The
5th Special Forces Group Detachment A-109 first established a base at the location in March 1966 to monitor
communist infiltration into the Da Nang vital area. The base was located near
Route 14, approximately 40 km southwest of Da Nang. On 28 September 1968, the
People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) attacked and temporarily overran the base. In response, the
U.S. Marines launched
Operation Maui Peak from 6 to 19 October to relieve the siege. The forces involved included the
1st Battalion, 1st Marines,
2nd Battalion, 5th Marines,
3rd Battalion, 5th Marines,
2nd Battalion, 7th Marines and
3rd Battalion, 7th Marines and resulted in an estimated 353 PAVN killed for the loss of 28 Marines. On 19 October 1970, the PAVN/
VC attacked Thường Ðức but were repelled by ARVN forces with artillery and air support including from helicopters. The PAVN/VC withdrew after two days, having suffered 163 killed and 20 captured. In July 1974, Thường Ðức was attacked again by a Regiment of the PAVN's
324th Division starting the
Battle of Thượng Đức (1974). In November 1974, by the end of the battle, the PAVN occupied Thường Ðức. ==Current use==