Essay On The Battle Of Hamburger Hill

1106 Words5 Pages

The Battle of Hamburger Hill The Battle of Hamburger Hill took place from May 10th through May 21st of 1969 towards the end of the Vietnam War. Hamburger Hill was also known as Hill 937 and although it was a location of diminutive tactical advantage, the United States command demanded its seizure. While it was one of the most important battles during the Vietnam War, it too was one of the most devastating battles, not just for the troops, but also for the American people. This was the prediction of the end of ground warfare actions in Vietnam. Hill 937, also known as Ap Bia mountain, was in an extremely thick and covered jungle of the A Shau Valley. Ap Bia mountain stood alone and was also heavily forested. The A Shau Valley was located …show more content…

Speaking with Major General Melvin Zais, Commander of the 101st Airborne Division, LTC Honeycutt argued that the Rakkasans deserved the honor of taking the mountain. After careful thought, General Zais agreed to give LTC Honeycutt one more infantry company and a final chance to take that objective.
On May 20th, an all-out assault took place. Airstrikes and intense artillery were fired at Ap Bia for nearly two hours before the infantry battalions stormed the hill. The 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry and the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry landed on the northeast and southeast slopes of Ap Bia and overwhelmed the PAVN forces. Hickman (2017) stated “Overwhelming the defenders, the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry took the summit around noon and operations began to reduce the remaining PAVN bunkers. By 5:00 PM, Hill 937 had been …show more content…

Mira (2010) stated “Press photographers arriving at the base of the mountain found a sign left by an unknown 101st Airborne Soldier, made from a C-ration container, identifying the place as Hamburger Hill”. For all their heroic actions during those ten days, the Soldiers of 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry received the Presidential Unit Citation.
News of the battle traveled back to the United States and caused an uproar within the public. People were outraged of the casualties taken, not only U.S. forces but also the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). However, when news spread of the 101st abandonment of Hamburger Hill on June 5th, 1969, it caused serious controversy in Washington. According to Hickman (2017), “As a result of the political pressure, General Creighton Abrams altered US strategy in Vietnam from one of “maximum pressure” to “protective reaction” in an effort to lower