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Battle for Hamburger Hill During the Vietnam War

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What set off this wave of criticism was a May 19 dispatch by Associated Press war correspondent Jay Sharbutt. While reports of the Hamburger Hill battle had been appearing in newspapers since May 14, most were innocuous descriptions of the fight in routine terms. But Sharbutt’s dispatch struck a nerve: The paratroopers came down the mountain, their green shirts darkened with sweat, their weapons gone, their bandages stained brown and red–with mud and blood.

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Many cursed Lt. Col. Weldon Honeycutt, who sent three companies Sunday to take this 3,000-foot mountain just a mile east of Laos and overlooking the shell-pocked A Shau Valley.

They failed and they suffered. ‘That damn Blackjack [Lt. Col. Honeycutt's radio call sign] won’t stop until he kills every one of us,’ said one of the 40 to 50 101st Airborne troopers who was wounded.

The day after Sharbutt’s story hit the newspapers, Hamburger Hill fell to the troopers of the 101st Airborne Division’s 3rd Brigade. But that victory was short-lived, for on June 5 the decision was made to abandon the hill to the enemy, further exacerbating public outrage. Adding fuel to the fire, the June 27, 1969, issue of Life magazine featured photographs of the 241 servicemen killed in Vietnam the previous week, including the five who had been killed in the assault on Hamburger Hill. The feature was titled, The Faces of the Dead in Vietnam: One Week’s Toll, and it was prefaced by a quote from a letter written by one of those five soldiers during a break in the fighting. You may not be able to read this, it said. I am writing in a hurry. I see death coming up the hill. The erroneous impression was thus created that all 241 pictured had been killed during the Hamburger Hill assault, increasing public disgust over what appeared to be a senseless loss of life.

Underlying that disgust was the fact that the war in Vietnam did not fit the model of war that was fixed in most American minds. Except for the 19th-century Indian wars on the Western plains, most of America’s wars had fixed geographic boundaries, and progress could be measured by movement on the map. But Vietnam was different. As MACV commander General Creighton Abrams tried to explain: We are not fighting for terrain as such. We are going after the enemy. At a news conference following Hamburger Hill’s capture, the 101st Airborne Division’s commander, Maj. Gen. Melvin Zais, reinforced General Abrams’ words.

The hill was in my area of operations, Zaffiri quoted Zais as saying. That was where the enemy was, and that was where I attacked him. If I find the enemy on any other hills in the A Shau, I assure you I’ll attack him there also. Asked why he had not relied on Boeing B-52 bombers to do the job, he said, I don’t know how many wars we have to go through to convince people that aerial bombardment alone cannot do the job. When criticized for the high number of casualties involved, Zais testily replied: It’s a myth somebody perpetuated that if we don’t do anything, nothing will happen to us. It’s not true….It’s just a myth that we can pull back and everything will settle down. If we pulled back, and were quiet, they’d kill us in the night. They’d come on and crawl under the wire, and they’d drop satchel charges on our bunkers, and they’d mangle and maim and kill our men. The only way I can in good conscience lead my men is to insure that they’re not caught in that kind of situation.

Zais was reiterating a truth that military commanders throughout history have known–offense is the very best defense. But war is first and foremost a political act, and in the view of politicians in Washington the 101st Airborne Division’s assault on Hamburger Hill had been a disaster. As Hedrick Smith reported in the May 23, 1969, New York Times, a number of civilian officials in the Nixon administration were afraid such Pyrrhic victories would undermine public support for the war and thus shorten the administration’s time for successful negotiations in Paris. As one official privately told Smith: Now clearly the greatest limitation is the reaction of the American public. They react to the casualty lists. I don’t understand why the military doesn’t get the picture. The military is defeating the very thing it most wants–more time to gain a stronger hand.

