Just another area of Viet Nam called hill 875

[Charles68]

I imagine if I walked the field today. I might see some sign of what happened there, but the forest reclaims the land very quickly where the concentrations of defoliants have dispersed.

 

Here is one version of what took place there.

Below this story is another ... It is about my friend who is still MIA, Jack Croxdale.

In the first paragraph it mentions the 500 Lb Bomb that Was dropped on the command post, which killed my friend Jack the first day of this battle.

 

The Battle on Hill 875

November 19th ~ 23rd, 1967 near Dak To, Vietnam

 

Day One - Sunday 19 November

 

While on a search and destroy mission during "Operation MacArthur" in Kontum Province Republic of South Vietnam the 2nd Battalion 503rd Airborne Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade while climbing along the ridges leading to Hill 875 came under intense enemy fire. As Company A and D spread out to form a line they came under recoilless rifle fire and rifle fired grenades. The NVA infantry then wave attacked the companies and the fighting became hand to hand at times. Pfc Carlos Lazada held off the enemy long enough for his company to join up with the rest of the 2nd Battalion already further up the hill. For his actions he received the Congressional Medal of Honor. The 2nd Battalion 503rd fought on by itself all of the first day and almost all of the second day, until reinforcements arrived from the 4th Battalion 503rd Infantry, another Battalion from the 173 Airborne brigade. Casualties where very high among the companies of the 2nd Battalion. But never the less they fought off the NVA assaults and even advanced up the slope toward the main NVA perimeter near the summit. They managed to do this despite being hid by a 500 pound bomb from a US Air Force fighter at approximately 2000 hrs on the 19th. I remember being only 25 or 30 meters from the NVA line of bunkers when we finally joined up with them on the 20th of November. That's how close they had fought their way to the main NVA force on the summit.

 

Day Two - Monday 20 November

 

While the 2nd Battalion 503rd Infantry remained under intense and close contact with the NVA held up on Hill 875. "A" Company 4th Battalion 503rd Infantry was at forward fire support base 16, which they were securing after their battle with the NVA 66th regiment on Hill 855, and had to close it down before they could get airborne and go to the support of the 2nd battalion. The irony of this was that we had taken over security of this base from the 2nd Battalion only two days earlier. We had to pull in the perimeter because we lacked the manpower to fill all the bunkers left behind by the 2nd Battalion. But now after reaching the vicinity of hill 875 "A" Company 4th Battalion 503rd Infantry, the company I was assigned to, we landed by slicks (helicopter troop transports) on the ridgeline at the northeastern end of the ridgeline leading to Hill 875 not far from FSB 12. We followed the ridgeline to make a link with the 2nd Battalion surrounding ourselves with a ring of artillery fire and close in air support. I recall finding NVA soldier after soldier along this ridgeline that had been killed by this artillery and close in air support. When we got closer to the 2nd Battalions location, and to the point were they had made their initial enemy contact. The trail became a mix of American and NVA killed from that fierce clash on the 19th. We joined up with the 2nd Battalion late that evening, approximately around 20:00 hrs. "B" Company 4th Battalion 503rd Infantry was set down in a clearing at the base of Hill 875 and climbed up the hill to reach the 2nd battalion. They where the first of the company's from the 4th Battalion to join up with the 2nd Battalion at around 16:00 hrs on the 20th. "C" Company reached the 2nd battalion 503rd Infantry lines sometime around 2030hrs.

 

Day Three - Tuesday 21 November

 

As the day breaks the NVA launch their daily mortar attack's on the American's at first light. Most of the morning was spent preparing to assault the NVA position atop the summit of Hill 875 by the 4th Battalion 503rd Infantry. The NVA had prepared their positions very well with earthen over head cover on their bunkers and interlocking trenches to connect each bunker. Some of the cover was as much as two meters deep. In addition the NVA had a very well developed interlocking firing line with slit firing holes. Some time around 13:30hrs the 4th Battalion began to encircle the NVA positions traversing the summit just below the NVA fortifications. A complete encirclement was never achieved due to intense enemy fire. On this day I had the point squad for "A" Company 4th Battalion. Our objective was to come around the eastern slope, advancing south, just below the summit and link with the point element of "C" Company 4th Battalion. Advancing south around the western slope was "C" Company 4th Battalion attempting to link with the point element of "A" Company. "B" Company was in the center of "A" and "C" Company's, on the northeastern slope. They advanced straightforward from the jump off point, which later that evening would become the assembly point for the remands of the 4th Battalion. As I advanced will never forget climbing over and around the fell and smoldering trees. The jungle floor was still on fire in places. And what was not afire was blackened and charred from having been on fire. The whole time we where running this gauntlet the NVA which where only 25 or 30 yards up hill from us, where throwing all the automatic small arms fire, machine gun fire and shoulder fired recoilless rockets they had down at us. Not to forget to mention about all the hand grenades they rolled down hill at us also. It was an experience I will never forget. The encirclement of the NVA tried to be concealed with the use artillery smoke rounds from a near by support base 12. I remember those 105mm artillery smoke rounds screaming in just feet above our heads hitting between us and the NVA and some on the NVA lines. When I close my eyes to this day and picture that hill in my mind eye I can only picture it in black and white and shades of gray. Never in color. That's how bad the devastation of the jungle and terrain was.

