187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Post–Korean War and Air Mobility, Army Reorganizational Turmoil
On 19 June, the 187th ARCT felt the changes brought on by the Pentomic Plan. The 187th was deactivated as an RCT and was temporarily dropped from the roster of active Army units. On the same day, the three battalions of the 187th were assigned to cadre the 101st Airborne Division, reactivated on 21 September at a ceremony attended by General Maxwell D. Taylor, now the US Army Chief of Staff.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Post–Korean War and Air Mobility, Army Reorganizational Turmoil
At the ceremony, General Taylor, who commanded the 101st in the Normandy invasion and later in the fight across Europe, presented the colors of the 101st "Screaming Eagles" to its new commander, Major General T. L. Sherburne.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Post–Korean War and Air Mobility, Army Reorganizational Turmoil
With its reactivation, the 101st became a pentomic division, a poorly conceived organization centered on a Pentagon concept: to replace a three-regiment infantry division, a pentomic infantry division had five 1,400-man battle groups, each larger than a battalion but smaller than a regiment, that could be employed in battle singly or in combination, plus separate units for command and control, communications, engineers, and artillery. Since the battle group replaced both the battalion and the regiment, one command echelon was eliminated, which cut down on staff overhead. It was an organization doomed almost from its beginning. On this same date, the 187th AIR became the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Group.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Post–Korean War and Air Mobility, Army Reorganizational Turmoil
On 1 March 1957, 1/187th was reactivated as the 1st Airborne Battle Group (ABG) of the 187th Infantry Regiment, under the command of Colonel Norman G. Reynolds, and assigned to the 11th Airborne Division in Germany. It departed Fort Campbell in the spring of 1957 and remained overseas for the next 14 months. On 25 April, 2/187th became the 2nd ABG, 187th Infantry, under the command of Colonel Melvin Zais, a distinguished World War II paratrooper and later the 101st Airborne Division's commanding officer in Vietnam. 3/187th was deactivated on the same day.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Post–Korean War and Air Mobility, Army Reorganizational Turmoil
The 1st ABG, 187th Infantry, joined the 11th Airborne Division in Augsburg, Germany, and moved into Gablingen Kaserne. For almost a year, the 1st ABG trained with the 11th Airborne Division at the US Army Garrison Hohenfels Training Area. On 15 March 1958, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas W. Sharkey assumed command of the 1st ABG. On 1 July, the 11th Airborne Division was deactivated and the 1st ABG, 187th Infantry, joined the 2nd ABG, 503rd Infantry, in the 24th Infantry Division (Pentomic).


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Post–Korean War and Air Mobility, Army Reorganizational Turmoil
In the spring of 1958, US interests were compromised when rebel uprisings threatened pro-Western governments in the Middle Eastern countries of Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria. On 14 July, King Faisal II of Iraq was killed during a coup d'état that overthrew the government. President Eisenhower reacted by putting US forces on alert for deployment, including the 1st ABG, 187th Infantry, in Germany. On 14 July, the 1st ABG returned to Gablingen Kaserne by airdrop after two weeks of training at Hohenfels. On 15 July, Colonel Sharkey received the order to move the 1st ABG from Germany to Adana, Turkey.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Post–Korean War and Air Mobility, Army Reorganizational Turmoil
On 16 July, the 1st ABG began a massive airlift from Fürstenfeldbruck Air Base, near Munich, Germany, to a staging area in Adana, Turkey, and then to the international airport in Beirut, Lebanon, which had earlier been occupied after some 5,000 US Marines had landed "to help preserve that country's government in the wake of internal revolts and a coup in neighboring Iraq." By the time the airlift was over, some 1,800 paratroopers and all their combat equipment had flown to Beirut in 76 C–119s, C–124s, and C–130s.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Post–Korean War and Air Mobility, Army Reorganizational Turmoil
The Rakkasans set up camp in an olive grove near the airport and were assigned perimeter defense around the airport. By October 1958, the situation had eased sufficiently to permit the 1st ABG's return to  Germany. On 20 November, Colonel Donald C. Clayman took over command of the 1st ABG at a change-of-command ceremony at Gablingen Kaserne.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Post–Korean War and Air Mobility, Army Reorganizational Turmoil
Shortly after its return to Germany, it was the 1st ABG's turn to gyroscope. On 9 February 1959, the 1st ABG arrived in New York harbor aboard the USNS General Simon B. Buckner (T-AP-123), staged through the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and boarded trains for a trip to Fort Bragg, where it reassembled in March and joined the 82nd Airborne Division as part of the XVIII Airborne Strategic Army Corps (STRAC). The 187th Infantry Regiment now had the distinction of having been part of the 11th, 82nd, and 101st Airborne Divisions.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Post–Korean War and Air Mobility, Army Reorganizational Turmoil
In June 1958, Major General William Westmoreland had become the 101st Airborne Division's commanding general. It was during his tour with the 101st that he became disillusioned with the pentomic division concept. As Westmoreland prepared to relinquish command of the 101st in 1960, he recommended that the pentomic division be abolished, primarily because he found that control of five separate battle groups by a division headquarters and five companies by a battle group headquarters was difficult. Westmoreland recommended the establishment of a regiment-level headquarters and better communications as necessary to give the division staying power. That was what the Army eventually adopted.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Post–Korean War and Air Mobility, Army Reorganizational Turmoil
In December 1960, based on General Westmoreland's recommendations and those of other pentomic division commanders, the Department of the Army directed Continental Army Command (CONARC) to reevaluate the pentomic division concept. In April 1961, the Secretary of the Army approved the CONARC ROAD study,basically returning the Army division to a triangular concept with three brigades or battle groups per division. The ROAD reorganization began in February 1962. By June 1964, all 15 regular infantry divisions had been reconfigured in accordance with the ROAD plan.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Post–Korean War and Air Mobility, Army Reorganizational Turmoil
On 21 December 1960, Colonel Arndt L. Mueller assumed command of the 2nd ABG, 187th Infantry. In late 1962, it went on full combat alert as a reactionary strike force during the Cuban Missile Crisis.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Post–Korean War and Air Mobility, Army Reorganizational Turmoil
Meanwhile, the Army was in the process of initiating another major development in tactics and organization in which the 187th Infantry Regiment would play a part – the theory of air assault.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Post–Korean War and Air Mobility, Air Assault
On 15 January 1960, the US Army Chief of Staff established the Army Aircraft Requirements Review Board, chaired by Lieutenant General Gordon B. Rogers, CONARC's deputy commanding general. The "Rogers Board" met at Fort Monroe, Virginia between 29 February and 6 March to consider the Army Aircraft Development Plan that provided for an orderly aviation development through the decade of the 1960s.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Post–Korean War and Air Mobility, Air Assault
The board was directed to recommend as a matter of first priority a course of action to meet the requirements for light observation aircraft and to explore the possible courses of action to improve the Army's capabilities in the areas of combat surveillance and tactical transport. Finally, the board was to submit its best estimate of the Army's requirements during the 1960–1970 time period, supported by a proposed procurement program, to include cost and quantities by year, of current and future types of aircraft. The scope of the 1960 Rogers Board was limited in that it did not constitute a major advance in tactical mobility for the Army.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Post–Korean War and Air Mobility, Air Assault
The Army continued to study and forward its aviation requirements to the Pentagon. During January and February 1962, Department of Defense (DOD) analysts reviewed the Army's submissions with criticism. On 19 April, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara sent the Army a strong message in which he concluded that the Army's current program was "dangerously conservative" and that the Army should open its mind to innovation and break away from the tactics and equipment of the past. Secretary McNamara directed the Army to investigate enhanced "land warfare mobility" in an "open and free atmosphere."


