Hamburger Hill

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The battle of Hamburger hill was a bloody battle that took place at “Dong Ap Bia” in the mountains of south Vietnam. The purpose of the operation was to cut off the North Vietnamese infiltration route into South Vietnam from Laos, and enemy threats to Hue and Danong. The battle occurred during operation Apache Snow. It was the second part of a three-phased campaign intended to destroy (NVA), North Vietnamese army bases in A Shau Valley, which was not the first attempt to secure the A Shau Valley. Based on existing intelligence and previous experiences in the A Shau Valley, the U.S knew they were in for a tough fight, and worst of all they had no idea at the time the actual enemy’s strength. The NVA, were a great threat to the U.S, they knew
While using gunships, artillery, and motor fire to suppress the enemy, the two battalions started up the hill once again. Delta Company pushed their way almost to the top by putting themselves in close quarters combat. Charlie Company was ordered to the aid of Delta, but suddenly a rainstorm halted the attack forcing troopers back down the hill from all the mud. The brigade wanted to plan another attack but this time with 2-501, and 2/3 ARVN taking the summit while 3-187, held the enemy in place. The “Rakkasans” were upset about the entire situation; they wanted what was promised to them, that they would be the ones to take the top of the hill. On May 20th, after 20,000 rounds of artillery, 272 tactical airstrikes, more than one million pounds of bombs, and 152,000 pounds of napalm, the 3-187 supported by 1-506, started back up the hill, but only to find that the NVA had already fled.
The battle of hamburger hill was not the biggest battle of the war but it was one to go down in the history books. After the ten day long battle the U.S had finally secured hilltop 937, but with a heavy cost 72 U.S. killed, 372 wounded, and several helicopters shot down or damaged. The U.S reported 630 enemies killed, and three

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