 

Once the Company's of the 4th Battalion were strung out and on line as far as they could advance, the up hill assault began. The fighting became intense with most troopers charging into the NVA lines with fixed bayonets on their M16 rifles. Even though there was some success in penetrating the NVA lines, in-groups of ones and two's the assault was stopped at dusk that same day. I was setting in a freshly liberated NVA bunker on the south west end of the hill, waiting for more of my squad to show up when I received that order. The Platoon Leader from the second platoon of "A" Company was there with me. He showed up shortly before my RTO (Radio transmitter operator) did. My RTO managed to stay right behind me until we started the uphill assault into the NVA bunkers. Then the intense enemy fire raining down on us separated us. That is probably also why the 2nd platoon leader had gotten so far separated from his platoon. The order of march for "A" Company on the 19th was 3 platoon in the lead, followed by 2nd platoon then 1st platoon. One of the things I have always regretted was having to run that same gauntlet twice in the same day. First going and then in trying to get back to friendly lines. I have always felt like the 4th Battalion could have overrun the NVA that day. The 2nd Battalion was securing and fighting off NVA attacks around the assembly area while the 4th Battalion was off doing their thing. Since I had managed to advance to the southern point of around the summit it also took some time to return to the assembly area. It was around 2000 hrs when I reached friendly lines and remember everybody being very somber. They were shaken by the events of the day and must have had the next time on their mind. I know I did.

 

Day Four - Wednesday 22 November

 

The morning begins with continued mortar and small arms fire from the NVA on and around hill 875. Sometime around mid day a decision was reached to withdraw down the ridgeline distance of 100 meters to the north east to form a new defensive perimeter. A safe enough distance from the summit to soften it with artillery and close in air tactical strikes on the NVA stronghold. Preparing it for the next day's assault by the American's. I will never forget the hill shaking like a large molded Jell-O. After that fighter planes came in low and slow dropping their payloads. Sortie after sortie. We would be warned to take cover before each air strike. Before we pulled back that 100 meter safe distance we where so close to the NVA lines at the assembly area I was able to get into a hand grenade throwing contest with one of them on the morning of the 22nd. To give you some idea about how close in most of the fighting in Vietnam was. The remainder of the 22nd was used to evacuate the wounded and refit with much needed supplies and ammunition. We had so much ammunition and other ordinance dropped into us that day, that when we moved our defensive perimeter to the summit after it's capture, it had to be destroyed in place by the combat engineers. The fire works from the ammunition and ordinance’s popping off lasted all that afternoon, that night and well into the next day.

 

Day Five - Thursday 23 November

 

The morning started with the usual mortar fire from NVA on a nearby hill. At 11 AM Company’s from both battalions, the 2nd and 4th start the final assault at the summit of Hill 875. The assault was broken into two waves. The second wave covering the rear of the first. I was in the second wave that day. The first wave over ran the NVA so fast we where cleaning up what they missed. During the short time of the final assault the NVA shelled their own positions with mortar and rocket fire from an adjacent hill. What a show that was with litter teams running back and forth picking up the wounded, and doing all this under enemy fire. These guy’s were great. However the soldiers of the 2nd and 4th Battalion captured the NVA stronghold by 11:30 AM. The entire final assault lasting less than 30 minutes. At approximately 14:30 hrs the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division reached the friendly lines on the summit of Hill 875. They had been blocking the NVA from escaping around the base of the hill, while the battle for the summit raged above them. The advanced up the southwestern slope to reach the summit.

 

The clean up and transition of power

 

US Army Nurse's and American Red Cross worker's, which had flown in earlier that morning and even as the assault was under way via helicopter transports came atop the hill to help with the wounded. I remember one in particular who I attempted to worn about the carnage left from the battle. I will never forget the expression on her face as she stepped over a fell tree that concealed three American remains. I often wonder what is in her dreams.

