Patrol Base Diamond I (also known as Firebase Diamond I) is a former U.S. Army base southeast of Tây Ninh in southern Vietnam.

Patrol Base Diamond I
Coordinates11°01′30″N 106°13′08″E / 11.025°N 106.219°E / 11.025; 106.219 (Patrol Base Diamond I)
TypeArmy Base
Site history
Built1969
In use1969
Battles/wars
Vietnam War
Garrison information
Occupants2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment

History edit

The base was established in 1969 25 km southeast of Tây Ninh and 3 km east of the Parrot's Beak, Cambodia during Operation Toan Thang III.[1]

In the early morning of 23 February 1969 the base was occupied by the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment when it was attacked by elements of the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) 271st and 272nd Regiments. The attack began at 01:15 with the PAVN infiltrating the perimeter and taking over three bunkers on the southeast corner. The attack was countered with gunship fire and 1,435 rounds of artillery fire. The PAVN withdrew at approximately 05:15 and a sweep of the area found 109 PAVN dead, 12 AK-47 rifles, five RPG-2 launchers, two RPG-7 launchers, two K-54 pistols, one 60mm mortar and assorted weapons and munitions. U.S. losses were 15 killed. At 20:50 on 24 February artillery at the base fired Killer Junior rounds at a PAVN force gathering for an attack on the base. At approximately 00:15 the PAVN attacked the base again killing one U.S. and destroying one howitzer with RPG fire.[2][3][4]

Current use edit

The base has reverted to farmland.

References edit

  1. ^ Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. pp. 5–145. ISBN 978-1555716257.
  2. ^ "General narrative description of the battle at Patrol Base Diamond on the night of 24 February 1969 and the morning of 25 February 1969". Department of the Army, Headquarters, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry. 26 April 1969. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  3. ^ "Operational Report Lessons Learned Period Ending 30 April 1969" (PDF). Headquarters 25th Infantry Division Artillery. 19 August 1969. pp. 4–5. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2020.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. ^ "Operational Report Lessons Learned Period Ending 30 April 1969" (PDF). Headquarters 25th Infantry Division. 1 May 1969. pp. 3–4. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 9, 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2020.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.