1966–1970 Củ Chi Base Camp was established in 1966 near
Highway 1, 25 km northwest of
Tan Son Nhut Air Base and 50 km southeast of
Tây Ninh. The camp was located south of the
Vietcong stronghold known as the
Iron Triangle and was near and in some cases above the
Cu Chi Tunnels. On 23 February 1966, the 168th Engineer Battalion dispatched a platoon from Company C to help build the
25th Infantry Division’s base camp.
MACV commander General
William Westmoreland counted on the division to fill part of the gap in combat power and guard the approaches to Saigon from this direction. By this time, Westmoreland was convinced that major tactical headquarters and support units needed a full-time home where the individual soldier could train, take care of his equipment, and get some rest and relaxation. The 25th Division under the command of General
Frederick C. Weyand made extensive studies before leaving Hawaii. Base development plans were put into final form following an advance party’s reconnaissance. The division’s
65th Engineer Battalion under Lt. Col. Carroll D. Strider assembled precut lumber kits for tents and latrines, which accompanied each unit. Upon arriving at Cu Chi, troops easily assembled the kits. Initial priority went to clearing fields of fire and constructing perimeter bunkers and wire barriers. Building semi-permanent buildings followed. In early April, the 362nd Light Equipment Company arrived to work on the camp’s road net and drainage ditches. Before the end of the month, the division headquarters and medical personnel occupied facilities consisting of shed-type prefabricated buildings. The 25th Infantry Division had its headquarters at Củ Chi from January 1966 until February 1970. Other units stationed at Củ Chi included: •
1st Battalion, 8th Artillery (1966-1971) From 1967 the
159th Medical Detachment (Helicopter Ambulance) with
Bell UH-1D Hueys was deployed here. The airfield was capable of accommodating
de Havilland Canada C-7 Caribou and
Fairchild C-123 Provider aircraft. On 3 January 1969 a Vietcong bomb exploded in a messhall at the camp killing 15 Americans mostly from the
554th Engineer Battalion and two Vietnamese kitchen staff. On 26 February 1969 PAVN sappers attacked the base destroying 9
Boeing CH-47A Chinook helicopters of the 242nd ASH Company.
1970–1975 Following the departure of the U.S. forces in 1972, Củ Chi became the base of the
ARVN 25th Division. ==Current use==