WHAT REALLY HAPPENED DURING THE HORRIFIC BATTLE OF HAMBURGER HILL?


By mmacdougall
Hamburger Hill

The Battle of Hamburger Hill was one of the toughest and most brutal battles the United States has ever faced. It is one of the most famous battles that took place during the Vietnam War. The United States Army’s most decorated unit, the 3rd Battalion of the 187th Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, known as the Rakkasans, made their way up the Dong Ap Bia mountain in northern South Vietnam in 1969, and the battle would soon take place.

The Truth Behind the Battle of Hamburger Hill

On May 10, 1969, for close to 11 days, the United States Army took part in the Battle of Hamburger Hill, a 3,000-foot-tall hill in the valley of South Vietnam. The United States Army and the South Vietnamese forces, also known as the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, joined forces and went into battle against the units of the Northern People’s Army of Vietnam. The goal of the battle was to eliminate the enemy forces that occupied the A Shau Valley.

The Battle at Hamburger Hill

Going into the battle, the soldiers were aware that this would be no normal engagement. When the troops first arrived, John Snyder of the Bravo Company stated that he had never seen so many helicopters or so much movement of troops in one spot. The soldiers knew that something big was about to happen and how overwhelming the A Shau Valley really was. But, they had no idea what exactly they were getting themselves into. When the 101st Airborne Division arrived, there were no enemies waiting to attack once they touched ground, but that didn’t mean there weren’t enemies lurking around them. On the morning of May 11, 1969, the troops were ordered to head towards the top of the Dong Ap Bia mountain and were expected to reach the top at 1400 hours if everything went right. To say the least, everything did not go as planned, and nearly ten days and 12 assaults later, Dong Ap Bia mountain became a slaughterhouse, now known as Hamburger Hill in Vietnam. The United States Army dropped more than 1,000 bombs, 142 tons of napalm, 31,000 rounds of 20mm shells, and 513 tons of tear gas on the North Vietnamese Forces. The battle was said to look a lot like the Western Front battles of World War I.

How Many U.S. Soldiers Died on Hamburger Hill?

After a week and a half of brutal and devastating fighting during the Battle of Hamburger Hill, many soldiers had fallen. More than 370 American soldiers were wounded, and 72 American soldiers were dead. Only four of the 20 platoon leaders in the 187th Infantry who fought their way up the hill made it to the top on May 20, 1969. Each day of battle, U.S. troops would move upwards, fight the enemy, see people get killed, witness soldiers get wounded, and then withdraw. They would go back to safer grounds to take care of the wounded soldiers and reorganize; then, minutes later, they would go back up Hamburger Hill to battle the enemy. Suggested read:Remembering Fallen Heroes on Memorial Day 2022

How Hamburger Hill Got Its Name

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How the Battle of Hamburger Hill Was a Turning Point for the U.S.

The Battle of Hamburger Hill was an official turning point for the United States during the Vietnam War. While the battle was happening, there was controversy going on in the States. Senator Edward Kennedy, the Massachusetts Democrat, took the Senate floor and denounced the Battle of Hamburger Hill. Many Americans believe that fighting in the Battle of Hamburger Hill only led to American blood being needlessly shed. The public was not prepared or willing to absorb the casualties of the battle; Hamburger Hill was a shock to the system. Although many civilians criticized the results of the Battle at Hamburger Hill, considering it to be a senseless loss of life, soldiers who had fought in the battle believed that they did the right thing. In the aftermath of Hamburger Hill, the United States shifted its military tactics. The Defense Department significantly restricted the size and scope of American-led missions, even over the protests of senior-level military leaders. In less than three weeks after the battle ended, President Nixon announced a new policy to reduce American involvement in the Vietnam War, known as Vietnamization. From then on, the South Vietnamese Army was responsible for combat operations, and the American troops would begin to withdraw from the war. The Battle of Hamburger Hill continues to leave a mark in American history. Since the 1990s, Veterans of Hamburger Hill have gathered together annually at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, home to the 101st Airborne Division. Approximately 50 to 80 Veterans of the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment gather together each year. The gatherings allow for Veterans and current soldiers of the battalion to connect and share their experiences. The reunion is meant to honor and remember those who were lost at Hamburger Hill, Vietnam, and for the Veterans to pass on their knowledge to the new generation of soldiers. More like this:National Vietnam Veterans Day 2022: Venerating Vietnam Vets

Image: Hugh Van Es/AP Photo; Bettmann Archive/Getty Images


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