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Post–Korean War and Air Mobility, Air Assault
The result of McNamara's memo was a Department of the Army directive to CONARC to establish the Tactical Mobility Requirements Board, presided over by Lieutenant General Hamilton H. Howze, the XVIII Airborne Corps' commanding general at Fort Bragg. The board became known throughout the Army as the "Howze Board." CONARC, under guidance from the Department of the Army, directed General Howze to look to the future and determine the Army's aircraft requirements and tactical organizations for the 1963–1975 time period.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Post–Korean War and Air Mobility, Air Assault
In short, General Howze's mission was to determine if "ground vehicles could be replaced by air vehicles and, if so, to what extent?" The Army did not know it at the time, but these would be the years of US buildup, combat, and withdrawal from Vietnam, a place where the Army's air mobility and air support would be put to the ultimate test.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Post–Korean War and Air Mobility, Air Assault
The Howze Board reached out to the Army, Air Force, and industry for new ideas, equipment, organization, and tactics. The board recommended the use of Army helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft in close support roles, battlefield transport, and as tank-killers. It conducted tests in basic flying techniques, small-unit deployment, and air support with helicopters. The board's recommendations were so extensive that the Army decided to test them with an entirely new division as the test bed.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Post–Korean War and Air Mobility, Air Assault
On 1 February 1963, the 11th Airborne Division was reactivated at Fort Benning, Georgia as the 11th Air Assault Division (Test), under the command of Major General Harry W. O. Kinnard, the 101st Airborne Division's G-3 (Operations), to explore the theory and practicality of helicopter assault tactics. The division was to be "light," capable of air movement by Army and/or Air Force aircraft.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Post–Korean War and Air Mobility, Air Assault
The 3rd ABG, 187th Infantry, not active during the Pentomic era, was redesignated on 1 February 1963 as 3/187th Infantry, assigned to the 11th Air Assault Division at Fort Benning, and activated on 7 February 1963. The infantry battalion was joined by the 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment (minus B Troop), and the 10th Transportation Brigade, which was composed of several battalions of both rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Post–Korean War and Air Mobility, Air Assault
On 1 July 1963, the 11th Air Assault Division's 1st Airborne Brigade was augmented with the activation of 1/188th Airborne Infantry and 1/511th Airborne Infantry. With these additions, the 187th, 188th, and 511th, the original glider and parachute infantry regiments of the original 11th Airborne Division formed in February 1943, were once again on the muster rolls – this time as an "air assault" division. In addition to the standard infantry, artillery, and support units, the 11th Air Assault Division included an aviation group with enough air assets to simultaneously lift one-third of the division.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Post–Korean War and Air Mobility, Air Assault
During the same month, Lieutenant General Westmoreland, former 187th ARCT commanding officer in Korea and 101st Airborne Division commanding general, assumed command of the XVIII Airborne Corps.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Post–Korean War and Air Mobility, Air Assault
For more than two years, the 11th Air Assault Division developed, tested, refined, and retested the division's equipment, organization, and tactics in the low country and swamps of Florida and the hills of Georgia and North Carolina. The 187th Infantry tested the helicopter in various combat roles, command and control, attack formations, scouting and screening, reconnaissance, aerial resupply, and air-assault tactics. During the testing period, the Air Force and Army argued over ownership of the close support mission on the battlefield and tactical air mobility.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Post–Korean War and Air Mobility, Air Assault
3/187th Infantry stayed with the 11th Air Assault Division, serving as a test unit to help validate the Army's air mobility concept. It was relieved from the 11th Air Assault Division on 3 February 1964 and was reassigned as an organic unit to the 101st Airborne Division's 3rd Brigade at Fort Campbell, where its airmobile expertise was put to good use in training the rest of the division.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Post–Korean War and Air Mobility, Air Assault
On 6 March 1964, the 1st ABG, 187th Infantry, that had served in Germany, Beirut, and Fort Bragg, was designated 1/187th Infantry, relieved of assignment to the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, and transferred to the 11th Air Assault Division at Fort Benning for training and testing. The 2nd ABG, 187th Infantry, remained assigned to the 101st Airborne Division and was inactivated on 1 February 1964.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Post–Korean War and Air Mobility, Air Assault
The Pentagon decided that the 11th Air Assault Division's colors should be cased. In June 1965, the colors of the 1st Cavalry Division in Korea were flown to Fort Benning. In a simple ceremony, the 1st Cavalry's colors were presented to the 11th Air Assault Division. On 30 June, the 11th Air Assault Division (Test) and 1/187th, 1/188th, and 1/511th were inactivated. On 1 July, the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) was officially activated, rostered from the 11th Air Assault Division (Test) and the 2nd Infantry Division at Fort Benning. It was a formidable force of 15,847 officers and men, six Grumman OV-1 Mohawk fixed-wing aircraft, 287 Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopters, and 48 Sikorsky CH-37 Mojave helicopters.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Post–Korean War and Air Mobility, Air Assault
By 1965, the sole identity of the 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment rested with 3/187th, one of three relatively standard infantry battalions in the 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell. Soon, it would prove its fighting mettle again – this time in Vietnam.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit)
The Vietnam War was an entirely new experience for the Rakkasans. The war had no fixed battle lines and no set plans to seize and hold terrain or to invade and attack the enemy on his own ground. The US military strategy was complicated and difficult to comprehend. The GIs who fought in South Vietnam had to adapt to new tactics, including the need to be able to distinguish just which Vietnamese was the enemy.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit)
They became experts in helicopter assaults into hot landing zones (LZs), requiring them, fully combat loaded, to jump from hovering helicopters under fire, to search for the elusive enemy in thick tropical jungles, sheer mountains, vast swamps, coastal plains, and in cities and villages. It was a war to destroy the enemy. In some cases, combat was purely defensive – establish and maintain small outposts in rural areas.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit)
In other cases, combat was purely offensive – surround the enemy, blast him with artillery, helicopter gunship rockets and machine guns, carpet-bomb him with B–52 Arc Light missions, napalm the forests covering him, and then attack to destroy him with the infantryman's weapons – mortars, machine guns, rifles, pistols, hand grenades, and even bayonets. It was a whole new ball game.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1965–1968
Between 6 July and 29 July 1965, Colonel James S. Timothy's 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, became the first Screaming Eagles unit to deploy from Fort Campbell to South Vietnam, arriving by water at Cam Ranh Bay and establishing a temporary base camp in the vicinity.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1965–1968