 

By that afternoon the 2nd battalion started to withdraw from the battlefield along with some of the Company's of the 4th Battalion. On the 24th of November the remaining Company's from the 173rd Airborne withdrew leaving the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division as the new managers of Hill 875. The 2nd and 4th Battalion's of the 503rd Infantry suffered 33 Missing in Action, 158 Killed in Action and 411 evacuated wounded, while fighting for Hill 875. During the 21 days of fighting around Dak To that November some 3000 NVA loses were estimated. During that same 21 days of fighting around the Dak TO area the 173rd Airborne Brigade suffered 272 Killed in Action, over 900 wounded and some 60 Missing in Action. Ending some of the bloodiest fighting of the Vietnam War.

 

 

Name: Jack Lee Croxdale II

Rank/Branch: Specialist/US Army

Unit: Company C, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade

Date of Birth: 20 November 1948

Home of Record: Lake Charles, LA

Date of Loss: 19 November 1967

Country of Loss: South Vietnam

Loss Coordinates: 143500N 1073547E (YB797137)

Click coordinates to view maps

Status in 1973: Killed/Body Not Recovered

Category: 4

Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: Ground

Other Personnel In Incident: Benjamin D. DeHerrera and Donald Iandoli (missing)

 

REMARKS: REMS TAG'D - NOT IN MORTY

 

SYNOPSIS: When North Vietnam began to increase its military strength in South Vietnam, NVA and Viet Cong troops again intruded on neutral Laos for sanctuary, as the Viet Minh had done during the war with the French some years before. This border road was used by the Communists to transport weapons, supplies and troops from North Vietnam into South Vietnam, and was frequently no more than a path cut through the jungle covered mountains. US forces used all assets available to them to stop this flow of men and supplies from moving south into the war zone.

 

On 19 November 1967, the 2nd and 4th Battalions, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Division was conducting Operation McArthur, a search and destroy mission along the ridge line leading to Hill 875 in the Dak Mot Lop area of South Vietnam's central highlands, also known as Dak To. The location of the battle site for Hill 875 was on a dense jungle covered plateau approximately 6 miles due east of the Cambodian/South Vietnamese border, 6 miles southwest of Dak Seang, 9 miles southeast of the Tri-border area and 12 miles southwest of the town of Dak To, Kontum Province, South Vietnam.

 

Hill 875 was also located on the south side of a primary road running generally east/west from the Cambodian border. Communist forces used this road as an extension of the southern portion of the infamous Ho Chi Minh Trail as they infiltrated men and material into the acknowledged war zone. Hill 875 provided the NVA an excellent position to observe and protect their supply line into South Vietnam. The Americans were intent on controlling the hill because it afforded them an equally important position from which they could cut the enemy's supply line.

 

Operation McArthur was intended to dislodge North Vietnamese Army (NVA) forces reportedly operating in this heavily forested area covered with thick under growth near the tri-border region where South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia join. As the Americans moved through the area from the northeast to the southwest, they encountered well-trained and experienced NVA forces dug in and hidden in a series of camouflaged bunkers near the summit of Hill 875 that offered the enemy an excellent field of fire. During the vicious firefight that ensued, both Battalions sustained heavy losses and were pinned down by intense and accurate enemy ground fire.

 

SP4 Croxdale, radio operator, and PFC Benjamin D. DeHerrera, squad leader (both from Company C), along with Sgt. Donald Iandoli, squad leader Company B., were participating in Operation McArthur. In the morning the patrol swept through the forested region without incident. By early afternoon they continued through a fairly flat area on the east side of Hill 875. As the Americans advanced toward the NVA bunkers, the communists opened fire with small arms, heavy weapons, grenades and rockets. Almost immediately the Americans called in airstrikes upon entrenched enemy positions.

 

At 1435 hours, SP4 Croxdale was manning Company C's communications equipment. This equipment was located in the company's Command Post (CP) in the assembly area located to the east of the American front lines. As the fierce fighting continued, Sgt. Iandoli was wounded and taken to Company C's CP where the medical aid station had also been set up. PFC DeHerrera was in the same area along with other wounded and dead soldiers. At 1850 hours, an American aircraft conducting a close air support mission accidentally dropped a 500-pound bomb on Company C's CP and aid station resulting in additional casualties.

 

The following day, 20 November, a limited search and recovery (SAR) operation was conducted in and around the remnants of the command post and aid station in an effort to locate the bodies of American dead. During the search, the remains of SP4 Croxdale, PFC DeHerrera and Sgt. Iandoli, along with those of other Americans who were killed when the bomb fell short were recovered, identified, tagged and placed in body bags prior to being transported by helicopter to the US Army Mortuary at Dak To.

 

As Operation McArthur continued, the Americans were forced to leave the bodies of their dead lying where they fell. Further, the entire area was subjected to numerous massive air strikes and artillery barrages over the course of the vicious give and take battle for Hill 875. On 20 November additional American troops arrived to reinforce those already engaged in the fight. Artillery barrages and airstrikes were called in periodically.

