Vietnam War - US Military Map - Polei Yome

Polei Djereng - CIA / US Special Forces Camp - Ex Krong River / Valley

Kontum Province - Ho Chi Minh Trail

US Military Map - Prepared US Army

Polei Yome was a critical yet little-known U.S. Special Forces and CIA-affiliated forward base in the dense jungle terrain of the Central Highlands, near the Xa Krong River and within the wider Xa Krong Valley. 

Located in the remote frontier between Kontum and Pleiku Provinces, this area was central to deep reconnaissance, covert action, and counter-infiltration operations conducted by MACV-SOG teams, U.S. Special Forces, and indigenous Montagnard units from 1965 through 1972. 

The terrain was thick forest, rugged elevation, and crisscrossed by rivers. marked by an almost total absence of roads, with only a handful of known trails which were often overgrown or deliberately concealed by PAVN engineering units.

Polei Yome served as a reconnaissance and launch platform for cross-border missions into Cambodia and Laos and was closely linked to Launch Site South, the covert designation for Polei Djereng, a larger SF/CIDG base to the southwest. 

Polei Djereng, originally established by Detachment A-211, was a staging ground for MACV-SOG’s Command and Control Central (CCC), which ran deep-penetration recon operations into suspected COSVN areas and logistical arteries tied to the Ho Chi Minh Trail. 

Polei Yome, as a smaller satellite base, functioned as a jungle fire base and forward staging site for 5th Special Forces Group teams and Montagnard recon elements tasked with patrolling the Xa Krong Valley and intercepting enemy movement.

The Xa Krong River and valley served as a major infiltration route used by PAVN units moving from Ratanakiri Province in Cambodia into the Central Highlands, bypassing larger Allied garrisons via hidden foot trails, streambeds, and ridge lines. 

The jungle was dotted with clandestine VC and PAVN base areas, frequently identified through aerial reconnaissance and SIGINT intercepts, though rarely struck with sustained success due to concealment and rapid mobility. 

The valley was considered a “free-fire zone” by U.S. command, where small-unit engagements, helicopter insertions, and long-range recon patrols occurred on a near-daily basis.

MACV-SOG’s exploitation teams operated from Polei Yome using low-profile, high-endurance missions, often lasting days or weeks, with Montagnard, Nung, and Rhade team members tracking enemy supply columns, mapping trail networks, and calling in air or artillery strikes from forward observers. 

The base also supported Phoenix Program operations, coordinated with CIA field officers, to identify and eliminate VC cadre moving through highland villages or hidden jungle staging areas. 

Extraction missions were conducted under fire, frequently requiring Air America support or low-altitude helicopter insertions from Pleiku Air Base.

The area remained hotly contested through 1972. PAVN divisions operating under the B-3 Front used the valley as a logistical corridor and fallback zone during their offensives. In 1970–71, intelligence reports confirmed new bunkers, anti-aircraft positions, and field hospitals being constructed in the sector. 

U.S. Special Forces continued to launch patrols from Polei Yome despite increasing political pressure for troop withdrawals. Casualty rates among recon teams remained high due to booby traps, sniper fire, and close-quarters ambushes.

By late 1972, most forward U.S. elements were withdrawn, with Polei Yome and its satellite camps turned over to ARVN Rangers and Montagnard irregulars. 

Within months of the handover, the valley had become a permanent PAVN-controlled infiltration corridor, contributing to the buildup that enabled the Central Highlands to fall quickly in 1975.

Series L 7014

The 1:50,000 topographic map series L7014, produced by the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, provided detailed geographical information essential for military operations. These maps were created using aerial photography and field surveys, offering a comprehensive view of specific areas in Vietnam.

With a scale of 1:50,000, these maps depicted one centimeter on the map as equivalent to 500 meters on the ground (or 1,000 meters per grid), allowing for precise location referencing and detailed representation of the terrain. The maps included contour lines to show elevation and terrain features such as hills, valleys, and mountains. Hydrography was detailed with rivers, streams, lakes, and other bodies of water clearly marked, while different types of vegetation cover, such as forests, grasslands, and agricultural areas, were also indicated.

Man-made features were extensively detailed, including various types of roads from major highways to small trails, railways, bridges, and ferries. Locations of towns, villages, and cities were marked, providing a clear view of built-up areas. Military installations, such as bases, airfields, and defensive structures, were identified, along with any notable strategic points like supply depots, command centers, and communication hubs.

During the Vietnam War, these maps were crucial for planning and conducting military operations, enabling commanders to understand the terrain, plan routes, and locate enemy positions. The detailed topography and man-made features facilitated navigation and tactical planning.

Today, these maps are valuable for historical research, offering insights into the geography and logistics of military operations during the Vietnam War. They are also of interest to military collectors, museums, returned services associations, universities, cartographers, veterans and their families.