Within two weeks of their arrival at Cam Ranh Bay, the brigade was sent northward by water on its first combat operation to Qui Nhơn, 130 miles (210 km) up the coast, then moved inland to An Khê in the Central Highlands with the mission of clearing and securing the area as a base camp for the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) that would be arriving from the United States in a matter of days.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1965–1968
At a mountain pass overlooking An Khê, the helicopter landings began. After months of specialized training at Fort Campbell, this was it, the moment every man knew would come. A battalion-size Viet Cong (VC) force had been reported to be in the area and the airborne infantrymen expected instant contact ... but it didn't come. The VC were evasive, biding their time. It was an anticlimax for the men.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1965–1968
This was their first lesson in Vietnam – no big battles when expected; instead, a nagging war of attrition with primitive booby traps and snipers, small unit actions, and ambushes in the jungle. Only when he thought the situation was favorable, would the enemy show himself in force. So, the long, hard task of ferreting out the Communist enemy began, and the men of the 1st Brigade were good at their job. By the end of September, they had killed 600 VC.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1965–1968
As the advance elements of the 1st Cavalry Division began arriving at An Khê, they commenced taking over the area secured by the Screaming Eagles. Finally, the men of the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, were free to head south and establish their own home base in Vietnam. From An Khê, the brigade moved 170 miles (270 km) southward to the coastal town of Phan Rang. This was to be their permanent camp ... as soon as it could be built.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1965–1968
Though weary from their campaign in the hill country, they worked throughout October until the base camp had been set up. General Westmoreland, commanding general of Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV), visited the Screaming Eagles on Thanksgiving Day and inspected the camp at Phan Rang. He was pleased with their performance at An Khê and congratulated them on a job well done. Even as he returned to Saigon, the brigade was conducting local search and destroy operations.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1965–1968
As 1966 began, the entire 1st Brigade deployed to Tuy Hòa, 100 miles (160 km) to the north in Phú Yên Province. Known as the Rice Bowl, this was the richest rice growing region in central Vietnam. Crops from this fertile area fed all the people in central Vietnam. But the VC had been seizing the harvest and collecting unbearable taxes from the frightened farmers. Now came the Screaming Eagles to protect the rice harvest and stop the VC. Code named Operation Van Buren, the orders read "search out the enemy in the Tuy Hòa sector and destroy him."


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1965–1968
This assignment was tedious. The VC deserted their dwellings and avoided confrontation with the Americans. Yet the district was infested with an enemy who made night raids and continued to molest the farmers. The search went on. Brigadier General Willard Pearson took over command of the Screaming Eagles on 29 January. He stepped up the pressure on the VC. The VC were pursued across the broad reaches of Phú Yên Province. For the most part, they evaded capture and withdrew to disappear in underground sanctuaries. In the wake of US military operations, the  enemy rice raids diminished.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1965–1968
But the VC themselves mingled with the local people and were often bypassed, attacking the Americans from the rear at night. On 8 February, General Westmoreland's deputy commander came to Tuy Hòa to personally evaluate the situation. What he saw convinced him that the enemy was well entrenched in the district and that it would require repeated efforts by the brigade to dislodge the Communist guerillas. Operation Van Buren became Operation Harrison; February became March and, daily, the Screaming Eagles patrolled the jungles and foothills surrounding the Tuy Hòa rice fields.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1965–1968
The VC's main force headquarters was located and hit by USAF B–52 bombing raids. The men of the brigade went in to check the results and prepared field reports for USAF intelligence. Daily they went out and daily they returned. In 90 days, they gained control of the Tuy Hòa region. Now operating in small units, they killed 516 hard-core VC troops between February and April. The rice crops were saved.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1965–1968
In mid-April, the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment was left to guard the rice harvest at Tuy Hòa, while the rest of the brigade moved out on Operation Austin IV; two weeks in the area around Phan Thiết, on the southeastern coast, then onward to Nhân Cơ, near the Cambodian border. Here, where the Ho Chi Minh Trail entered South Vietnam, the Screaming Eagles met the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) in the form of the 141st NVA Regiment. For a while, the fighting was intense. The 2nd Battalion, 502nd Airborne Infantry Regiment took a number of casualties.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1965–1968
It took six days, from 14 May to 20 May, for the US paratroopers to drive the NVA aggressors out of their positions in the Nhân Cơ foothills. The NVA regulars were well-disciplined, well-equipped, and tenacious. In spite of heavy ground fire, Army aviators got in with their Dust Off helicopters and the wounded were evacuated to safety. Over 100 NVA were killed in the mountains and victory at Nhân Cơ belonged to the paratroopers.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1965–1968
But for the Screaming Eagles, the greatest testing was still to come. Far to the north in Kon Tum Province, the 1st Brigade launched Operation Hawthorne in the area around Đăk Tô. Kon Tum Province was a forbidding wilderness, lying in the foothills of the mountain country that marked the border with Cambodia. It was the first week in June. Until then, the enemy held sway there. About 30 miles (48 km) north of Đăk Tô, Company A, 326th Engineer Battalion, erected a crude bridge.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1965–1968
A few miles beyond was an American Special Forces camp that had been under siege by the VC for nearly a week. Supplies and ammunition were badly needed, and relief troops needed to get through. Near the bridge, the artillerymen of B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment rained 105mm artillery rounds down upon the VC attacking the camp. Each time the shelling started, the VC withdrew its attacking forces to escape the punishing fire. When it was lifted, the VC would regroup and again try to take the camp.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1965–1968
Despite week-long USAF airstrikes, the VC had shown no signs of withdrawing. But the artillery fire, directed by the camp's defenders, had a telling effect. The Screaming Eagles came under fire when a VC force of battalion strength came to silence the guns. Automatic-weapons and small-arms fire from all sides kept the artillerymen pinned down as the VC crept in and tried to overrun the American positions. The Screaming Eagles positions remained unbroken and they counterattacked, driving off the VC, and a small part of Operation Hawthorne was over. Throughout June, Operation Hawthorne continued.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1965–1968
In Kon Tum Province, the Screaming Eagles repeatedly beat back the NVA. In sixteen straight days of combat, the 1st Brigade enveloped the 24th NVA Regiment and killed more than 500 NVA. It was the largest single battle of the war for the men of the 101st Airborne Division. At last, the fighting was done.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1965–1968
