The Battle for Hill 875 40th Anniversary

Rocky on Hill 875 Thanksgiving Day 1967

In memory of my brothers who gave their all on Hill 875, Dak To, South Vietnam, November 1967.

Hill 875 as viewed from the air after the battle. Note the bunker that still remain after days of intense bombing and artillery fire. These bunkers, connected by trenches offer the enemy almost total concealment and protection from the Airborne troopers who were basically out in the open with only the cover of trees to protect them.



This year marks the 40 anniversary of Hill 875. Beginning on the 18th of Nov. 1967 the battle for this hill raged on until Thanksgiving Day when the hill was taken by the 2nd and 4th Battalions of the 173rd Airborne Brigade (Sep) Numbering in total around 600 men, the men of the 173rd faced an enemy element of North Vietnamese Regular Army troops numbering over 2000 who were dug-in and heavily armed with small arms, heavy machine-guns, rockets and mortars.

The battle for this hill marked the war's worst friendly fire incident when American forces dropped a 500 pound bomb on the LZ where the wounded placed in hopes of extraction. When the bomb hit it killed the already wounded troopers, all but two of the units medics and almost all of the officers who had gathered there to plan their next attack of the hill top. Chaplin Waters, the Brigade Chaplin, who was caring for and giving last rights for the wounded, was hit directly with the bomb and for his selfless dedication to what he affectionately called "his boys" Chaplin Waters received the Medal of Honor.

To all those who fought the Battle of Hill 875, I salute you. You will never be forgotten.


(Rocky at Big & Rich Concert dedicated to the Herd)
(Graphic by Doc)