Trung Dung / Dien Khanh
A-502, 5th SFGA (PCS)
A-133, 1st SFGA (TDY)
A-131B, 1st SFGA (TDY)

/ Dien Khan

Info from: Harlow Short

Camp Tung Dung was located at the villiage of Dien Khanh, just over the mountain from Nha Trang. We provided the security for the Nha Trang AO. Camp was turned it over to MACV in early '70

Another item I might point out is that "A-502 Soui Dau" was simply one of Trung Dung's major outposts, so when we closed A-502 it closed as well. We had 10 outposts of which three or four where major ones: Soui Dau, Bin Thanh (on the river), Thuy Thu, My Loc / Nui Ti and perhaps Da Hang (up on the mtns overlooking Nha Trang). We kept Americans at these at least every night. ...Harlow Short.

From Harlow Short: One) The dates shown for the establishment of Detachment A-502 Trung Dung (Feb. 1964) is wrong if we are talking about the activation of the Team / Detachment [Ed: See CMH information below.] According to Art Fields, the first team sgt., the first American SF personnel were assigned to the new Detachment effective Dec. 1964, but the camp which was to be the detachment headquarters, and which took its name from a near by village, was an existing Vietnamese LLDB camp - perhaps the date of this camp's establishment is where the Feb. 1964 date comes from. It originally occupied the area which later became the sites for the Recondo School and the Delta compounds; and this leads to the second problem: Two) Confusion over Camp names and Detachment names. The detachment name was A-502 Trung Dung, which - like most A detachment names, originally co-incided with the main camp name. However, A-502 covered a large area and had many outposts and secondary camps. The primary secondary camp at that time was located in the southern perimeter of a old French fort next to the village of Dien Khanh. Sometime in 1965 the decision was made to separate responsiblity for area wide security and 'internal' security for Nha Trang. A-502 was split, and its XO, Lt. Hobby became the CO of the newly created A-503, with the responsibility for 'internal' security. A-503 eventually evolved into a MIKE force. A-502, under the command of Cpt. Day, moved out of the original main camp at Tung Dung and set up its headquarters at the former secondary camp at Dien Khanh. So Detachment A-502 Tung Dung, ended up headquartered at Camp Dien Khanh; and Camp Trung Dung closed. This is where the date for a camp closure in Dec. 1965 apparently came from - but in A-502's case, Camp Trung Dung's closure did not represent Detactment A-502 Tung Dung's de-activation. It is somewhat confusing - hell, I was stationed there and I mixed the Detachment name and the Camp name up all the time. I think the info you have listed for the closure of Camp Dien Khanh in Dec. 1965 is just a reflection of this confusion over camp and detachment names, for Camp Dien Khanh was alive and well until the end of Jan. 1970 when the Detachment, with all its camps and outposts, was finally de-activated.

 

**Confirmation from Jim Everett:, A-502 My Loc, A-502 not closed in '65. Trung Dung was the main base for A-502 in old French fort adjacent to town. Had typical fort profile but part next to town was really open.

For more complete information about A-502 visit:
Detachment A-502 'Trung Dung'

* CMH Publication 90-23. Department of the Army. Washington, D.C. 1989 (First Printed, 1973); Appendix C
[Ed: Obviously, the information from the CMH Pub. about the closing date is either incorrect or incomplete.]
[Ed: See information above from Harlow Short and Jim Everett about camp names, openings, closings, etc. For more complete information about A-502 visit: Detachment A-502 'Trung Dung']

A-502

Thrung Dung

Khanh Hoa Province

Opened: Mar 64

31 Jan 70 converted to MACV **

* CMH Publication 90-23. Department of the Army. Washington, D.C. 1989 (First Printed, 1973); Appendix C

A-133, 1st SFGA A-133, commanded by Capt, Cale, was located at two different camps during the period 16 October 1964 through 12 April 1965. From 20 October 1964 to 22 January 1965, the Detachment was located at Polei Krong, Phu Bon Province, II CTZ, with the mission of advising, equipping, and training CIDG companies. In February , the Detachment moved to Dien Khanh, Quang Duc Province, II CTZ, and successful1y recruited members of the local populace into the Regional-Popular Forces Program. Prior to A-l33's return to Okinawa, part of the recruits were turned over to the local District Chief and incorporated into his Regional Force Company.

Detachment A-131, 1st SFGA A-131 was initially split into two teams. A-131A under the command of the Executive Officer, Lt Harpole, was sent to Dong Ba Thin, and A-131B under the command of the Detachment Commander, Capt Luck, was sent to Trung Dung, both camps being located in Khanh Hoa Province, II CTZ [contrary to DOA publication which places Dong Ba Thin in Cam Ranh Province]. During the period 24 July 1964 -10 November 1964, each team was given the mission of pacification of the area. and interdiction of VC lines of communication. In November A-131A rejoined A-131B and the detachment was moved to Long Van, where it was assigned the mission of the defense of the Long Van airfield until their return to Okinawa on 17 January 1965.***

***  First Special Forces Group (Airborne) Annual Historical Summary: 1965.   TDY teams '64 and '65

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