On 21 July, following surveillance operations along the Laotian and Cambodian borders, the 1st Brigade returned to Tuy Hòa. A new operation, code named John Paul Jones, got underway. Its purpose was to open and secure a 16 miles (26 km) stretch of National Highway 1 between Tuy Hòa and Vũng Rô Bay on the coast. The purpose of the mission was to speed up logistics support of the Tuy Hòa area by permitting ships to unload at the nearby bay.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1965–1968
The operation began with elements of the 502nd Airborne Infantry landing by water at the cliff-guarded bay, where, without encountering resistance, they began moving inland to link up with the oncoming units of the helicopter-landed 327th Infantry. The inland forces pushed forward, securing the highway and sweeping the adjoining countryside. Supported by helicopter gunships, heliborne assault troops cleaned up the operational zone within six weeks. By early September, they had secured Vũng Rô Bay and the highway north to Tuy Hòa. Sweeping through the mountains, the 1st Brigade captured 40 NVA and VC, and killed 209 others.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1965–1968
While Operation John Paul Jones was still in progress, the 326th Engineer Battalion began construction of the connecting highway between Vũng Rô Bay and Highway 1. The Screaming Eagles had done their job well and a new seaport was born. In the weeks that followed, the 1st Brigade protected the rice farmers as they harvested some 17,000 metric tons of grain. Once again, the Tuy Hòa sector became a battlefield. and the VC suffered heavy losses with 239 killed and 42 captured. The VC had enough and were nowhere to be found.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1965–1968
On 9 December, the brigade's odyssey continued – from Tuy Hòa back up north to Kon Tum Province. The VC had been cleared from Phú Yên Province by this time and the Screaming Eagles were moved north by air in a record 48 hours. The deployment of the 1st Brigade by parachute marked the first jump in more than a year for many of the paratroopers, but they were in superb physical condition and the jump went well. As 1966 drew to a close, the brigade descended upon Kon Tum Province to take part in Operation Pickett. Fighting side by side with Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) forces and militia, the brigade once again scoured the countryside, finding and finishing the enemy.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1965–1968
The operations in Kon Tum Province continued until 21 January 1967. Then, after more than a year's absence from their base at Phan Rang, the brigade was ordered back for a rest. To the men of the 1st Brigade, it seemed a long time since the LSTs first moved them up to Qui Nhơn as they headed for their first combat around An Khê. Now, the LSTs took them home. On 26 January, the last convoy rolled into camp at Phan Rang.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1965–1968
Two days later, General Pearson transferred command of the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, to the new brigade commander, Brigadier General Salve H. Matheson. The Screaming Eagles bid farewell to the commander who led them in 14 combat operations from one end of South Vietnam to the other. For the Screaming Eagles, as for the rest of the US military forces in South Vietnam, the valiant efforts to keep that young nation free continued.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1965–1968
The remainder of the 101st Airborne Division received orders to move to Vietnam. Operation EAGLE THRUST began on 8 December 1967 with the departure of Major General Olinto M. Barsanti, the 101st Airborne Division's commanding general, from Campbell Army Airfield in an aircraft piloted by General Howell M. Estes Jr., commanding general of the USAF Military Airlift Command. By 18 December, the last aircraft touched down at Biên Hòa Air Base in Vietnam, ending the largest and longest airlift operation by the US Air Force of US combat forces directly into a combat zone. The Military Airlift Command required 369 C–141 aircraft missions and 22 C–133 aircraft missions to transport 10,024 paratroopers and over 5,300 tons of the division's essential support equipment from Fort Campbell to Vietnam.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1965–1968
The first paratroopers of the 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, to arrive in Vietnam during Operation Eagle Thrust were those of 3/187th. Truck convoys transported the Rakkasans from Biên Hòa Air Base about 30 miles (48 km) north of Saigon to begin setting up and occupying their base camp at Phước Vĩnh. Once established there, 3/187th's squads and platoons worked in the field on small unit tactics. Over the next four years, the Rakkasans would fight in twelve major campaigns, conducting numerous air assaults and search and destroy missions.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1965–1968
During one such mission on 16 March 1968, as part of the US effort to push the NVA away from Saigon after the Tet Offensive, elements of 3/187th were inserted by helicopter on a reconnaissance-in-force mission into a suspected NVA stronghold southwest of Phước Vĩnh, in the so-called "Iron Triangle." For the next two days, Captain Paul W. Bucha's 89-man D/187th conducted reconnaissance along with the 3rd Brigade's Phantom Force, the long-range reconnaissance patrol (LRRP), engaging in firefights, destroying fortifications and base camps, and eliminating scattered resistance along the way.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1965–1968
Late in the afternoon of 18 March, D/187th's LRRP point element, about 12 men, stumbled upon a base camp containing an entire NVA battalion bivouacked for the night, made heavy contact, and were immediately pinned down. Captain Bucha moved forward to organize a defense to protect the men who were cut off and ordered up reinforcements from D/187th. Bucha determined that his unit could not hold its position against the repeated NVA assaults and ordered a withdrawal into a tight defensive perimeter from which he could direct fire on the NVA.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1965–1968
During the night, Bucha constantly moved throughout the perimeter, distributing ammunition, and checking the integrity of the defense. He directed artillery and helicopter gunship fire on the NVA strongpoints and attacking forces, marking the positions with smoke grenades. He did everything he could think of to make the NVA believe that his vastly outnumbered force was larger than it was – directing his men to lob hand grenades at set times from different positions and spreading the firing patterns along the edges of his perimeter.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1965–1968
Using flashlights, he directed the medical evacuation of three helicopter loads of seriously wounded personnel and the helicopter resupply of his company. At daybreak, Bucha led a rescue party to recover the KIA and WIA of D/187th's ambushed lead element. Afterward, B/187th joined D/187th in an assault on the NVA base camp, destroying it in a two-day fight. The NVA melted away, leaving 156 dead on the battlefield. After Bucha’s dead and wounded had been aeromedically evacuated (medevaced) out, he loaded the rest of his company, about 40 men, onto helicopters and returned to Phước Vĩnh. For his "extraordinary heroism, inspirational example, outstanding leadership, and professional competence," Captain Bucha was awarded the Medal of Honor.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1965–1968
For the next few months, 3/187th, from a temporary base camp near Đắk Tô made a number of small-unit helicopter assaults to help secure the Special Forces outpost near Đắk Pék. Until June, NVA contact was minimal. 3/187th's mission was to relieve the 199th Light Infantry Brigade and assume the defense of the Phước Vĩnh compound, make local daylight sweeps and set night ambushes. On 13 June, 3/187th deployed by air to the 25th Infantry Division's base camp at Củ Chi, where it came under the division's operational control. Its mission was to conduct reconnaissance-in-force operations along the Vàm Cỏ Đông River to interdict LOCs and MSRs from Cambodia and Laos into the Saigon area.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1965–1968
On 26 August, the 101st Airborne Division was redesignated the 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile).


