The fact that we were getting fire from those guns from three distinct and well dispersed directions caused me to believe we were in contact with a much larger enemy force then previously reported. Operation Hump was a search and destroy operation initiated on 8 November, 1965, by the 173rd Airborne Brigade, in an area about 17.5 miles (28.2km) north of Bien Hoa. Comparing the two books' episodes of combat shows how platoon-level tactics barely changed during the two years after Operation HUMP and the Battle of the Ia Drang Valley fighting supposedly altered . I knew I should have stopped him, we werent ready to move to the attack. The battalion RTO acknowledged my call and ordered me to wait-out. On the company net I informed my platoon leaders that I anticipated we would be moving shortly and if so ordered we would reorganize on the march rather than returning to the company base. Operation HUMP is considered the first major battle of significance in the Vietnam War by most historian-types. While we exacted a heavy toll on the enemy, we paid a terrible price for not adequately covering our rear. Operation Hump was a search and destroy operation initiated on 8 November 1965 by the 173rd Airborne Brigade, in an area about 17.5 miles (28.2 km) north of Bien Hoa.Operation Hump. Having a bit of a phobia on being in a hospital, usually getting sick to my stomach if there more than about fifteen minutes, it became my habit to get there as quickly as possible to avoid any excuses. Its for each other.. In 1947, Admiral Richard E. Byrd led 4,000 military troops from the U.S., Britain and Australia in an invasion of Antarctica called "Operation Highjump", and at least one follow-up expedition. My excellent artillery team, from the 319 Artillery Battalion, brought a curtain of steel forward of us. While on the chopper returning to Bien Hoa I recalled the number of my soldiers wounded and killed on this operation that had been wounded on prior operations. They killed the guy in front of me and hit my ammo pouch and knocked me down. He said he always enjoyed the opportunity to talk with paratroopers and thanked me. The third platoon was in the lead followed by my headquarters and a small element of the weapons platoon, the first platoon and then the second platoon. 11 Having learned that Captain Tucker had joined and committed his remaining platoon to the fight, I told my platoon leaders we would most likely be going directly to the assistance of C Company and if that were the case we must be prepared to move on a moments notice. The 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, deployed south of the Dong Nai River while the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry, conducted a helicopter assault on a LZ northwest . This time they were in retreat, but it wasnt over yet. Trying to confirm that report I became convinced it was highly improbable because the A Company enemy contact occurred within about two hundred and fifty meters of the battalion base. Mike was the lead guy Mike drug a lot of guys down that hill, Harris told the crowd of around 250 gathered for the event, with tears in his eyes and much emotion in his voice. Comas are considered the first stage of . Deadwood Mountain Grand donated the facility and all employee time for the event, while Reinhart Foods donated food for the meal. The civic-military dictatorship of Argentina existed from 1976 to 1983 by the military juntas under Operation Condor. I knew we would lose more wounded through the night. About five minutes later C Company deployed a second platoon and shortly thereafter reported it was in contact with an enemy force considerably larger than a platoon. person will not be tolerated. Our friend, Niles Harris, retired 25 years United States Army, the guy who gaveBig Kennyhis top hat, was one of the wounded who lived. Operation Highjump: The diary of a young sailor. In that contact A Company lost a platoon leader, Second Lieutenant David L. Ugland, a classmate of Lt. Thurston. our paratroopers were the best our government has ever put on any battlefield. However, giving their timing and the alternatives we faced, I wasnt inclined to acknowledge their well reasoned arguments as I was troubled in my decision to call off the Air Force rescue helicopter. I called Colonel Tyler and asked him to intervene. The dead were Lt. Thurston and Specialist 4th Class Wayne W. Humphries. Then we began to hear artillery fire. operation hump, the first major battle between the u.s. army and the viet cong and north vietnamese forces, took place november 5-9, 1965, in south vietnam's war zone d. known as "the hump," it would change the nature of the war, escalating it from a hit-and-run guerrilla conflict to a bloody contest between communist main force units and They came and left as fast as we could load them. As we climbed the hill we spotted a series of well dug in and covered enemy positions. We didnt know the situation between our position and the battalion base. A mighty engagement on November 8, 1965, cost 49 paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Combat Brigade their lives with many others wounded. Tucker, Sgt. We couldnt walk and carry them out except at great risk to them. Etched within are the very values that each Recipient displayed in the moments that matteredbravery, courage, sacrifice, integrity. The company had recently been issued the PRC 25 radio and had insufficient radios to operate below the company level, thus all platoons were on the company frequency. On order my third and first platoons moved quickly! Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. Finally, telling him I would be back to see him, went outside to get some air. This was even slower than when he came in. Secondly, I found myself using I all too often. He had slipped and not been hit. Just having them near was a help to us. I moved away. I declined. The fighting lasted for over 48 hours. Don't Threaten. To read all of today's stories, Click here or call 642-2761 to subscribe to our e-edition or home delivery. Amongst the last of the seventeen missing they found one alive. Fifty-two years ago today, the 173rd Airborne Brigade was halfway through its year of service in Vietnam. We went back to work, blew out more trees. Caught in the action of kill or be killed, greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for his brother. My recall of those wounded on hill 65 may include some wounded from the New Years Day fight. Tim Page As their lead platoon left the battalion base it was hit hard by an enemy force. I grabbed his harness and continued my climb. Prior to the first assault, in an effort to collect, treat, and protect the wounded, I had begun to established a position for them on the south side of hill 65. My mind just didnt want to accept it. By . We needed him, but others need him more. General Westmoreland talked with each of my soldiers. The south side of the hill was not covered and so I ordered my second platoon to extend as far to the south as possible without jeopardizing their current position. Which is, Everybody has their own 8th of November. Not only you. That was not the case. We would not locate those remaining seventeen until the following day. operation hump, the first major battle between the u.s. army and the viet cong and north vietnamese forces, took place november 5-9, 1965, in south vietnam's war zone d. known as "the hump," it would change the nature of the war, escalating it from a hit-and-run guerrilla conflict to a bloody contest between communist main force units and The visit of General Westmoreland was great. Create a password that only you will remember. Ever so gradually fires were falling off. The result of the battle was heavy losses on both sides. We had three tasks -to accomplish: First, we had to probe forward of the perimeter and determine if the enemy was there. Late in the day on Sunday, November 7, 1965 the battalion had established a base camp. Their reaction clearly demonstrated that we were up against a highly trained and disciplined force. I am not sure which alternative I reported to Colonel Tyler. Now this wasnt just a fight to help C Company, we lost one of our best and they were going to pay. operation hump survivors. I alerted my platoons that if they suspected they were receiving friendly fires they were to hold their position until I could work it out. They decided when they would fly, what route they'd take, and how much cargo they'd carry. He had spent a day on the battlefield playing dead surrounded by the enemy. We only had his name when all radio contact was lost. Black Hills Pioneer. It was getting dark and not only could we not hear the battlefield with the aircraft hovering above us, we now could not see to our front. Harris said the three will share a shot Sunday, Nov. 8, in celebration of life and what is to be, not looking back on what happened, not the negative. The second platoon quickly closed-up on us and secured the company rear. The Chin Chillars then helped Dick Tracy and the police to invade Piggy's farm, and Piggy was successfully taken into custody . Dynamite did the job but created a hell of a mess that had to be cleared. In a January 18 meeting with World War II veterans and Leningrad siege survivors, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia had launched its "special military operation" in Ukraine to stop the war that went on there since 2014. A second alternative was that we were fighting a main line PAVN unit. Colonel Tyler acknowledged my response and ordered me to wait out. You have permission to edit this article. It didnt take us much longer to realize we couldnt get it done prior to dark with what we had to work with. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. Partly cloudy skies. Doc Hump (1934) - Mad scientist who . Operation Hump, the first major battle between the U.S. Army and the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces, took place November 5-9, 1965, in South Vietnam's War Zone D. Known as "The Hump," it would change the nature of the war, escalating it from a hit-and-run guerrilla conflict to a bloody contest between Communist main force units and American commands of battalion size or larger. With contact apparently broken, I set about the task of trying to get our critically wounded out, get more ammunition in, and to prepare to secure the position for the night. Accompanying the General was Colonel Tyler and General Williamson. On day four of the search (Monday, November 8, 1965) Colonel Tyler, ordered his rifle companies to continue the search of the area some 35 miles northeast of Saigon and about 15 miles north of our Bien Hoa base camp. When I received that report my heart sank, and even worse I learned, he was so far forward that we could not get to him. Still not good enough; they began dropping smoke grenades trying to mark areas that had to be taken out. How the first task played out would determine how difficult this day would be. Less than one hundred feet in front of them was a M60 machine gun being dragged backwards. We continued our attempt to clear an area to get helicopters in to carry our wounded out. Follow, A Site Geared to the Interests of Veterans and Non-Veteran Patriots, Ill pour the 1st cup, after that youre on your own, Welcome to Wednesday, January 18, Known as Uncle and Auntis Anniversary, Welcome to Tuesday, January 17, Conversation, Welcome to Monday, January 16, Conversation, Welcome to Sunday, January 15, Conversation. Not only were employees from the Police and State Emergency Service involved in the search for people who were under the concrete walls of the destroyed nine-storey building, but also service dogs from Antares, the Pavlohrad Canine Search-and-Rescue Unit. The Story Of Specialist Fifth Class Lawrence Joel Winston-Salem native, Specialist Fifth Class Lawrence Joel of the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade, fought during Operation HUMP. They gave me a lecture on morale in combat. Frankly, I wasnt impressed and I told them so. Fifty years ago, they survived the Nov. 8, 1965, Vietnam battle called Operation Hump. It was slow, we could feel the helicopter vibrate, we watched WO Smith thread the needle, descending some 200 to 250 feet with little room to clear the blades, he put the helicopter on the ground. I expected one more helicopter to come in and get the General out. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, Theodore Shamblin. Kris Kristofferson does an introduction and while I still have yet to hear the song, Kristoffersons contribution is quite nice . The hill was shaped like an egg, running generally north and south. 