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  1. 38 Comments to “Battle for Hamburger Hill During the Vietnam War”

  2. Just read this for the first time and very much appreciate the perspective. I was the 1st Lieutenant Platoon Leader for Charlie Company’s 1st Platoon, 3/187, on Hamburger Hill. I never made the top of 937 as I became a caualty on the last major assault on May 18th before the final assault on the 20th. I am one of a number of Hamburger Hill veterans now reuning in May every year at Ft. Campbell, Ky in conjuction with the annual Dong Ap Bia commemorative ceremony conducted each year by the active duty 3/187. This commemorative is put on every year even when the unit is deployed, such as it was this year for the 4th time since 9/11/2001. It is significant to note that the 3/187 Battalion’s moniker “Rakkasans” is now worn by the 101st Airborne Division’s entire 3rd Bridade.

    By Joel Trautmann on Jul 18, 2008 at 12:19 pm

  3. Lt. Trautmann -
    Your last words before you were hit were,”Hey, Baylor, get over here.” A second later I watched you get hit. Immediately after, SP4 Crutch was hit then me. Above is my email address. Welcome home, let’s talk.

    By SP 4 James Baylor on Jul 28, 2008 at 8:09 pm

  4. SP4 James Baylor, good to hear from you It was SP4 Ralph Crutts, not Crutch. We need to connect, but email addresses are not posted, so call me at 417-443-0017.

    By Joel Trautmann on Jul 29, 2008 at 11:13 am

  5. I am now an inactive Marine who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom. I recently read the book Hamburger Hill. This book touched me deeply. After reading the book I cried for about 20 minutes. I cried because I felt as if I was there with each of you and that each of you were my brothers. I know that Iraq is not half the combat enviornment that Vietnam was, but I still felt a slight connection. I enjoyed the book due to the fact that it was not about some big time hero that everybody has heard of, yet it was about grunts doing what grunts do. To me yall are the real heros of Vietnam. This story of each one of you is proof that heros and brotherhood really do exist. I think that this book should be required reading for all military personel. Mainly the Army and the Marine Corps, to teach individuals that a little bit of intestinal fortitude can accomplish amazing things. I hope I have said nothing that would affend you, the remaining survivors or the heros that gave their life from Bravo Company. Each of you have set a extremely motivational example for all service men to follow.

    Sincerely,

    Matt Renfro
    Sgt USMC

    By Matt Renfro on Aug 21, 2008 at 4:34 pm

  6. To Joel Trautmann and James Baylor,

    Ralph Crutts was a friend of our family. I new him when I was young boy and we would eat at the burger place that he helped manage before going into the service. He is buried in Oak Hill Cementery, Owosso, MI. When I get back to Owosso I stop and visit his grave. It is a very peaceful place.

    By Ney Carey on Sep 1, 2008 at 10:18 am

  7. Mr. Trautmann or Mr. Baylor,
    I am writing a research paper on Hill 937/Operation Apache Snow and would like to talk to you about the event if you are willing. I want to get as close a representation as I can. I have talked to two others: SSG (Ret) Eugene McNeal and MG (Ret) Weldon Hunnicutt about the event as well. Anyone else that might read this that was actually there, please feel free to contact me if you. My name is MSG Brian Sellers and I am attending the US Army Sergeant’s Major Academy and would like to interview anyone associated with this operation.

    VR
    Brian Sellers
    briansellers@bellsouth.net
    MSG, USA

    By Brian Sellers on Sep 20, 2008 at 3:53 pm

  8. Mr Trautmann or Mr Baylor,

    Iam currently doing my thesis on an analysis of John Irvin’s film Hamburger Hill. It would be great to have a reaction to it from someone who was there.
    My email is tummac@gmail.com

    Thanks
    William Archer

    By William Archer on Oct 4, 2008 at 8:01 am

  9. I was wondering if any knew of a Curt Rhoton from Yakima
    Washington. I believe he was with 3/187.

    From a 2/501 grunt

    By Lenard Blachly on Oct 25, 2008 at 3:50 pm

  10. Mr Trautman; Mr Baylor

    Thank you for your service to our country. My cousin was at Hamburger Hill His name was William Zdaniewicz. Did you know him?

