Đồng Tâm Base Camp

File:9th Infantry Division HQ, Dong Tam, July 1968.png

Đồng Tâm Base Camp was established on the northern bank of the Mekong River 7 km west of Mỹ Tho upon COMUSMACV General William Westmoreland's decision to gain full control over the upper Mekong Delta region. General Westmoreland personally took part in site selection.{{cite book|last=Ewell|first=Julian|title=Sharpening the combat edge|url=http://webdoc.sub.gwdg.de/ebook/p/2005/CMH_2/www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/vietnam/sharpen/ch03.htm|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|year=1974|isbn=9781508421818|pages=71–3}} General Westmoreland chose the name Đồng Tâm meaning "united hearts and minds" or "singleness of mind, in thoughts, and actions" in Vietnamese.{{cite book|last=Sherwood|first=John|title=War in the Shallows: U.S. Navy and Coastal and Riverine Warfare in Vietnam 1965-8|publisher=Naval History and Heritage Command|year=2015|isbn=9780945274773}}{{PD-notice}}{{rp|188}} The total construction price for the Army and Navy ran close to $8,000,000.

Due to lack of available dry land, the base was created by dredging from the river.{{cite book|last=Kelley|first=Michael|title=Where we were in Vietnam|publisher=Hellgate Press|year=2002|isbn=978-1555716257|page=156}} Dredging work to create the base commenced in August 1966 and involved the reclamation of 600 acres of swampland. The Vietcong attempted to sabotage the base construction sinking the dredgeship Jamaica Bay on 9 January 1967 with the loss of 3 crewmembers.{{rp|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.{{rp|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.{{rp|190}}{{cite book|last=Stanton|first=Shelby|title=Vietnam Order of Battle|publisher=Stackpole Books|year=2003|isbn=9780811700719|pages=149–50}}

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.{{rp|190}}

Other units stationed at Đồng Tâm included:

• 1st Battalion, 11th Artillery (1968 – August 1969){{rp|98}}
• 3rd Surgical Hospital (May 1967 – September 1969){{rp|214}}

On 1 September 1969 Đồng Tâm was turned over to the ARVN 7th Division which moved its headquarters there from Mỹ Tho.{{cite web|url=https://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/reports/images.php?img=/images/739/7390203001a.pdf|title=Headquarters MACV Monthly Summary September 1969|publisher=Headquarters United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam|date=23 December 1969|accessdate=28 July 2019|page=10}}{{PD-notice}}

When President Dương Văn Minh announced the unconditional surrender of South Vietnam on 30 April 1975, ARVN Brigadier General Trần Văn Hai committed suicide at the base.

The base was abandoned and turned over to farmland and housing while the harbour area is used for fishing and transport vessels. As of 2018 the harbor is government controlled and leases facilities for civilian marine construction purposes. Access to the area requires government approval.

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Category:Installations of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam

Category:United States Navy installations

Category:Riverine warfare

Category:Installations of the United States Army in South Vietnam

Category:Buildings and structures in Tiền Giang province

Category:1966 establishments in South Vietnam