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Hamburger Hill Veterans tour Fort Campbell

Fort Campbell KY, 101st Airborne DivisionFort Campbell, KY – On May 12th, 45 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment Vietnam Veterans came to Fort Campbell in honor of the 42nd anniversary of the Battle of Hamburger Hill.

The Battle of Hamburger Hill took place from May 10th through May 21st, 1969. Also known as the Battle of Dong Ap Bia Mountain, the battle for Hill 937 would rage on for 12 days. It became known as “Hamburger Hill”, due to the grinding nature of the fighting.

Hamburger Hill Veterans listen to the Air Assault instructor during their tour of the facilities.
Hamburger Hill Veterans listen to the Air Assault instructor during their tour of the facilities.

During their two day visit to the base, the Veterans would be attending a host of events in their honor put on by the current 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, “Iron Rakkasans” soldiers. One of the events was a visit and tour of the Sabalauski Air Assault School.

As the Veterans and their spouses made their way to the bleachers at the Air Assault School, you could sense a closeness or bond between the men as they gathered and talked.

When asked what excites you about coming back here and doing this? Veteran Doug Walton stated, “The comradery, meeting up with old friends and getting to see the guys you haven’t seen in a year and talking about ‘We were there'”.

After 42 years, is there still a tight brotherhood? “There is, 42 years, yes there is.” said Walton, “The brotherhood we have is forged in blood, so I would say that it is certainly a lot stronger than a lot of other fraternities.”

Veteran Lee Sanders
Veteran Lee Sanders

Veteran Lee Sanders was asked why is this brotherhood so strong, and he said “It’s strong I think because it was a shared experience. That was such a horrific battle and to have survived it, to have known the people who did not survive it, it pulls you together in a brotherhood that’s almost impossible to really describe accurately.”

Once everyone had arrived, the Air Assault instructor began explaining about the Air Assault school and that it was 10 ½ days long. The first day is called day zero. Soldiers are not considered “Air Assault Students” until after successful completion of Zero Day, the first day of the course, which requires students to complete an obstacle course, two-mile (3 km) run, and an inspection of equipment prior to continuing training.

According to the instructor, day zero day is just a way for the instructors to kind of weed out the weak and to find out who has the faint heart and weak mind. This drew a knowing laugh from the Veterans.

After the instruction was complete, the group was taken out to the obstacle course where three of the obstacles were demonstrated. Then it was back to the Air Assault Tower for a demonstration on different repelling techniques. As a thunderstorm started to approach, the repelling demonstration was cut short and the tour ended.

Retired Major General Weldon Honeycutt
Retired Major General Weldon Honeycutt

Retired Major General Weldon Honeycutt, (then a Lieutenant Colonel) commander of the 3/187th during the Battle of Hamburger Hill had a few things to say about the men that served with him in Vietnam. “What you don’t see is what they were then. These guys have all matured now. I’ll tell you, their the greatest fighters in the army this crowd right here. They were fine soldiers.” said Honeycutt.

He had this to say about how Fort Campbell looked today. “Back in our day, everything was wooden and falling apart. I jumped into Fort Campbell in 1948 out of Fort Bragg. The grass was up above your knees. The rats and the snakes had occupied the whole thing.” stated Honeycutt,  “I am really impressed with the way things have changed.”

As everyone was leaving the Air Assault school, Sanders was asked what’s it like to come back to Fort Campbell. He said “To come here is to come home. To be around the active duty soldiers is just one of the greatest privileges we could have.”

On May 13th, a memorial ceremony was held in honor of the “Iron Rakkasans” who gave their lives assaulting up Hill 937 and was followed by an open house at the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment Headquarters.

On May 13th 2011 Fort Campbell held a memorial ceremony for the Veterans of Hamburger Hill, that story will be coming up soon.

Video

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vtLO7R2zSs[/youtube]

Photos

The Battle of Hamburger Hill Summary

The area was covered with a tropical, double and triple canopied jungle. The land beneath the trees was a tangled mass of saw-toothed elephant grass, thick stands of bamboo, and other tough vines that inhibited foot movement, even without an enemy presence.

During the battle, American forces were pushed back by the People’s Army of Vietnam as well as the weather as rain turned the hill into a mud slick.

An all out assault on Hill 937 began at 10:00am on May 18th. The enemy was overwhelmed and by noon the 3/187th had taken the summit. Then, operations began to sweep the enemy from the remaining bunkers. At 5:00pm, Hill 937 had been taken.

In the fighting, U.S. Army and Army of Vietnam forces suffered 70 killed and 372 wounded.

The total People’s Army of Vietnam casualties are unknown, but 630 bodies were found on the hill when the battle was over.

Large quantities of weapons, explosives, and other military equipment were seized during the battle.

Throughout their history, the “Iron Rakkasans” have lived by the motto “Ne Desit Virtus – Let Valor Not Fail” and continue to do so today.

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