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1965–1968
At the beginning of September, 3/187th was based at Trung Lập. B/187th and C/187th built Firebase Shafter near the Saigon River, east of the Trung Lập ARVN Training Center. On 14 September, 3/187th moved to an area 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) south of Ho Bo Woods and spent two days building Firebase Pope. On 20 September, Firebase Pope was closed and 3/187th moved to an area southwest of Trung Lập, and for the next five days set up Firebase Patton II.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1965–1968
On 27 September, the battalion command group and B/187th moved to Bàu Trai to work with the 25th Infantry Division. Since its arrival in Vietnam, 3/187th had moved so often that it became known as the "Nomad" Battalion. In early October, Major General Melvin Zais, the 101st Airborne Division's commanding general, ordered 3/187th moved back to his control. On 8 October, Firebase Patton II was closed, and by 15:00 that afternoon, C Battery, 319th AFAB, then in support of 3/187th, moved by helicopter back to Phước Vĩnh.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1965–1968
While the infantry was waiting for motor transport to move them to the Củ Chi airstrip, enemy mortar rounds dropped inside the perimeter, wounding 19 men. The convoy left the firebase at 18:30. Along the way, a truck was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG), killing six and wounding twelve Rakkasans. The convoy closed at Củ Chi at 23:00. For the next ten days, 3/187th marshaled and outloaded from Phước Vĩnh to the Huế-Phú Bài airstrip to rejoin the 101st Airborne Division. By 18 October, all battalion elements had closed in.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1965–1968
On 29 October, 3/187th received orders to move north to Camp Eagle, the 101st Airborne Division's major base south of the Imperial City of Huế, and operate in a new AO. On 1 November, 3/187th moved to Camp Evans and took over control of Firebases Miguel, Long, and Helen in their AO.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1965–1968
During 1968, 3/187th fought small and large battles in all four Corps Tactical Zones, suffered 48 KIA and 149 WIA. For the Rakkasans in Vietnam, there was far more yet to come.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969
New Year's Day, 1969, found 3/187th supporting Operation Nevada Eagle, securing and constructing firebases, and performing reconnaissance-in-force in the mountains southwest of Camp Evans, the 101st Airborne Division's 3rd Brigade home base, 14 miles (23 km) northwest of Huế. Occasional enemy contacts were with small, elusive groups.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969
On 10 January, 3/187th held a change-of-command ceremony. Lieutenant Colonel George M. Sheets turned over the battalion's colors to Lieutenant Colonel Weldon F. "Tiger" Honeycutt. Lieutenant Colonel Honeycutt had earned his nickname during the Korean War when, as a 187th RCT company commander, he had led his company in an assault on a key hill after two previous attempts by two other 187th RCT companies had failed. Captain Honeycutt's company overran the hill, driving off the Chinese. General Westmoreland, then the 187th RCT's commanding general, was so impressed with the young officer's aggression that he nicknamed him "Tiger." The name had stuck and most of his superiors referred to him as Tiger Honeycutt.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969
On 24 January, the 3rd Brigade, commanded by Colonel Joseph B. Conmy Jr., began Operation Ohio Rapids, a campaign to block the NVA's access to the populated lowlands and, in particular, the Imperial City of Huế, during Tet 69 (one year after the original Tet Offensive). Captain Luther L. Sanders' D/187th was airlifted into Firebase Mexico; Captain Barry Robinson III's B/187th flew into Firebase Barbara. 3/187th set up blocks to prevent NVA infiltration from the A Shau Valley (one of the main avenues for the NVA into South Vietnam in western Thừa Thiên Huế Province) into the lowland districts.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969
On 15 February, a platoon from Captain Gerald R. Harkins' A/187th made contact with four NVA 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from Firebase Mexico, killing three and wounding the fourth. They found a number of automatic weapons, machine guns, assorted uniforms, and medical gear. A search of the area turned up more equipment abandoned by the fleeing NVA.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969
On 19 February, 3/187th was placed under the operational control of the 101st Airborne Division's 1st Brigade in Operation Spokane Rapids. The next day, B/187th airlifted from Camp Evans into Firebase Brick, 24 kilometres (15 mi) south of Huế. On 24 February, the rest of the battalion combat-assaulted into LZ Diana to reconnoiter the area in force. Contact was sporadic and scattered between 24 February and 2 March. 3/187th returned to Camp Evans and operational control of the 3rd Brigade. Meanwhile, General Zais launched the 101st Airborne Division into Operation Kentucky Jumper on 1 March.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969
Captain Walter Griswold's C/187th and other elements of 3/187th were airlifted into Firebases T-Bone and Long. A/187th and B/187th combat-assaulted into LZs 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) south of Firebase Helen in the vicinity of the Song Bo River. D/187th moved to Firebase Rakkasan, 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) southwest of Camp Evans. For the next two weeks, the Rakkasans patrolled out of their firebases, killed numerous NVA, and uncovered weapons caches. As the 101st Airborne Division moved westward, it was getting closer and closer to the A Shau Valley. For the rest of March and part of April, 3/187th continued its patrols and searches of the area, made contact with small NVA units, and found increasingly larger weapons and ammunition caches as they pushed closer to the A Shau Valley.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ngai Mountain
On 22 April, aerial reconnaissance over the northern A Shau Valley revealed the presence of several bamboo huts on a ridgeline about 2,000 metres (2,200 yd) below the summit of Dong Ngai Mountain in the northwestern corner of the valley. 101st Airborne Division intelligence was aware that this area contained NVA in abundance. Airstrikes were called in to blast the area with 250- and 500-pound bombs. The next day, B–52s carpeted the area with 1000-pound bombs, creating huge secondary explosions. After the airstrikes, a 2/17th Cavalry platoon air assaulted into a hot LZ in a single CH–47 Chinook helicopter.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ngai Mountain
As it hovered over the LZ, the soldiers slid down ropes through a hole in the jungle canopy. Ground fire hit the helicopter, causing it to crash through the tops of the trees, killing seven men. Those who escaped formed a defensive perimeter and fought off a platoon-sized NVA unit with the loss of another five men. The 2/17th Cavalry platoon leader called for reinforcements and, as two additional platoons started to land, their helicopters were hit by ground fire; two more helicopters were lost. The men on the ground expanded their perimeter but came under increasingly heavier NVA attack.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ngai Mountain
Back at Camp Eagle, General Zais ordered Lieutenant Colonel Honeycutt and 3/187th to relieve 2/17th Cavalry on Dong Ngai and then clean out the NVA. When Tiger Honeycutt heard that 2/17th Cavalry had suffered another 40 casualties, he decided that his best course of action was to land his men on the top of the mountain and attack down toward the 2/17th Cavalry perimeter, putting the NVA in a vise, rather than landing in 2/17th Cavalry's hot LZ. Honeycutt directed Captain Robinson's B/187th to lead the assault, followed by Captain Sanders' D/187th.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ngai Mountain
At 15:30, B/187th's First Lieutenant Frank Boccia loaded his 1st Platoon on to six helicopters for the short flight to the upper LZ. At 16:00, they arrived over the LZ and could see NVA in bunkers and spider holes below. Boccia was riding in the lead helicopter with five of his men when the helicopter's door gunner spotted muzzle flashes coming from the right side of the LZ and began raking the trees below with his M60 machine gun. At 60 metres (66 yd) and closing, NVA ground fire found the range and Boccia's helicopter began taking hits.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ngai Mountain
The pilot eased the helicopter into a hover about 10 feet (3.0 m) off the ground and, in quick succession, all but Boccia leaped from the helicopter and sprinted into the surrounding jungle. Boccia's gas mask strap had caught on an eyebolt, preventing him from exiting the helicopter. With the helicopter still taking ground fire, Boccia pulled madly at his gas mask. The helicopter lurched and Boccia fell out, tumbling about 15 feet (4.6 m) down a steep ridge. Above, the helicopter started to gain altitude when it was hit by an RPG.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ngai Mountain
The round exploded under the pilot's seat and severely wounded the copilot. The helicopter dropped like a rock, its blades slashing through the trees before snapping off and careening through the jungle like huge knives. The helicopter hit the ground with such force that it buckled the skids and drove the transmission through the back wall, breaking the door gunner's arm. Boccia moved his men to the LZ, formed a defensive perimeter, and managed to medevac his helicopter pilot and door gunner (the copilot had been hit and killed by another RPG).