 

Late in the afternoon of 22 November, US forces were pulled back roughly 100 meters to the northeast of the hill, which was considered a safe enough distance to bring in close tactical air support and heavy artillery shelling. On 23 November, the final assault of the hill was conducted by two waves of troops who followed the foot steps that Company B had made as they moved up the hill on 21 November. This time the Americans were successful in dislodging the NVA and driving them off Dak Mot Lop.

 

The survivors of Operation McArthur secured the area and began the grizzly task of searching for survivors and recovering their dead. Those dead who where identifiable, were placed in body bags tagged with their names. Those who were recovered, but whose identity could not be determined, were placed in body bags simply marked "unknown."

 

On 19 November, the body bags containing the remains of Benjamin DeHerrera and Jack Croxdale were reportedly placed on a helicopter with others en route to the Dak To mortuary. Shortly after the last of the dead were evacuated on 19 November, it was discovered that Donald Iandoli's remains were accidentally left behind. Immediately an additional search of the former temporary morgue site was conducted to locate Sgt. Iandoli's body. After the battle, the search continued for Donald Iandoli's remains at the same time the major recovery effort was underway. Unfortunately, the search failed to locate any sign of him.

 

By 4 January 1968, the situation, which was already complicated, worsened. The US Army Mortuary at Tan Son Nhut, which was located on the northwest edge of Saigon and was the center responsible for processing remains - both identified and unidentified - prior to them being shipped to the US, discovered that not only were Sgt. Iandoli's remains missing, but so were the remains of SP4 Croxdale and PFC DeHerrera. All three men, who were already listed Killed in Action, were now declared Killed in Action/Body Not Recovered and their families were notified accordingly.

 

There is no doubt that Donald Iandoli, Jack Croxdale and Benjamin DeHerrera died of wounds sustained during the battle for Dak Mot Lop, Hill 875. Under the circumstances of loss, and the fact that their remains were ultimately lost somewhere between the battle site and the US Army Mortuary at Tan Son Nhut, there is only a very slim chance that their remains are recoverable. However, as an American soldier, each man has a right to have his remains returned to his family, friends and country if at all possible. Above all else, he has the right not to be forgotten by the nation for which he gave his life.

 

For other Americans who remain unaccounted for in Southeast Asia, their fate could be quite different. Since the end of the Vietnam War well over 21,000 reports of American prisoners, missing and otherwise unaccounted for have been received by our government. Many of these reports document LIVE America Prisoners of War remaining captive throughout Southeast Asia TODAY.

 

Military men in Vietnam were called upon to fight in many dangerous circumstances, and they were prepared to be wounded, killed or captured. It probably never occurred to them that they could be abandoned by the country they so proudly served.

[Charles68]

The decades roll by, and still I see my friend Jack, as he was at 18.

A huge smile on his face, at a party held the night he graduated from Glendale High School in Arizona.

His academic achievement was high, he had been the president of the senior class and was valedictorian at the commencement ceremonies.

At 18 he was already the guy that everyone who knew him wanted to be.

He had the rest of his life ahead of him, and the future looked bright.

 

In a few weeks he was DEAD.

 

Hill 875 got its name from the height of its highest point above sea level in meters, peaking at approximately 2,700 feet above sea level. Hill 875 is about 8 kilometers from the Cambodian border and sat astride a major exit of the Ho Chi Minh Trail system into South Vietnam.

 

On November 19, 1967, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade, was given the mission of securing Hill 875, estimated to be defended by a company of NVA regular troops fresh off the Ho Chi Minh Trail. What followed was one of the fiercest battles of the entire Vietnam War.

 

The NVA force that occupied Hill 875 was not a company, but rather two regiments. When A Company, 2/503rd, began their movement up the hill they came under withering fire from automatic weapons, mortars, and B-40 rockets. The NVA were firing from concealed positions constructed in March of 1967. By November the fast growing jungle had hidden all traces of the log-covered bunkers. Other NVA forces occupied nearby hilltops and were able to support the NVA on Hill 875 with mortar and artillery fire. As it became apparent that A/2/503 was badly outnumbered, the other companies of 2/503 were committed to the fight. However, the men of 2/503 had to stand alone for the rest of 19 November and through the night that followed.

 

The battle of Hill 875 cost the 2/503 87 killed, 130 wounded, and three missing. 4/503 suffered 28 killed 123 wounded, and four missing. Combined with noncombatant losses, this represented one-fifth of the 173rd Airborne Brigade's total strength. For its combined actions during operations around Dắk Tô, the 173rd Airborne Brigade was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.