    Herm

    By Herm Eichstaedt on Oct 29, 2008 at 7:19 pm

  11. Does anyone remember Rich Langley from Hill 937/Hamburger Hill? I was never there but he was a friend of mine. He was from my hometown, Millville New
    jersey.

    Rich was a Combat Seargent. He passed away last year from cancer of the spine. It took him over 30 years to get his disability pay from the
    government. He only lived a few years after he got it.

    It amazes me how the politicians love to call veterans hero’s but treat them like crap when they get back home.

    Rich was a great man.

    Thanks for any memories or photos you might have. I am sure his family would love to know more.

    Bob

    By Bob Shaw on Nov 1, 2008 at 1:35 pm

  12. To Lt. Trautmann, and Spl. Baylor, thank you and all Vietnam
    Vets as well as all vets current and former for your service and
    indeed for our freedom. From the son of a Rakkasan with 2nd
    Platoon, Delta Company 3rd/187th Vietnam 1971. One of my
    instructors in ROTC in high was a captain on Hamburger Hill,
    man the stories he told, you guys are amazing, and like one other
    person mentioned a true inspiration to all of us. Thank You!! and
    Welcome Home!!

    Chris

    By Chris Hill on Nov 18, 2008 at 4:12 pm

  13. Dear Screaming Eagles,

    I’m looking for Archie Moore who was a medic with the 101 st Airborne at Hamburger Hill. He was wounded in the upper arm and evacuated to our Vietnam evac -the 249th General- in Tokyo in May’69. We became friends and I worked hard to get our doctors to keep him with us because he was a solid medic and we needed experienced guys on our amputee ward. I was also trained as a combat medic and all of us who were corpsmen at the evac liked Archie and were very happy when he got to serve out his tour with us. I also spent some time in VN.

    Does anyone know Archie? He was around 6′, well built, black, E-4 I think and was a great person and a hard working medic. I think his wound was to his upper left arm. Does anyone remember him?

    If so, please let me know at gwyz@earthlink.net

    Thanks and by the way, my uncle was a Maj. MASH surgeon with the 101 st from D-Day 1944 all the way through the camp liberations and stayed to do medical work after V-E Day. His name is Ted Tangalakis-still living in Michigan. My brother is
    was a Marine in VN from Mar 68 to Mar 69.

    Thanks again,

    Gregg

    By Gregg Doc Gannon on Nov 25, 2008 at 7:39 am

  14. Anyone remember Tommy McKeithan from Southport, NC? Email me…nellanad@ec.rr.com

    By Dan Allen on Dec 25, 2008 at 7:04 pm

  15. My name is Lonny Lester, I was a Crash Rescue Fire Fighter with the 7th US Air Force, out of Bien Hoa, during the battle for Hamburger Hill. They pulled a lot of 101st out of there to go and reinforce those who were trying to take the hill.
    I ran ,in operation’s ,out of Bein Hoa, in 1968-1969.
    Welcome home gentlemen! I know it’s been a long time, but sometime’s it seem,s like yesterday. I was 19yrs old when I went
    over there and turned 20 there, as well as some of you did, that made it.
    For those who didn’t, God has taken them to a better place, as
    for there suffering and dedication to their brother’s in arm’s and
    country, he has forgiven them for that they had to do.
    May God bless you all and may you have found peace, Love and harmony, in your live’s, since those terrible day’s.

    Your Brother in Arm’s
    and Christ,
    Sgt. L.B. Lester
    7th USAF/3rd Crash Rescue
    Bien Hoa AB, RVN, 68-69

    By Lonny B Lester on Jan 5, 2009 at 2:52 pm

  16. I was with 2/9th Marines on Apache Snow, and 5/10/1969 was my 20th birthday. I was near Hamburger Hill, and my heart goes out to those brave men that fought to take that hill. To the brothers we lost, you will never be forgot, and to the ones that returned home, worriers like you are why this country is Free, and you too will be remembered always. Thank you for your devoted service and may life be good to you. SEMPER FI, THE BAMBOOVIPER