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ngai Mountain
Boccia called for helicopter gunships to strafe the area. Seven more helicopters brought in the rest of B/187th, but four crashed after being hit by NVA fire. Tiger Honeycutt was hovering overhead in his command helicopter when he saw the crashes and called off further landings in the upper LZ. NVA hit Boccia's perimeter overnight but were driven off with machine-gun fire.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ngai Mountain
At first light the next morning, the remainder of B/187th and two platoons from A/187th combat-assaulted into 2/17th Cavalry's lower LZ. After the Rakkasans secured the perimeter and helped medevac 2/17th Cavalry's KIA and WIA, the two companies sent squad-sized units to reconnoiter in force up Dong Ngai toward Lieutenant Boccia's upper LZ perimeter. Tiger Honeycutt ordered in fighter-bombers and gunships to pound the area around Boccia's position and then sent Captain Sanders' D/187th in to reinforce Boccia.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ngai Mountain
Five of the D/187th helicopters made it onto the upper LZ, but the last two were shot down, cluttering and blocking the LZ with a total of six downed helicopters. The next day, Honeycutt sent Captain Harkins, A/187th's commanding officer, to the upper LZ to take charge. Harkins organized the various units into platoon-sized formations, expanded the defensive perimeter, and directed Boccia's 1st Platoon and his own 3rd Platoon, commanded by First Lieutenant Daniel Bresnahan, to attack straight down the mountain.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ngai Mountain
At the lower LZ, Honeycutt directed three platoons from A/187th, B/187th, and D/187th to attack up the mountain after first plastering the area with airstrikes. B/187th's platoon was soon halted by a reinforced NVA platoon in bunkers. Airstrikes were called in with little effect, but after a long artillery preparation, B/187th assaulted the bunker line with 90mm M67 recoilless rifles and overran the bunkers in less than an hour. Meanwhile, A/187th's platoon, attacking up the east side of the mountain, overran multiple NVA bunkers and uncovered a large NVA ammunition dump.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ngai Mountain
All three platoons attacking up the mountain were stopped by darkness about 200 metres (220 yd) from the upper LZ. At dawn on 28 April, after an hour of heavy airstrikes and a pummeling artillery preparation, the three Rakkasan platoons started up the mountain and a platoon from the upper LZ started down. The movement caught 40 NVA in the middle. The Rakkasans joined up late in the afternoon, clearing the area around the upper LZ. An engineer detachment was brought in to build a firebase on Dong Ngai's summit. The engineers worked around the clock, and by the afternoon of 29 April, three 105mm artillery batteries were in the partially completed Firebase Airborne.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ngai Mountain
The Rakkasans continued to ferret out the NVA. D/187th routed an NVA platoon during the afternoon of 30 April and uncovered a supply dump of 20 tons of rice and hundreds of 122mm rockets and RPGs. On the morning of 4 May, while D/187th was reconnoitering in force northeastward toward the peak of Dong Ngai, they ran head-on into an NVA bunker complex defended by a company of NVA with heavy weapons. D/187th took out a number of bunkers with recoilless-rifle fire, but had three ground assaults thrown back.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ngai Mountain
Captain Sanders called in mortars, helicopter gunships, and, finally, airstrikes on the bunkers. The mortars and gunships had little effect on the bunkers, but the airstrikes' pinpoint bombing did the job, hitting the bunker complex with almost 30 napalm bombs and turning it into a huge bonfire. As soon as the airstrikes ended, D/187th charged up the mountain and swept into the NVA positions, where they were met, not with gunfire, but by the smell of burning flesh. They discovered the bodies of 15 NVA in the bunkers and trenches. D/187th moved through the bunker complex quickly in pursuit of the NVA survivors, but most escaped, carrying many of their dead with them.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ngai Mountain
Despite the intensity of the fight for Dong Ngai Mountain, 3/187th 's losses were less than might have been expected – five KIA and 54 WIA. The NVA lost more than a hundred killed, tons of supplies lost, and one of its major bases in the A Shau Valley destroyed. On 8 May, 3/187th was airlifted out of Firebase Airborne and back to Camp Evans to prepare for Operation Apache Snow, scheduled to kick off two days later. 3/187th's victory at Dong Ngai earned it the Valorous Unit Award.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
The A Shau Valley had been used by the NVA as an infiltration route into South Vietnam. It was through and from the A Shau Valley that the NVA had supported and launched most of its operations in South Vietnam’s northern provinces, particularly those operations aimed at the population centers of Huế and Da Nang. The NVA had infiltrated through Laos and staged in refuges just across the Laos/South Vietnam border from the A Shau Valley. Likewise, supplies had been infiltrated and stored in supply “warehouses” in the A Shau Valley.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
The A Shau Valley provided accessible and easy routes for the movement of men and materiel either southward toward Da Nang or eastward toward Huế. It was from the A Shau Valley that the NVA launched and supported its 1968 Tet Offensive. Intelligence gained during the spring of 1969 provided evidence to MACV and XXIV Corps, the US command responsible for the northern area of the ARVN I Corps Tactical Zone, of increased NVA activity in the A Shau Valley and adjoining areas in Laos. The Dong Ngai Mountain battle and subsequent discovery of NVA supply dumps reinforced that point.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
Knowing this, there were two alternatives available to MACV: ignore the NVA presence and wait until they attacked before engaging them; or attack the NVA in their bases and eliminate their capability to mount an attack on a populated area.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
Rather than permit a substantial NVA force to reach the populated area of Thừa Thiên Province and Huế, which for all practical purposes had been pacified and resettled, the decision was made to launch a corps-level combat operation to deny the NVA re-entry into South Vietnam in strength from their sanctuaries across the border from the A Shau Valley and to destroy those forces that had already been infiltrated. XXIV Corps’ commanding general, Lieutenant General Richard G. Stilwell, planned Operation Apache Snow to clear the A Shau Valley of the NVA.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
The 101st Airborne Division, in coordination with the 1st ARVN Division, was assigned the responsibility for conducting operations in the northern sector of the A Shau Valley. Operation Apache Snow would be initiated by an airmobile assault of three maneuver battalions of the 101st Airborne Division and one battalion of the 1st ARVN Division into LZs adjacent to the Laotian border. Each LZ was selected to achieve surprise and place the assault forces close to suspected NVA locations. The plan called for the ARVN to cut the valley highway.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
The 101st Airborne Division was to engage the NVA and prevent their escape into Laos. The AO assigned to Lieutenant Colonel Honeycutt’s battalion included Dong Ap Bia Mountain. Dong Ap Bia was a highland that rose 970 metres (3,180 ft) at its summit with ridgelines at 800 metres (2,600 ft), 900 metres (3,000 ft), 916 metres (3,005 ft), and 937 metres (3,074 ft).