 

173rd Eng Co

 

SP4 Gary R. Cooper, Bosworth, MO

SP4 Bruce W. Cunningham, Denver, CO

PFC Alan J. Impelithere, Liverpool, NY

 

A Co (Admin), 173rd Spt Bn

 

MAJ Charles J. Watters, Berkeley Heights, NJ (Medal of Honor)

 

A Btry, 3rd Bn, 319th Arty Rgt

 

1LT Richard T. Busenlehner, Rowena, TX

SP4 Troy A. Galyan, Concord, NC

SP4 Jesse Sanchez, Union City, CA

1LT Jerome C. Shomaker, Newport Beach, CA

 

HHC, 1st Bn, 503rd Inf Rgt

 

PFC Valdez Sharp, McLean, TX

 

A Co, 2nd Bn, 503rd Inf Rgt

 

PFC Bruce M. Benzing, Miami Springs, FL

SP4 David B. Betchel, Los Angeles, CA

SP4 Robert T. Bly, Toledo, OH

SGT Manfred F. Camarote, Philadelphia, PA

PFC Charles R. Crews, Starke, FL

PFC John D Agostino, New York, NY

PFC Robert P. Degen, Vancouver, WA

SP4 John M. Dunbar, Villa Park, IL

SP4 Michael L. Ellis, Valinda, CA

PFC Michael W. Ference, Chicago, IL

PFC Dennis Greenwald, Southfield, MI

PFC William A. Hawthorne, Eureka, KS

SP5 Aaron K. Hervas, Mobile, AL

CPT Michael J. Kiley, Long Beach, CA

PFC Witold J. Leszczynski, New York, NY

PFC Carlos J. Lozada, New York, NY (Medal of Honor)

PFC George M. Mattingly, Oxon Hill, MD

SGT Josh C. Noah, Hugo, OK

SP4 Andrew J. Orosz, New York, NY

PFC James R. Patterson, Orlando, FL

PFC Steven R. Powell, Danville, VA

PFC Gary D. Roerink, Pontiac, MI

SP4 Jack H. Shoop, Rural Ridge, PA

PFC James R. Speller, Windsor, NC

PFC Frank E. Stokes, Monticello, NY

SGT Robert T. Szymanski, Milwaukee, WI

PFC Nathaniel Thompson, St Louis, MO

PVT Ernesto Villarreal, Detroit, MI

SP4 Ronald W. Young, Tulsa, OK

 

B Co, 2nd Bn, 503rd Inf Rgt

 

SP4 Michael J. Gladden, Odessa, TX

PFC Prelow Grissette, Shallotte, NC

 

C Co, 2nd Bn, 503rd Inf Rgt

 

SGT Michael E. Adams, Granite City, IL

PVT Gregory C. Bauer, Central Bridge, NY

PFC Neal I. Best, Myrtle Beach, SC

SP4 Roy J. Blackwell, Clinton, SC

PFC Mario A. Cisneros, Riverbank, CA

SP4 Jack L. Croxdale, Lake Charles, LA

PFC Benjamin D. De Herrera, Colorado Springs, CO

SP4 James W. Flynt, Pittsboro, NC

SFC James C. Frederick, Margate, FL

PFC Juan M. Garcia, Mammoth, AZ

SP4 Gerald L. George, Colorado Springs, CO

PFC Herbert H. Gray, Gray, GA

PSGT Bobby G. Hastings, Trumann, AR

SP4 Mark R. Hering, North Tonawanda, NY

PFC William C. Hinkle, Granite City, IL

SP4 Thomas P. Huddleston, Newnan, GA

SGT Donald Iandoli, Paterson, NJ

CPT Harold J. Kaufman, Spring Valley, NY

SGT Jeffrey W. Koonce, Union, NJ

1LT Peter J. Lantz, Orlando, FL

SP4 James W. Nothern, Clarendon, AR

SGT Wallace L. Ogea, Bossier City, LA

SP4 Robert J. Sanders, Philadelphia, PA

1LT Donald E. Smith, Columbus, GA

PFC Harry H. Spencer, Cleveland, OH

1LT Richard W. Thompson, Atchison, KS

PFC Lester Tyler, New York, NY

SSG Remer G. Williams, Raleigh, NC

SSG John W. Wooten, Garten, WV

 

D Co, 2nd Bn, 503rd Inf Rgt

 

SP4 Harvey L. Brown, St Louis, MO

PFC Larry A. D Entremont, Kittery Point, ME

PFC Casimiro Dianda, Yuma, AZ

SP4 Clarence Hall, Newport, KY

SP4 Kenneth J. Jacobson, Winslow, WA

SP4 Weston J. Langley, Houlton, ME

PFC John M. Ortiz, Chicago, IL

PFC Joseph Pannell, East St Louis, IL

SP4 Roy C. Payne, Saginaw, MI

PFC Arnold Pinn, Jamaica, NY

SP4 Walter D. Ray, Belmont, MA

SP4 Lewis B. Smith, Camden, NY

SP4 Harry E. Stephens, Richmond, VA

PFC Richard Walker, Chicago, IL

SP4 Lemuel T. Williams, St Louis, MO

 