760 likes. I see no good purpose in making that a matter of record. Regarding the fighting I did all that and I didnt enjoy it, but I didnt hate it, either because I was saving my buddies.. As I approached them they all yelled for me to get down. I had become a rifleman because we had lost one of my lieutenants and I wanted him back under any circumstance. This song is his story. However, our C Company Commander, Captain Henry B. Tucker (just Tuck or Big Tuck to most of us) reported hearing chickens cackling to his north. Halfway up the hill one of my radio operators appeared to fall. accounts, the history behind an article. Through the night we lost one of our wounded. Everyone helped, some to the point of exhaustion. I cautioned them to keep the helicopters clear of us so we could hear . The company closed on the new company base at approximately 0715 hours. Somewhat auspiciously the name of the operation signified the halfway point of our year in Vietnam. When you get knocked down by a machine gun, you stay down.. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Invalid password or account does not exist. As he entered each tent our troops were called to attention and then instructed to continue working on their -equipment as part of the six-hour drill. Choose wisely! An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. Finally I heard him yelling to let go. Our plan was to move approximately two kilometers north northeast, establish a company base, and to fan-out the three rifle platoons an additional kilometer with the intent to look at hill 78 in the vicinity of -122323 and the road/trail in the vicinity of -115329 and -110328. Approximately thirty five air strikes supported this effort. Operation Hump, the first major battle between the U.S. Army and the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces, took place November 5-9, 1965, in South Vietnam's War Zone D. Known as "The Hump," it would change the nature of the war, escalating it from a hit-and-run guerrilla conflict to a bloody contest between Communist main force units and American commands of battalion size or larger. The position was no sooner establish then it was hit by yet another terrible assault. At approximately 0610 hours on the morning of November 8, 1965 B Company left the battalion base, which was located at approximate grid coordinates 111303. My instructions were to the effect that the third platoon would move on the most direct route toward hill 65 or the battalion base as the lead platoon, my headquarters element would intercept the first platoon as it moved to catch the third platoon and the second platoon would follow and secure the companies rear. The hill was heavily vegetated with teakwood trees and what is generally referred to as triple canopy jungle. We all knew we would not leave this battlefield without them. This paper was prepared in May 1966 following my turning over of command of Company B, lst Battalion 503D Infantry and preparing to return to the United States and Fort Benning, Georgia. Reporter Tom Tiede published a detailed account of Specialist 4th Class Langston and the paratroopers cut off during the battle. Upon my return I found more chaos in my orderly room than I experienced during the fight. So Niles, heres to a true American hero. A daily e-mail to let you know when the new e-edition has been posted. He stripped his aircraft and started the decent. When that soldier was asked why he didnt fire his weapon, he responded, Sir, Im a Grenadier, I was so damn busy firing a M60 Machine Gun, a M16 Rifle and my 45, I never got to my Grenade Launcher. Then it would get more personnel with questions on where they came from, how long they has been in the Army, their assignments and the like. The troops kept at it taking turns working on a landing zone and guarding the perimeter. Subsequently I received a report that my second platoon had spotted an element of A Company and may have taken fire from that element. Now we knew the Dust Off would be coming in. My mom's tongue now has a white patch. Five times, over five trips we put a critically wounded paratrooper in a basket they lowered through the canopy, and five times the Air Force wenched our troopers through that triple canopy jungle in an attempt to save each of them. With the sound of firing coming from many directions, my initial reaction was that he was hit. He was new to the battalion and had moved with C Company on this operation. On November 8th, 1965, the 173rd Airborne Brigade on Operation Hump, War Zone D in Vietnam were ambushed by over 1200 V.C. I reported to Colonel Tyler that I believed we were surrounded and, while we would hold the position, we were going to need help. More importantly, I wanted our wounded to know they were uppermost in our minds and we wanted them back as quickly as possible. In about two hours all the wounded were on their way to the Third Surgical Hospital and our dead were beginning their long journey home to their loved ones. He had never failed me before but this time he would. At an 8th of November display set up in the lobby of Deadwood Mountain Grand to honor 173d Airborne Brigade Operation Hump, Hill 65 survivors, Niles Harris, Michael Lovelace and Fifty-two years ago today, the 173rd Airborne Brigade was halfway through its year of service in Vietnam. I chuckled, having never seen a chicken in the jungles, and didnt pay much attention to the report. Fighting continued throughout the day with some indications that the enemy was trying to disengage. This memoir of an Operation Hump survivor begins with the sequence of events leading up to the battle, from the French defeat at Dien Bien Phu in 1954. or anything. Find Operation Hump stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Others thanked me for not having the usual formation in the sun with someone simply talking to them. During a lull in the fighting I began to move among the wounded, meeting for the first time our Protestant Chaplain James Jim M. Hutchens. I held fast. Gen. Williamson, Capt. I said I didnt, but I had. I had no idea as to the situation at the battalion base. At an 8th of November display set up in the lobby of Deadwood Mountain Grand to honor 173d Airborne Brigade Operation Hump, Hill 65 survivors, Niles Harris, Michael Lovelace and Sonny Bartow. But about an hour and a half before the show started, as everyone stood up in anticipation of the performance . With the action just completed my new estimate was twice that previously reported. 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