đức Cơ Special Forces Camp or Chu Dron Special Force camp) is a former U.S. Army and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) base west of Pleiku in central Vietnam.

History
The 5th Special Forces Group Detachment A-224 first established a base at Đức Cơ in December 1964 to monitor communist infiltration along the Ho Chi Minh Trail.The base was located on QL-19 13km from the Cambodian border and approximately 55km west of Pleiku.

1965
In late May 1965 the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) besieged the camp which was defended by the 5th Special Forces Detachment A-215 and CIDG forces. On 3 August a force of Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) 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.

Current use
The base has been turned over to farmland and housing.