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. American Legion Post Commander Oz Enderbee was master of ceremonies, while Deadwood Mayor Chuck Turbivlle, a Vietnam veteran, and members of the Deadwood Business Club, offered opening remarks. Our six-hour drill originated from an earlier experience where we witnessed another company coming off an operation and a commander allowing his troops to soak up much-too-much beer. I told Sonny and Mike both, this is America, today, here. 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 . While the firing continued, we quickly began the task of consolidating the position and recovering the dead and wounded. Poll closes at Noon Friday and the winner will be announced in Saturday's print edition. I talked with Captain Tucker and we came up with a plan. Doc Hump (1934) - Mad scientist who . I responded that we were prepared to move now and felt we could reorganize safely on the move rather than having my platoons close on my position. Lt. Thurston reported he was taking fifty caliber fire from two directions. How? At Fort Benning I was invited to prepare a monograph on the battle. The hill was shaped like an egg, running generally north and south. He published a third story covering PFC Edward C. Bable and his effort to save his wounded buddies. On a closer look I found Lt. Waller had been hit in one shoulder and his opposite hand. I then learned that the battalion headquarters had been hit earlier by a mortar round. The search-and-rescue operation at the scene of a Russian missile strike in the city of Dnipro has been completed. My artillery team was monitoring that situation to preclude our walking into fires. 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. If we could find the remainder of C Company we could consolidate the position and hold under almost any condition. 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. B Company was to move approximately two kilometers north northeast, fan-out its three platoons and search an additional one-thousand meters in a northerly direction. In these situations, surgery can be performed to decrease the curvature in the spine. Date 5-8 November 1965; Location: South Vietnam, Bien Hoa: Result: United States/Australian victory, Viet Cong retreats. 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. That was not the case. Survivor's memoir of the battle, the war's basis,. 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. I spoke briefly with Chaplain Hutchens, he still had that rare smile, looked good and was collecting visitors to the point that some wanted us out of there. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. This would be a spinal fusion operation. 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.The 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment deployed south of the Dong Nai River while the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry, conducted a helicopter assault on an LZ northwest of the Dong Nai and Song Be Rivers. I thought this to be the safest place on the battlefield. 18. Now we knew the Dust Off would be coming in. Select from premium Operation Hump of the highest quality. Accompanying the General was Colonel Tyler and General Williamson. Having been the battalion S2 prior to taking command of B Company, I had studied the area and was well aware of reports of an enemy build-up in the area. The US-Australian objective was to drive out Viet Cong (VC) unit who had taken up positions on several key hills in War Zone D in an area about 17.5 miles (28.2 km) north of Bien Hoa. He had been hit in one leg attempting to get to some of our wounded. Late in the day I got called away from the hospital with an urgent message to return to my unit. The reasons behind American involvement in the Vietnam War were unclear to many but for the 2.5 million Americans who served, the one thing that was clear was that it could be a challenge to stay alive. He cleared the trees and we began to breathe again. In coding a resupply message I mistakenly called for one hundred trip flares when I had intended to order one hundred claymore mines. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. Others thanked me for not having the usual formation in the sun with someone simply talking to them. By . Ever so gradually fires were falling off. 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. Feb 5, 2014 - Korean troops encounter terrified villagers sheltering from their helicopter assault in Bong Son, Vietnam, in June of 1966. Early on Friday, November 5, 1965 the 173D Airborne Brigade (Separate) entered War Zone D in the Republic of Vietnam to conduct Operation HUMP (OPORD 28-65). I hadnt anticipated this and quickly became concerned as did the troops around me. The General, knowing of my concern, simply smiled at me and with confidence said Let me know when your ready. With that I said that B Company would take the lead, left him with Captain Tucker, and began to organize the march to the battalion base. Local Boy Scouts participated in the opening ceremonies. Gen. Williamson, Capt. 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 contes From the air our cutout in the jungle must have looked like a pin hole. Shamblin was hurt so badly that he would be evacuated and subsequently die on November llth. That the survivors included a famous journalist, an American diplomatic envoy, and several influential American and Chinese officers guaranteed it got publicitypublicity that had important, long-term implications. Upon my return I found more chaos in my orderly room than I experienced during the fight. 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. While on the move we vainly attempted to establish radio contact with Company C. After numerous attempts to make radio contact, I became concerned we might have problems running into C Companies fires. Colonel Tyler provided encouragement and said he was working on it. I called for more artillery and again reported that we needed help if we were to hold. Video footage of Putin's remarks was published by TASS. My final instructions were to move to the sound of the firing in the general direction of hill 65 . Black Hills Pioneer. By first light we were ready. Secondly, I found myself using I all too often. Occupying an abandoned enemy position, I began to wonder if the enemy had deliberately let us in and was in the process of closing off all escape routes. At this point there was artillery fire north of hill 65. I felt we could better protect them from this position rather than place them at any further risk from another onslaught from the bottom of the hill. General Williamson 3umped out of the aircraft and told me to load it up. We would not locate those remaining seventeen until the following day. It is such a great honor to have these gentlemen and ladies educate us on their experiences during combat. The remainder of the second platoon attempted to come to their rescue. Trying to determine the situation, the best I could get from them was that they had approximately twenty-one effective soldiers left on the hill. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. 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. At around 1600 hours, one of my rifle squad leaders, Staff Sergeant Billie R. Wear, from the third platoon approached me and asked if we would make an attempt to recover Lt. Thurston from the battlefield. They made it about halfway up the hill when we finally broke them and they backed down off the hill slowly. My operations sergeant, Staff Sergeant Ernest J. Sundborg, turned to me and asked if I had heard 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. He took the Chin Chillars prisoner when they sought refuge on his "farm" (actually a stolen car operation) and made the beautiful Mrs. Chin Chillar his personal slave and paramour. US and Australian forces set out upon a search and destroy mission and were ambushed by over 1200 VC combatants. Early that evening we received a torrential rain, the last of the rainy season. Just prior to the liftoff of the headquarters we heard small arms fire coming from the jungle. I doubted that I would ever forget that message. Then we began to hear artillery fire. After what seemed a lifetime, I realized we had to move fast to overcome a major assault. 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. . OPERATION HUMP 08 November 1965 On 05 Nov 1965 the 173rd Airborne Brigade initiated "Operation Hump", a reconnaissance in force in an area about 15 miles north of Bien Hoa. The worst was yet to come. 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 contes. He pleaded to return to the unit. I chuckled, having never seen a chicken in the jungles, and didnt pay much attention to the report. Byron Tyler 1.97K subscribers Hill 65 was one of the fiercest battles of the Vietnam War. Colonel Tyler kindly intervened in the heated discussion and brought it to a halt. Too another question I responded When we finally fought our way to the top of the hill, we counted 111 Viet Cong bodies lying there. SSgt Wear offered,I dont know what VC unit was there, but I know the other side knows we were there and wont want to tangle with the 173d again for a long time. The most quotable quote was offered by Sgt. A mighty engagement on November 8, 1965, cost 49 paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Combat Brigade their lives with many others wounded. Reaching for the radio, I readied for my toughest report. There was a long pause before the conversation was acknowledged and terminated. Retired Army Colonel Sonny Tucker, was there leading the 173rd Airborne Brigade. 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