HHC, 2nd Bn, 503rd Inf Rgt

 

SP4 Ernesto S. Cantu, Encino, TX

PVT Claude L. Crawford, Los Angeles, CA

PFC James C. Farley, Cookeville, TN

SP4 William T. Hagerty, Vineyard Haven, MA

SP4 William D. Herst, El Paso, TX

PFC Richard N. Kimball, Granite City, IL

PVT Roger A. Kros, Lake Village, IN

PFC Robert C. La Vallee, Middletown, RI

SP4 Olis R. Rigby, Hays, KS

PFC William A. Ross, Columbus, GA

SP4 Ervin Spain, Chicago, IL

SP5 Ernest R. Taylor, Loveland, OH

PFC Rudolph N. Ward, Portsmouth, VA

PFC John R. Wolf, Renton, WA

 

A Co, 4th Bn, 503rd Inf Rgt

 

PFC Louis G. Arnold, Detroit, MI

PFC John W. Smith, Celina, OH

SGT Arthur Turner, Mount Pleasant, SC

 

B Co, 4th Bn, 503rd Inf Rgt

 

MSG William L. Cates, Stanfield, AZ

SP4 Thomas L. Corbett, Hampton, VA

PFC Angel R. Flores-Jimenez, New York, NY

PFC Gerald Klossek, Newark, NJ

SP4 Roy R. Lee, Dunn, NC

SP4 Robert W. Lindgren, Minneapolis, MN

SSG Roland W. Manuel, Asbury Park, NJ

PFC Richard F. Mason, Erwin, NC

SP4 Raymond W. Michalopoulos, Pawtucket, RI

PFC Kenneth G. Owens, Orlando, FL

SP4 Robert E. Paciorek, Ravenna, OH

PFC David R. Reynolds, Buffalo, NY

PFC Jesse E. Smith, Augusta, GA

PFC Thomas J. Wade, Antlers, OK

SP4 Earl K. Webb, New Orleans, LA

SP4 Merrel P. Whittington, Toppenish, WA

PFC Charles E. Willbanks, Mountain View, GA (Bronze Star "V")

PFC James R. Worrell, Fort Lauderdale, FL

 

C Co, 4th Bn, 503rd Inf Rgt

PFC Billy R. Cubit, Chicago, IL

SGT Le Roy E. Fladry, Union City, PA

1LT Tracy H. Murrey, Miles City, MT (Dist Svc Cross)

D Co, 4th Bn, 503rd Inf Rgt

PFC Roger D. Mabe, Haymarket, VA

PFC Leonard J. Richards, Mount Vernon, IL

 

After this battle, we left the area and let Charlie have it back.

Viet Nam is still a communist society and government.

But magically we are now friends with these "Commies", and we have no problems in our relations with them.

 

 

Why did all the young Americans, and about 1 - 2 MILLION Vietnamese need to DIE?

[alconlon]

The decades roll by, and still I see my friend Jack, as he was at 18.

A huge smile on his face, at a party held the night he graduated from Glendale High School in Arizona.

His academic achievement was high, he had been the president of the senior class and was valedictorian at the commencement ceremonies.

At 18 he was already the guy that everyone who knew him wanted to be.

He had the rest of his life ahead of him, and the future looked bright.

 

In a few weeks he was DEAD.

 

Hill 875 got its name from the height of its highest point above sea level in meters, peaking at approximately 2,700 feet above sea level. Hill 875 is about 8 kilometers from the Cambodian border and sat astride a major exit of the Ho Chi Minh Trail system into South Vietnam.

 

On November 19, 1967, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade, was given the mission of securing Hill 875, estimated to be defended by a company of NVA regular troops fresh off the Ho Chi Minh Trail. What followed was one of the fiercest battles of the entire Vietnam War.

 

The NVA force that occupied Hill 875 was not a company, but rather two regiments. When A Company, 2/503rd, began their movement up the hill they came under withering fire from automatic weapons, mortars, and B-40 rockets. The NVA were firing from concealed positions constructed in March of 1967. By November the fast growing jungle had hidden all traces of the log-covered bunkers. Other NVA forces occupied nearby hilltops and were able to support the NVA on Hill 875 with mortar and artillery fire. As it became apparent that A/2/503 was badly outnumbered, the other companies of 2/503 were committed to the fight. However, the men of 2/503 had to stand alone for the rest of 19 November and through the night that followed.

