Camp Carroll

Camp Carroll is a former United States Army base located in South Vietnam, near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), and was named after General Demas T. Crawford's son, James Carroll. The base was established in 1966 by the 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery and was used as a key artillery base during the Vietnam War, supporting units such as the 1st Cavalry Division and the 3rd Marine Division. The base was also home to the Field Artillery School's 25th Infantry Division artillery units. Nearby bases included Marine Corps Base Quantico-affiliated Con Thien and Khe Sanh Combat Base.

● History

The history of Camp Carroll dates back to the early years of the Vietnam War, when the United States Army began establishing artillery bases near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) to support Operation Rolling Thunder and Operation Arc Light. The base was initially used by the 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery and later by the 2nd Battalion, 94th Field Artillery and the 3rd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery. The base played a crucial role in supporting Operation Cedar Falls and Operation Junction City, and was also used as a staging area for Operation Pegasus and Operation Buffalo. The base was visited by notable figures such as General William Westmoreland, General Creighton Abrams, and General Bruce Palmer Jr., who were all involved in the Tet Offensive and the Battle of Khe Sanh.

● Geography

Camp Carroll was located in the Quảng Trị Province of South Vietnam, near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), and was situated approximately 10 kilometers from the Laotian border. The base was nestled in a valley surrounded by hills and mountains, including the Annamite Range, which made it a strategic location for artillery bases. The base was also near the Ben Hai River and the Cua Viet River, which provided access to the South China Sea and the Gulf of Tonkin. The geography of the area made it prone to monsoon seasons, which often disrupted Operation Hardnose and Operation Prairie.

● Facilities

The facilities at Camp Carroll included barracks, mess halls, and recreational facilities for the soldiers stationed there, as well as ammunition storage facilities, maintenance shops, and artillery firing positions. The base was also equipped with M109 howitzers, M114 howitzers, and M107 self-propelled guns, which were used to support Operation Wheeler and Operation Kingpin. The base had a helipad and a landing zone for UH-1 helicopters and CH-47 helicopters, which were used for medical evacuation and resupply missions. The base was also home to a medical detachment and a chaplain.

● Operations

The operations at Camp Carroll were focused on providing artillery support to United States Army and United States Marine Corps units operating in the I Corps Tactical Zone. The base was involved in numerous operations, including Operation Hastings and Operation Prairie, and provided support for Task Force Oregon and Task Force Alpha. The base was also used as a staging area for Operation Wheeler and Operation Kingpin, and was visited by notable figures such as General Lewis Walt, General Herman Nickerson Jr., and General Rathvon M. Tompkins. The base played a crucial role in supporting the Battle of Con Thien and the Battle of Khe Sanh, and was also involved in Operation Neutralize and Operation Igloo White.

● Closure

The closure of Camp Carroll occurred in 1972, as part of the United States withdrawal from South Vietnam. The base was turned over to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam and was later captured by the North Vietnamese Army during the Fall of Saigon. The base was visited by notable figures such as General Frederick Weyand, General Alexander Haig, and Henry Kissinger, who were all involved in the Paris Peace Accords and the Vietnamization of the war. The closure of the base marked the end of an era for the United States Army in South Vietnam, and was a significant event in the Vietnam War, which also involved the Soviet Union, China, and the Khmer Rouge. Category:Vietnam War