From the creek to the crest of the hill is about 300 meters. Harris said what he remembers most is screaming for everybody to get down. Some of those wounded he had dragged out of the firing. Once organized, I asked General Williamson to follow my command element. Operation Hump was a search and destroy operation initiated by United States and Australian forces on 5 November 1965, during the Vietnam War . Gen. Williamson, Capt. You had to. In between the Air Force flights, we were resupplied by an Army helicopter dropping their bundles through the jungle canopy with but one mishap. Later, some would claim I lead the effort. From the Bien Hoa Air Base they sent a fire-fighting helicopter to hover above us while lowering a basket. He said no, he was walking out with us. I realized we werent going to get any outside help, no one was coming to us. Be Truthful. I then estimated that we could be up against as many as three Viet Cong battalions. 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. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. I called Colonel Tyler and asked him to intervene. 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. 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. Wear and I briefed the Saigon press, derisively referred to as the five oclock follies, on the operation. Earlier I became aware that A Company was tasked to attempt to get to us. including tossing a bit of John 15:13 in at the end: On November 8th 1965, the 173rd Airborne Brigade on Operation Hump, war zone D in Vietnam, were ambushed by over 1200 VC. We went back to work, blew out more trees. How in the hell were we going to protect him, why take the chance? 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 Byron Tyler 1.97K subscribers Hill 65 was one of the fiercest battles of the Vietnam War. 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. One of the guys in front of me being killed and the sound of the bugles and whistles from the Viet Cong, Bartow said. He was still recovering in a ward with one of our great leaders, Platoon Sergeant Adam A. Bernosky of the first platoon. I received a similar report from my third platoon. one Medal of honor being awarded to Combat medic of the 173rd. In the past we allowed our wounded to choose if they would return to the unit or go home. 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 visit of General Westmoreland was great. In fact, they had a point. . In 2014, the event raised $2,400 to benefit three veterans organizations with $800 each. I ordered everyone to dig in, we were going to hold this position. While not probably the wisest decision on my part, I felt compelled to follow the squad in this recovery and I understood the unusual composition of that squad. The sad result was troops feeling sorry for themselves, second guessing each other and even blaming each other for some of their casualties. Cutting a hole in the jungle, our third task, turned out to be a lot tougher than we had imagined. Severely wounded and risking his own life, Lawrence Joel, a medic, was the first living black man since the Spanish-American War to receive the United States Medal of Honor for saving so many lives in the midst of battle that day. 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. We needed him, but others need him more. The Gerontology Research Group, which validates details of people. racist or sexually-oriented language. You might know it as the 8th of November. For several days the press continued to report the battle. 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 that is degrading to another person. Upon closing at our Bien Hoa base camp I reported all my personnel and weapons accounted for and headed for the hospital. For me, its an honor to be able to do this. Titled "8th of November," a reference to the official start of Operation Hump, the song brings to life the story of one Master Sgt. Shortly following that order the first platoon reported the enemy had moved behind them and they were taking fire from the east. While I attempted to get further information as to their situation they were having great difficulty even talking to me. At approximately 0750 hours, alerted by sporadic small arms and automatic weapons fire coming from the southwest of our position, we listened intently to the battalion command net. Another memorable thing about that was I played dead. Joseph Alsop from Washington gave an account of the battle. 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 We had no difficulty crossing the creek and began to climb the hill having stacked enemy bodies as we went. The same report came from the only survivor of the seventeen missing from C Company on the following day. The second platoon, led by First Lieutenant Robert A. Frakes, would extend to the right of the first platoon further winding around the hill. With triple canopy jungle we were experiencing difficulty firing grenade launchers and thus had ruled out the use of mortars early in the fight. Later the troops would tell me how much they appreciated getting the opportunity to stand toe-to-toe with the General. It was a standby. I led him to each soldier in their squad tent. It was my belief that at this time in the war one would only find enemy fifty caliber machine guns at the regimental level. Kris Kristofferson does an introduction and while I still have yet to hear the song, Kristoffersons contribution is quite nice . In preparation for his visit I called my Platoon Leaders and Platoon Sergeants together and issued my instructions. We all appreciate how much the veterans have done for us. The artillery fire temporarily turned the tide by buying us much needed time to locate all elements of C Company with the exception of seventeen paratroopers. CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- First things first: Chip Ganassi . By . Moments later the report was updated with information that contact was lost with their lead platoon. SSgt Wear said he knew where Lt. Thurston had fallen and he was willing to lead a recovery effort. We exchanged salutes and I left him with General Williamson and Colonel Tyler. I see no good purpose in making that a matter of record. Im very honored. 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. I could not recall a case where they chose to go home. 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 . He had never failed me before but this time he would. Due to lack of intelligence they were dropped smack into enemy territory and were ambushed by 1200 NVA and VC Troops. Most guys were 18 to 22 years old and they didnt see the next day., All together there were 250 on that hill, Lovelace said. I then learned that the battalion headquarters had been hit earlier by a mortar round. 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. My stomach hurt, there had to be more. Regarding the fighting I did all that and I didnt enjoy it, but I didnt hate it, either because I was saving my buddies.. Spokesman David Tavella said she died at 2 a.m. on Tuesday at the Sainte-Catherine-Laboure nursing home in the town of Toulon. It was time to take calculated risks. On Friday, November 12, 1965 Brig. On each decent and as each lifted off we prayed. November 8, 1965 Operation Hump Outnumbered in some places six to one, it was a desperate fight for survival as parts of B and C companies were isolated in the shoulder to shoulder, hand to hand battle. As light broke through the jungle on Tuesday, November 9, 1965 all our leaders knew what to do and were moving. The second platoon quickly closed-up on us and secured the company rear. Killed war zone D Nov 8 1965 During operation Hump. 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 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. 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. In the end, 48 were dead and almost 100 were wounded bravery isnt there its for each other. On a closer look I found Lt. Waller had been hit in one shoulder and his opposite hand. Niles Harris, now retired from a lengthy career with the US Army.Harris got his first taste of combat in the mid-1960s in Vietnam, deploying as a Sky Soldier with the legendary 173rd Airborne Brigade's 503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment. On Tuesday night, the. Partly cloudy skies. They made a second attempt, seemingly more desperate than the first, but it met with the same fate. The Chin Chillars then helped Dick Tracy and the police to invade Piggy's farm, and Piggy was successfully taken into custody . Finally, I reported that I believe C Company had taken severe casualties, maybe as high as a third of the company. As I approached their bunk the soldier came to attention, I stepped aside and the General stood toe-to-toe with each of them. I doubted that I would ever forget that message. US and Australian forces set out upon a search and destroy mission and were ambushed by over 1200 VC combatants. operation hump survivors. Comas are considered the first stage of . With the recovery of Lt. Thurston, we had accounted for all members of my command. Warden and Sgt. This was even slower than when he came in. Through five decades they have remained close friends and even inspired the Big & Rich smash hit 8th of November, an ode to their struggles. Its for each other.. Finally, General Williamson radioed he was coming in. Others thanked me for not having the usual formation in the sun with someone simply talking to them. 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