Ban Me Thout (later known as Camp Coryell by the Army), was located about 70 nautical miles North East of Cam Ranh Bay. It is midway between the coast and the Cambodia border and between the tip of the Mekong Delta and the Demilitarized Zone, just south of the infamous La Drang Valley in the Central Highlands. Ban Me Thuot also was the focus of an NVA attack which began on March 10, 1975 by three NVA divisions which marked the beginning of the final NVA offensive which culminated in the fall of South Vietnam on April 30, 1975. The Army had a Special Forces Camp, helicopter company, and the headquarters of an artillery regiment. The 212 Military Police Company had sentry dogs assigned. Forward Air Controllers (detached from the 19th Tactical Support Sq. assigned to the 23rd ARVN Division) were assigned here, with their own aircraft ground crews. The 19th TASS was a unit of the 505th TCG till about 1968, when it became part of the 504th TCCG. Combat Control Teams (Coordinated gunship air strikes and other air support) was also assigned. In 1962, Ban Me Thout was the scene of an infamous attack on a civilian hospital. This hospital treated Vietnamese infected with leprosy. The missionary doctors and nurses were massacred. Their remains of most, were found. However, several members of the medical staff were captured and were never seen again. Their remain MIA to this date. The NVA and VC denied any knowledge of this. Actress Jane Fonda, "AKA Hanoi Jane" never mentioned this while supporting North Viet Nam. Attack on Ban Me Thout Leprosarium Links of Interest To Non-VSPA Internet Pages US Army 155th Aviation Company 505th TCG Website
At the end of the American cavalry era, the Army disposed of its horses by machine gunning them to death. In our war, the dogs were treated the same way. Only it was done in a more “humane” manner. Some excess dogs were reassigned to other bases in the Pacific but most were killed. The US Military has pledged not to dispose of military working dogs in such a manner again. Please read Death of a Warrior. |