    By Lanny Alan Roedel on Jan 12, 2009 at 12:19 pm

  17. Thank you all for your incredible hearts and soles. You are all my heroes, and should be considered by all, the heroes of the world today.
    My Father in law (Donald Kruszka) was over there in the Marine corps, not sure what unit he belonged to, however he is a survivor of the Hill. He is approximitely 62 years of age. If anyone who was there remembers him, please e-mail me at ( snaydaren@yahoo.com ). He has been trying to concact all who survived, to catch up. Well I hope one of you might remember him and contact me so I can send him the message.
    Thank you again’
    Daren Snay USMC

    By Daren Snay on Jan 20, 2009 at 2:10 am

  18. Daren, the battle for Hamburger Hill was fought by the Army 101 airborne Div. 5-10-1968. Your father inlaw may have fought on the hill earlier or at a later date. He have been one of the many on alert ?? Troops of the 3/5 Cav. waited to block any reteat at other side of the hill. There were other units on the ready also. However this battle and glory goes to the 101 Airborne, With all respect and honor due them. No glory should go else where. The Marines that fought in Vietnam have their on battles and glory to be proud of.
    I did not fight on the hill either. For I was a helicopter door gunner for a recon. unit. My missioon was to protect the helicopter and support the infantry. I only wish I had did a better job. Good luck to all–

    By Johnny on Jan 22, 2009 at 12:03 am

  19. My father was a Rakkasan at Hamburger Hill. His name is Marvin Perry but was always known as “Butch”. He now suffers from early onset Alzheimer’s disease and is in a nursing home. If any one has any information about him, as he did not discuss his time at war very often, I would greatly appreciate it. Also, if anyone knows how I can obtain a copy of his DD214 for my own personal use would be nice to have as well. My email address is sarahaperry@hotmail.com an place Hamburger Hill in the subject line so I know not to delete it. Any information you might have, I would apprecite greatly. Thank you for your time and know that each of you are heroes.

    With the Utmost Respect,
    Sarah A. Perry, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class USN

    By Sarah Perry on Jan 28, 2009 at 9:34 am

  20. I hate the way Vets are treated. Praised as heros in Iraq, but when they dissent, are called cowards and traitors by those who never served. Mostly politicians. I will not fight to put money into the banks of these leeches. Grew up in CA during Vietnam and heard many stories. I say its time to end wars.

    By Ed on Feb 2, 2009 at 1:35 am

  21. My friend Master Sargent James Gray “Graywolf” as with the 101
    Screaming eagle. He does not tell about his six years in Vietnam, but I do know he received 3 purple hearts and 3 Silver medals. I know he was a tunnel rat and served with his dog Sgt Rusty. His e-mail is graywolf1964@hotmail.com

    By cgerke on Feb 11, 2009 at 1:12 am

  22. I was with 1/83 artillery at firebase cannon all the time the battle for hamburger hill took place. We fired a lot of 8″ howitzer ammo at that hill on several ocassions, and I later flew over it when I was flying with the xxiv corp artillery commander. It is great to hear from some of you who were actually there on the hill. We weren’t very far away from the hill but I didn’t really know what took place there until several years after the fact when I could read about it. I also spent time at FSB currahee, in the A Shau valley, on one of our 8″ howitzers in about July and August of ‘69.

    By Larry Richins on Mar 11, 2009 at 2:25 pm

  23. This is Loyal Yocum;I was with the 1/83rd.Artillery during the battle of Hill 937. Good to know there are still Survivors of this Action and I Pray You are not as Physically Ill from Your Service as I am. The Battle Scars are Deep inside but the Physical Problems from Our Time in Country ar Devistating a L:ot of Men Who Served in Our Areas. Hope to hear from someone from Our Artillery Unit before I am Gone,God Bless ande Keep You Safe.69-70

    By Loyal Yocum 69-70 on Apr 3, 2009 at 11:16 pm

  24. I am an Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran serving mostly in Kuwait on the border of Iraq and later in Saudi Arabia whith The U.S. Army. I am 3rd generation Army my grandfather Clifton Cole Abbott Jr. was at the Battle of the Bulge WWII 6th armor Div. My dad served in Vietnam 1971-1972. He told me he fought on Hamburger Hill. I see the big battle was in1969 clearly before my dad got to Vietnam. I don’t want to insult my father with this question. Was there other battles on Hamburger Hill in 1971-1972 he might be refering to.

