Building the Bases

A detailed account of the civil engineering work done to assist US forces during the Vietnam War by the New York Times–bestselling author of Vietnam Diary.

To fuel their efforts in the Vietnam War, the US armed forces needed reliable infrastructure. For a modern military machine to function properly in a less developed region, a massive construction effort was required. Roads, bridges, ports, airfields, hospitals, and more were needed, and the results helped propel the nation into the modern age.


In Building the Bases, veteran war correspondent Richard Tregaskis documents one of the largest wartime construction undertakings in history, a feat accomplished by the US Navy Seabees and other military and American civilian engineers from 1962 to 1972. Using photos, maps, and charts, as well as extensive travel research, Tregaskis looks at every major piece of infrastructure built for the war effort. Through the backdrop of battles and political intrigues, he weaves a compelling human-interest story of courage and hard work.

First published in 1975.