 

The battle of Hill 875 cost the 2/503 87 killed, 130 wounded, and three missing. 4/503 suffered 28 killed 123 wounded, and four missing. Combined with noncombatant losses, this represented one-fifth of the 173rd Airborne Brigade's total strength. For its combined actions during operations around Dắk Tô, the 173rd Airborne Brigade was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.

 

173rd Eng Co

 

SP4 Gary R. Cooper, Bosworth, MO

SP4 Bruce W. Cunningham, Denver, CO

PFC Alan J. Impelithere, Liverpool, NY

 

A Co (Admin), 173rd Spt Bn

 

MAJ Charles J. Watters, Berkeley Heights, NJ (Medal of Honor)

 

A Btry, 3rd Bn, 319th Arty Rgt

 

1LT Richard T. Busenlehner, Rowena, TX

SP4 Troy A. Galyan, Concord, NC

SP4 Jesse Sanchez, Union City, CA

1LT Jerome C. Shomaker, Newport Beach, CA

 

HHC, 1st Bn, 503rd Inf Rgt

 

PFC Valdez Sharp, McLean, TX

 

A Co, 2nd Bn, 503rd Inf Rgt

 

PFC Bruce M. Benzing, Miami Springs, FL

SP4 David B. Betchel, Los Angeles, CA

SP4 Robert T. Bly, Toledo, OH

SGT Manfred F. Camarote, Philadelphia, PA

PFC Charles R. Crews, Starke, FL

PFC John D Agostino, New York, NY

PFC Robert P. Degen, Vancouver, WA

SP4 John M. Dunbar, Villa Park, IL

SP4 Michael L. Ellis, Valinda, CA

PFC Michael W. Ference, Chicago, IL

PFC Dennis Greenwald, Southfield, MI

PFC William A. Hawthorne, Eureka, KS

SP5 Aaron K. Hervas, Mobile, AL

CPT Michael J. Kiley, Long Beach, CA

PFC Witold J. Leszczynski, New York, NY

PFC Carlos J. Lozada, New York, NY (Medal of Honor)

PFC George M. Mattingly, Oxon Hill, MD

SGT Josh C. Noah, Hugo, OK

SP4 Andrew J. Orosz, New York, NY

PFC James R. Patterson, Orlando, FL

PFC Steven R. Powell, Danville, VA

PFC Gary D. Roerink, Pontiac, MI

SP4 Jack H. Shoop, Rural Ridge, PA

PFC James R. Speller, Windsor, NC

PFC Frank E. Stokes, Monticello, NY

SGT Robert T. Szymanski, Milwaukee, WI

PFC Nathaniel Thompson, St Louis, MO

PVT Ernesto Villarreal, Detroit, MI

SP4 Ronald W. Young, Tulsa, OK

 

B Co, 2nd Bn, 503rd Inf Rgt

 

SP4 Michael J. Gladden, Odessa, TX

PFC Prelow Grissette, Shallotte, NC

 

C Co, 2nd Bn, 503rd Inf Rgt

 

SGT Michael E. Adams, Granite City, IL

PVT Gregory C. Bauer, Central Bridge, NY

PFC Neal I. Best, Myrtle Beach, SC

SP4 Roy J. Blackwell, Clinton, SC

PFC Mario A. Cisneros, Riverbank, CA

SP4 Jack L. Croxdale, Lake Charles, LA

PFC Benjamin D. De Herrera, Colorado Springs, CO

SP4 James W. Flynt, Pittsboro, NC

SFC James C. Frederick, Margate, FL

PFC Juan M. Garcia, Mammoth, AZ

SP4 Gerald L. George, Colorado Springs, CO

PFC Herbert H. Gray, Gray, GA

PSGT Bobby G. Hastings, Trumann, AR

SP4 Mark R. Hering, North Tonawanda, NY

PFC William C. Hinkle, Granite City, IL

SP4 Thomas P. Huddleston, Newnan, GA

SGT Donald Iandoli, Paterson, NJ

CPT Harold J. Kaufman, Spring Valley, NY

SGT Jeffrey W. Koonce, Union, NJ

1LT Peter J. Lantz, Orlando, FL

SP4 James W. Nothern, Clarendon, AR

SGT Wallace L. Ogea, Bossier City, LA

SP4 Robert J. Sanders, Philadelphia, PA

1LT Donald E. Smith, Columbus, GA

PFC Harry H. Spencer, Cleveland, OH

1LT Richard W. Thompson, Atchison, KS

PFC Lester Tyler, New York, NY

SSG Remer G. Williams, Raleigh, NC

SSG John W. Wooten, Garten, WV

 

D Co, 2nd Bn, 503rd Inf Rgt

 