    By Chad Abbott on Apr 16, 2009 at 5:52 pm

  25. I had a very good friend name Tim Ard. He was from Denison, Texas and served as a medic with the 101st on hamburger hill. He returned to the US and taught art and computers at a local community college. Tim died about 10 years ago from intestinal cancer, (believed by family to be result of agent orange). He has written a fantastic account of the struggle for Hamburger Hill that has not been published. I am trying to find out all I can about this true patriot and man.

    by Hugh Brown 05/05/2009

    By Hugh Brown on May 5, 2009 at 11:17 pm

  26. I am so tired of the U.S. death count stats.War is hell and it is death!! some things never do change..The press running the war !!These men did as they were told and trained to do.they fought for eachother more then anything..and that also can be said for the officers on the hill too.As a former trooper my heart goes out to all who were (really)there..God bless you all.

    By Chris a.Hale on May 22, 2009 at 3:48 am

  27. I flew for the Black Widows, 101st AB, ‘68 ‘69 on MANY missions into the A Shau Valley and of course supported our grunts before during and after ‘Hamburger Hill’ …I believe our troop commanders did the job they were ordered to do. We never knew where the NVA were going to stand and fight, it was a tough job.
    Most men both US army and NVA fought bravely. ..So if your looking for somebody to blame I think the real bad guys were those bastards selling the guns /bombs.
    unowhohot@hotmail.com
    Black Widow 14

    By Bin Gram on May 22, 2009 at 8:48 pm

  28. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF ANYONE REMEMBERED FIGHTING THIS BATTLE WITH JOE SPINNICCHIA U.S. ARMY FROM ST.LOUIS MO.
    THANK YOU

    By BOBETTE MATTER on May 25, 2009 at 11:27 pm

  29. My Father SGT 1st Class Roland Gerard from California was in Hamburger Hill. If anybody remembers him and has any info about his war record please send me a email at rgerard10@hotmail.com. It took him a long time to tell me anything about the war. He has passed now but would like to get more info about his life. Thanks to all the Veterans for all they have done for our country.

    By Rolland Gerard on May 25, 2009 at 11:48 pm

  30. My best friend George Pickel was killed on Hamburger Hill on May 13th 1969.I was serving with the 587th signal co. MACV at Tay Ninh when I found out days later. I have read & researched on an off for many years now and still can’t make any real sense of it.I remain so proud of those that went through that horrific event.If anyone knew George , I would greatly appreciate any personal comments,before or during that terrible mission. George was seriously wounded and was being evacuated by helicopter when it was shot down by an RPG in the valley.George was loaded into the basket and crushed on impact. In the book Hamburger Hill by S. Zaffiri pg 135 it states 20-30 men watched in horror.I miss him everyday and hope to learn more. Thanks again for your courage. Bob Lund

    By Bob Lund on Jun 12, 2009 at 2:06 pm

  31. Mr. Yocum!
    I think you and I were in the same unit. Were you at fsb blaze and fsb cannon in april and may of 1969? I was in A battery and went to fsb currahee with SSG Scoggins in june or july of 1969. I was looking at the pictures on the 1/83 page and saw your picture and I am pretty sure I recognized you. I was no longer with 1/83 when the pictures were taken as I was working with General Pixton and later Col. Hixon who were the xxiv corp artillery commanders. Sorry to hear about your health problems. So far I have had no problems associated with my service in Vietnam. Would love to hear from you if you see this note. My email address is: larry_richins@yahoo.com. Take care!

