Red Beach Base Area (also known as Camp JK Books, Camp Haskins, Camp Viking, Paddock Compound or Red Beach Camp) is a complex of former U.S. Marines, Navy and Army and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) logistics and support bases northwest of Danang.

Red Beach Base Area
Coordinates16°05′46″N 108°08′35″E / 16.096°N 108.143°E / 16.096; 108.143 (Red Beach Base Area)
TypeMarines/Navy/Army
Site history
Built1965
In use1965-present
Battles/wars
Vietnam War
Red Beach Airfield
Summary
Elevation AMSL3 ft / 1 m
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
1,500 457 PSP

History

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The base was located along Highway 1, 8 km northwest of Danang at Red Beach, the site of the landing of the 9th Marine Regiment, the first US combat troops deployed to South Vietnam on 8 March 1965.[1]

The area comprised a number of separate adjacent bases as follows:

The base area was handed over to the ARVN in March 1972. Camp Viking was used by the ARVN 102nd Artillery Battalion.[1]: 537 

Current use

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The area has largely been turned over to housing although part of it remains in use by the People's Army of Vietnam.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. p. 439. ISBN 978-1555716257.
  2. ^ "Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 58" (PDF). U.S. Navy. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  3. ^ Cosmas, Graham. U.S. Marines In Vietnam: Vietnamization And Redeployment, 1970-1971 (PDF). USMC Military History Division. pp. 18–20.