SP4 Harvey L. Brown, St Louis, MO

PFC Larry A. D Entremont, Kittery Point, ME

PFC Casimiro Dianda, Yuma, AZ

SP4 Clarence Hall, Newport, KY

SP4 Kenneth J. Jacobson, Winslow, WA

SP4 Weston J. Langley, Houlton, ME

PFC John M. Ortiz, Chicago, IL

PFC Joseph Pannell, East St Louis, IL

SP4 Roy C. Payne, Saginaw, MI

PFC Arnold Pinn, Jamaica, NY

SP4 Walter D. Ray, Belmont, MA

SP4 Lewis B. Smith, Camden, NY

SP4 Harry E. Stephens, Richmond, VA

PFC Richard Walker, Chicago, IL

SP4 Lemuel T. Williams, St Louis, MO

 

HHC, 2nd Bn, 503rd Inf Rgt

 

SP4 Ernesto S. Cantu, Encino, TX

PVT Claude L. Crawford, Los Angeles, CA

PFC James C. Farley, Cookeville, TN

SP4 William T. Hagerty, Vineyard Haven, MA

SP4 William D. Herst, El Paso, TX

PFC Richard N. Kimball, Granite City, IL

PVT Roger A. Kros, Lake Village, IN

PFC Robert C. La Vallee, Middletown, RI

SP4 Olis R. Rigby, Hays, KS

PFC William A. Ross, Columbus, GA

SP4 Ervin Spain, Chicago, IL

SP5 Ernest R. Taylor, Loveland, OH

PFC Rudolph N. Ward, Portsmouth, VA

PFC John R. Wolf, Renton, WA

 

A Co, 4th Bn, 503rd Inf Rgt

 

PFC Louis G. Arnold, Detroit, MI

PFC John W. Smith, Celina, OH

SGT Arthur Turner, Mount Pleasant, SC

 

B Co, 4th Bn, 503rd Inf Rgt

 

MSG William L. Cates, Stanfield, AZ

SP4 Thomas L. Corbett, Hampton, VA

PFC Angel R. Flores-Jimenez, New York, NY

PFC Gerald Klossek, Newark, NJ

SP4 Roy R. Lee, Dunn, NC

SP4 Robert W. Lindgren, Minneapolis, MN

SSG Roland W. Manuel, Asbury Park, NJ

PFC Richard F. Mason, Erwin, NC

SP4 Raymond W. Michalopoulos, Pawtucket, RI

PFC Kenneth G. Owens, Orlando, FL

SP4 Robert E. Paciorek, Ravenna, OH

PFC David R. Reynolds, Buffalo, NY

PFC Jesse E. Smith, Augusta, GA

PFC Thomas J. Wade, Antlers, OK

SP4 Earl K. Webb, New Orleans, LA

SP4 Merrel P. Whittington, Toppenish, WA

PFC Charles E. Willbanks, Mountain View, GA (Bronze Star "V")

PFC James R. Worrell, Fort Lauderdale, FL

 

C Co, 4th Bn, 503rd Inf Rgt

PFC Billy R. Cubit, Chicago, IL

SGT Le Roy E. Fladry, Union City, PA

1LT Tracy H. Murrey, Miles City, MT (Dist Svc Cross)

D Co, 4th Bn, 503rd Inf Rgt

PFC Roger D. Mabe, Haymarket, VA

PFC Leonard J. Richards, Mount Vernon, IL

 

After this battle, we left the area and let Charlie have it back.

Viet Nam is still a communist society and government.

But magically we are now friends with these "Commies", and we have no problems in our relations with them.

Why did all the young Americans, and about 1 - 2 MILLION Vietnamese need to DIE?

POLITICS>

[alconlon]

POLITICS>

Or better yet Politicians

[PAL]

Thank you for posting the above sobering but fascinating recollections. I have never heard of Hill 875 but will now do some research on it. Rolling hand grenades down the hill is a new one for me...

 

Only 8 km from the Cambodian border and astride a major route on the Ho Chi Minh Trail would guarantee it some serious attention - from both sides.

[Mainemilitaria]

"Welcome home brother....",

Emotional reading, took me back to 1969 (1st MP Co./1st Inf. Div.)- may all the "war dead" R.I.P., may those with physical and physological scars find peace.... but let us NEVER FORGET!

John G.

[Randy A]

Sorry I know this is an old post, 1LT Tracy Murrey (C Co, 4th BN, 503rd Inf Rgt) was my uncle. I'm not sure but I think he was the Charlie Company 3rd platoon Leader. I'm trying to find anyone that might have served with him at Dak To. PLease pm me here or email me, lindy(at)midrivers(dot)com anything would be greatly appreciated and thank you for the post Charles 68.

[Randy A]

Sorry, I forgot the rest. I have some photographs he took. Unfortunately he didn't write names on them so I have no idea who's pictured or where they were taken from. A bunch of slides too.

Thanks,