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
As part of his overall plan, Honeycutt had selected Hill 937 as one of the areas to be searched following the airmobile assault since intelligence reports gathered in April and May indicated the possible presence of NVA in that vicinity. Honeycutt selected an LZ approximately 1,800 metres (2,000 yd) northwest of Hill 937 near the Laotian border with the intention of moving southeastward toward the hill mass, which later would come to be referred to by some as Hamburger Hill. H Hour was set for 07:30 on 10 May.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
1,800 men from 1/506th Infantry, 2/501st Infantry, and 3/187th Infantry of the 101st Airborne Division, and the 4th Battalion, 1st ARVN Regiment were assembled approximately 8 miles (13 km) east of the A Shau Valley at Firebase Blaze, which had been established as a forward supply base to support Operation Apache Snow, to await liftoff in UH–1H “Huey” troop-carrying helicopters that would air-assault them into their respective battle areas. The airmobile assault, the largest in the Vietnam War, of the four battalions began precisely at 07:30 on 10 May.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
A total of 65 Hueys were used for the combat assaults, permitting two infantry battalions to be combat-assaulted simultaneously, placing maximum combat power on the ground as rapidly as possible.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
The assault into each of the LZs was preceded by tactical airstrikes and artillery preparations from ten artillery batteries that were in position at five firebases on high ground east of the valley to provide maximum fire support for the initial airmobile assaults as well as the subsequent ground action by the infantry battalions; final suppressive fire was provided by aerial rocket artillery (ARA) from Cobra helicopter gunships just before the landing of the assault helicopters. Concurrent with the airmobile assault of the four battalions, two additional ARVN battalions that had been prepositioned on 9 May began conducting reconnaissance in force and sweep operations northeast and south of the general airmobile assault area.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
At 08:44, 3/187th began its combat assault into the LZ. Captain Sanders’ D/187th and Captain Harkins’ A/187th landed unopposed. Captain Dean L. Johnson’s C/187th was last to land and secured the LZ. At 09:45, Lieutenant Colonel Honeycutt and his Headquarters group landed and relieved Captain Johnson. Honeycutt sent A/187th to the northwest in the direction of the Laotian border, C/187th to the southwest, also toward the Laotian border, and D/187th to the southeast, up a ridge toward Hill 937. Honeycutt moved part of his Headquarters group up behind D/187th and, at 11:00, joined up with Sanders’ company.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
By noon, D/187th had secured prominent terrain on the ridgeline leading up to Hill 937. It was from this key position, approximately 1,000 metres (1,100 yd) to the northwest of Hill 937, that Honeycutt and the 3/187th CP would control and support operations during the period 10 – 21 May. Aerial reconnaissance reported the presence of trails, camps, supply dumps, and bunkers. Honeycutt, sensing the presence of his enemy around him, radioed Colonel Conmy at the 101st Airborne Division’s 3rd Brigade CP to request the release of B/187th, currently held in brigade reserve, to his control.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
Conmy agreed and Captain Charles L. Littman, who had relieved Captain Robinson on 8 May, and B/187th arrived at the LZ at 14:30. At 15:30, B/187th reached Honeycutt's CP on the mountain ridge. Honeycutt directed B/187th to move up the ridge toward Hill 937. B/187th had moved only a very short distance when they began to receive small-arms fire and RPGs. Captain Littman dispersed his company and they returned fire with their organic weapons; they were supported by mortars, artillery, helicopter gunships, and airstrikes.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
The firing subsided as artillery was adjusted to drop within 25 metres (82 ft) of Littman’s positions. The firing flared up again as B/187th began moving forward. When more high-explosive artillery rounds were poured into the NVA positions, the fire diminished and then ceased. In this initial contact, B/187th suffered three WIA while killing four NVA. Helicopter gunships and airstrikes continued to pound the suspected NVA positions until dark. B/187th dug in and established a night defensive position (NDP) as artillery continually hit the area overnight. Meanwhile, A/187th and C/187th, moving generally westward toward the Laotian border, made no contact with the NVA during the day.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
Note: During the early afternoon of 10 May, an additional ARVN infantry company secured a hilltop in the northern end of the A Shau Valley to protect an artillery battery that was brought in to support the airmobile assault of another ARVN infantry battalion (2nd Battalion, 1st ARVN Regiment) on 11 May. Thus, by the night of 10 May, six maneuver battalions (three US and three ARVN) were operating in the A Shau Valley with a seventh battalion scheduled for insertion the following morning.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
Each of these battalions was assigned a separate sector in which to search out and destroy the enemy while at the same time being prepared to reinforce any other battalion should the situation require it. The battalions were not oriented on terrain or assigned the mission to take any particular hill; rather, they were oriented on the enemy and concerned primarily with locating and destroying his forces, supplies, and installations wherever they might be found.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
At 07:50 on 11 May, B/187th moved out from its NDP, searched the area of the previous day’s contact, and, in the afternoon, resumed movement up the ridge toward Hill 937. At about 16:00, while following a fresh trail up the ridge, B/187th ran head-on into a well-entrenched NVA force to their front. B/187th suffered several casualties in the contact and was forced to pull back a short distance to regroup, leaving their wounded where they fell. The 3/187th CP responded by calling in airstrikes and artillery; additional helicopter gunship and mortar support were also provided.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
Lieutenant Colonel Honeycutt directed B/187th to move back up the hill to recover its wounded, which they did. During the evacuation of those casualties, a helicopter gunship accompanying the medevac helicopter inadvertently fired a rocket salvo into the battalion CP position; Honeycutt was hit, one of his men was killed, and 35 more were wounded. All of the wounded were evacuated except for Honeycutt who elected to remain in the field. He radioed all aircraft to check in with him before launching any more airstrikes and to halt any further ARA until his positions were marked.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
After completing the evacuation of the casualties, NDPs were established. During their search of the bunker complexes, B/187th found weapons, miscellaneous supplies and equipment, and evidence of a telephone communications system plus NVA killed by airstrikes and artillery. One significant find was a set of documents found and translated by a Kit Carson scout that identified the NVA force on Dong Ap Bia as being from the 29th NVA Regiment.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
This information, plus the heavy contact experienced by B/187th during the day, provided the first indication that the Rakkasans were facing a sizable NVA force of between 1200 and 1800 men, reinforced with heavy weapons. A/187th and C/187th continued their reconnaissance-in-force operations to the northwest of Hill 937 toward the Laotian border where they had made no contact with the NVA but did report finding fresh trails.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