    By Larry Richins on Jun 17, 2009 at 5:12 pm

  32. to abbott la batalla que diĂł cine famosa fue en la second & third weeks en mayo 69. pero yo tener SSG TIM ABBOT 3/5 cav en principios 1971 luchar en LAOS frontier.

    By joe revell on Jun 24, 2009 at 1:31 pm

  33. Forty years ago I was a 19 year old kid with Alpha 3/187 ..I had almost 11 months in country and thought I had seen it all until the battle for the Hill..
    I was wounded on May 20th ,the day of the final assault and never stepped on top of the mountain ..
    I lost many close friends , and pay my respect to the fallen every chance I get …

    By Dwight Lovejoy A 3/187 on Aug 4, 2009 at 10:57 am

  34. I was with Detachment B-52 Project Delta, 5th Special Forces Group(Airborne) who was doing the recon of the A Shau Valley for the 101st Airborne Division. I was a team leader of a 6 man combined USSF/VNSF who located a North Vietnamese(NVA) base camp, in the resulting intense firefight, I lost half my team and the three who survived sustained multiple gunshot wounds from AK-47 fire. Had it not been for the ten Cobra helicopter gunships from the 101st raining heavy ariel artillery down on the NVA, all six of us would have been KIA. I spent a total of 29 months in Vietnam, 1965-1967, 1968-1969. A Special Forces A Camp was located in the A Shau Valley, it was destoyed by a large NVA/VC force in 1965. After that the A Shau was controlled by the enemy. That is the reason the 101st withdrew from “Hamburger Hill” after suffering heavy causulties taking it. The A Shau was fogged in most of the year and being located on the Laotion border, where a endless amount of NVA would attack and destroy any military force trying to hold ground. I spent 11 months in a army hospital and was medically retired from the GSW’s. Airborne All The Way!!!

    By SSG Terry Bryan USA(Ret) on Aug 24, 2009 at 5:15 pm

  35. My Uncle Terry Wender was part of the 101st Airborne and was killed on Hamburger Hill on May 13, 1969, 5 days before his 20th birthday. My mom and his other sisters still search for someone who might have knew him during his time of service. For any of you who fought this terrible battle or any others, you are owed so very much.

    By Joy Shepherd on Aug 29, 2009 at 1:59 pm

  36. My father SFC Russell C. Fordham was with the 3/187 Bravo
    Company on “Hamburger Hill”.
    Unfortunatly he got killed 4th of September 1969…
    My german mother decided to go back to Germany 1971, where
    we still live in Berlin-Germany. War is always a very sad story to tell, so I hope all those good soldiers who got killed, rest in peace!
    God bless all American Soldiers…

    Michael R. Fordham

    By Michael R. Fordham on Sep 5, 2009 at 12:37 pm

  37. My father SFC Russell C. Fordham was with the 3/187 Bravo
    Company “Rakkasans” on “Hamburger Hill”.
    Unfortunatly he got killed 4th of September 1969…
    My german mother decided to go back to Germany 1971, where
    we still live in Berlin-Germany. War is always a very sad story to tell, so I hope all those good soldiers who got killed, rest in peace!
    God bless all American Soldiers…

    Michael R. Fordham

    By Michael R. Fordham on Sep 5, 2009 at 12:56 pm

  38. Lt Traughtman (sic)
    Just to set record straight… That was not Crutts near you when you were hit. That probably was your radioman, Billy McGowan (KIA). Crutts was on my left shoulder when he was hit and I pulled him off the field along with Bell and a couple of other guys before I was hit. We had already sent you to the rear for medivac.
    Last time I saw you, you were deaf as a cob from RPG.
    Warner

    By R. Warner on Oct 15, 2009 at 11:54 pm

  39. Warner I don’t remember you biut I know crutts & McGowan. I was 3/187 Bravo company, it’s been a while. Welcome home brother. A few of us meet every year to let off steam. We are old now but still in the fight.

    I would love to hear from you 239-825-5611 Call me.

    By Roy Bartlett on Nov 13, 2009 at 1:34 pm

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