Duc Lap Camp

{{Infobox military structure

|name=Duc Lap Camp

|partof=

|location=

|coordinates={{Coord|12.428|N|107.675|E|display=inline|name=Duc Lap Camp}}

|image= File:Duc Lap Camp, April 1967.png

|caption= Duc Lap Camp, 24 April 1967

|type=Army Base

|code=

|built=1966

|builder=

|materials=

|height=

|used=1966–72

|demolished=

|condition=

|ownership=

|controlledby=

|garrison=

|commanders=

|occupants= 5th Special Forces Group

|battles= 60px
Vietnam War
Battle of Duc Lap

|events=

}}

{{Infobox airport

| name = Duc Lap Airfield

| elevation-f = 2264

| elevation-m =

| website =

| metric-rwy =

| r1-number =

| r1-length-f = 3300

| r1-length-m =

| r1-surface = crushed rock

| footnotes =

}}

Duc Lap Camp (also known as Duc Lap Special Forces Camp or Hill 722) is a former U.S. Army and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) base southwest of Buôn Ma Thuột in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.

History

File:Attack on Duc Lap Special Forces Camp 24-25 August 1968.jpg

The 5th Special Forces Group Detachment A-239{{cite book|last=Stanton|first=Shelby|title=Vietnam Order of Battle|publisher=Stackpole Books|year=2003|isbn=9780811700719|page=246}} first established a base here in October 1966. The base was located 67 km southwest of Buôn Ma Thuột and approximately 14 km from the Cambodian border.{{cite book|last=Kelley|first=Michael|title=Where we were in Vietnam|publisher=Hellgate Press|year=2002|isbn=978-1555716257|page=162}}

In August 1968, the base was manned by Special Forces, three members of the 403rd Radio Research Special Operations Detachment, 11 ARVN special forces and over 600 CIDG troops.{{cite book|last=Long|first=Lonnie|title=Unlikely Warriors: The Army Security Agency's Secret War in Vietnam 1961–1973|publisher=iUniverse|year=2013|isbn=9781475990591|pages=235–6}}

From 23–25 August 1968 the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) 95C Regiment attempted to overrun the base.{{cite book|last=Stanton|first=Shelby|title=Special Forces at War: An Illustrated History, Southeast Asia 1957–1975|publisher=Zenith Press|year=2008|isbn=9780760334492|pages=244–7}}{{cite book|last=Lindsey|first=Fred|title=Secret Green Beret Commandos in Cambodia: A Memorial History of MACV-SOG's Command and Control Detachment South (CCS), and Its Air Partners, Republic of Vietnam, 1967–1972|publisher=Author House|year=2012|isbn=9781477273081|pages=189–90}} The assault was defeated at a cost of six U.S., one ARVN, 37 CIDG, 20 civilians and over 303 PAVN killed.

The 20th Special Operations Squadron used Duc Lap as a forward base for operations into Cambodia.{{rp|506}}

In October 1969 the PAVN again besieged Duc Lap and Bu Prang Camp, with the siege only being broken by the ARVN in December.{{rp|315–6}}

In December 1970 the base was transferred to the Vietnamese Rangers.

Current use

The base has reverted to jungle.

References