On 12 May, Hill 937 was repeatedly hit with airstrikes and artillery to dislodge the NVA from its fortified positions. The NVA held fast and the Rakkasans continued to receive heavy mortar and automatic-weapons fire and RPGs. Realizing that he had found NVA in strength on Hill 937, Lieutenant Colonel Honeycutt decided to redeploy his battalion to further develop the battle. A/187th became the battalion reserve, moving up to the battalion CP. D/187th was directed to move northeastward to a ravine and attack up Hill 937 from there. C/187th reversed direction and began moving eastward to reinforce B/187th.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
B/187th continued to maneuver against a well-disciplined NVA force that was dug in about 200 metres (220 yd) to its front. To aid in evacuating casualties and in resupply, Honeycutt directed B/187th to prepare an LZ at its position. One of the helicopters inserting engineers and equipment to assist in constructing the LZ was hit by ground fire, causing it to crash and burn, resulting in seven casualties. With B/187th’s assistance, the engineers completed the LZ by 15:00. Engineers cut another LZ 100 metres (110 yd) north of the battalion CP.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
In D/187th’s sector, as Captain Sanders moved his men in single file over a jungle trail, they were hit simultaneously from three directions by NVA concealed high in the tree canopy. D/187th dispersed and returned fire, shredding the treetops. By evening, C/187th was in its NDP approximately 200 metres (220 yd) south of B/187th and 500 metres (550 yd) southeast of the lower LZ, having made no significant hostile contact during the day. B/187th's NDP was located 350 metres (380 yd) northeast of the lower LZ. D/187th was 500 metres (550 yd) to the north of the lower LZ. A/187th and Honeycutt’s CP remained next to the upper LZ. Other than occasional NVA probes of the NDPs, the night was quiet. Artillery was placed on Hill 937 and its ridges throughout the night.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
At approximately 07:00 on 13 May, a forward air controller (FAC) arrived to direct airstrikes against the known NVA positions. After the airstrikes, B/187th and C/187th, now generally abreast but separated by approximately 200 metres (220 yd), resumed their climb toward the NVA positions. Both companies came under fire in the form of small arms, RPGs, and hand grenades. Fighter-bombers were overhead and airstrikes were immediately placed on the suspected NVA positions. B/187th and C/187th continued their push slowly forward in the face of heavy resistance. The response to these contacts was violent.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
As WIA from the two companies walked or were carried back down the trails, others, carrying ammunition and hand grenades, passed them going the other way. In C/187th’s CP area, two men were killed and five wounded by attacking NVA; the artillery FO called in fire support and the attack was repulsed. FACs were always overhead to direct airstrikes on positions as pointed out by Lieutenant Colonel Honeycutt who was either on the ground with the companies or flying at a low level overhead to get a better view of the situation.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
Helicopter gunships were likewise overhead throughout the day, responding to every call from the ground commanders. Although the NVA ground fire was continuous and they suffered casualties, B/187th and C/187th continued maneuvering toward Hill 937, attempting to gain a favorable position from which to launch a coordinated attack the next day. D/187th was having difficulties as well, reconnoitering about 900 metres (980 yd) north of B/187th. As they were wading across a river and climbing a ravine on the far riverbank, NVA hit them with mortars and RPGs, badly wounding three men.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
On the other side of the river, an RPG hit inside D/187th’s 3rd Platoon, wounding five men. D/187th, split in two with its men on both sides of the river, returned fire and called in helicopter gunships and a medevac helicopter. As the wounded were being loaded into the hovering helicopter, it was hit by an RPG, causing it to crash, instantly killing two men on the ground and wounding another. Captain Sanders now had 14 casualties that would have to be carried out by litter.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
D/187th resumed its ascent up the mountain, climbing sheer cliffs, and took an hour to move 100 yards (91 m). By late afternoon, elements of A/187th reached D/187th. Torrential rain forced Sanders to halt and set an NDP. He called in artillery on his perimeter with close-in, sustained shelling throughout the night. The companies continued to detect NVA movement during the early evening and, just after midnight, the NVA hit the Rakkasan positions. A Spooky gunship equipped with rapid-fire miniguns was called in to spray the area. Artillery continued to pound Hill 937 during the night. After the day's action, Honeycutt was convinced that the NVA was occupying Hill 937 and the surrounding ridges in considerable strength; he made his plans for the following day accordingly.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
On 14 May, 3/187th made a concerted effort to push the NVA off Hill 937. The plan called for the battalion to approach the hill from three directions: B/187th from the west, C/187th also from the west but up a small finger ridge 150 metres (160 yd) south of B/187th, and D/187th from the north. At 06:45, the FAC reported in and began to direct napalm and 1000-pound high-explosive bomb strikes on the NVA locations in preparation for the attack. Each company was supported by a separate artillery preparation along their planned route of advance.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
As was his habit, Lieutenant Colonel Honeycutt instructed his company commanders to move toward the suspected NVA location, to watch their flanks, to use maximum reconnaissance by fire, and to stay spread out. He would keep airstrikes, artillery, helicopter gunships, and mortars striking the NVA. The ground attack started as planned shortly before 08:00 and, despite heavy air and artillery preparation, the Rakkasans came into immediate contact with the NVA. Although resistance was heavy, B/187th and C/187th continued to push forward. At 09:30, a B/187th platoon reached the ridgeline where it came under intense fire.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
At the same time, C/187th found itself in a savage firefight when the NVA pounded them with mortars, RPGs, small-arms fire, and grenades rolled down on them. C/187th reported that it was being fired on from all directions and was pinned down. B/187th made three unsuccessful attempts to relieve C/187th and had seven men WIA. On the fourth attempt, B/187th succeeded in passing over the NVA bunker line, only to encounter a second bunker line. Honeycutt directed both companies to pull back to defensible positions. The lead elements began to withdraw under heavy NVA fire.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
One soldier was killed and three wounded. Honeycutt directed A/187th to send a platoon to cover the withdrawal. C/187th’s 2nd Platoon, covering the withdrawal, was hit with RPGs, killing or wounding six Rakkasans. C/187th now had a total of 52 KIA/WIA. While sporadic contact continued, the remainder of the day was devoted primarily to the evacuation of wounded and resupply. Honeycutt was informed by his company commanders that they had lost a total of 12 KIA and 80 WIA. By 19:20, he had medevaced out all his casualties.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
At 20:00, a Spooky gunship arrived and shredded the area west of the Rakkasan positions toward the Laotian border during the night. There was no letup in the artillery bombardment of the NVA. Based on the day's contact, Honeycutt assessed the NVA strength on the hill as being between two companies and a battalion. He developed plans to hit the NVA positions again on 15 May, hopefully before they had an opportunity to reinforce.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
His plan was for A/187th to relieve C/187th on B/187th’s southern flank and to attack from a more southerly direction; B/187th was to attack again essentially along the same route due to the limited avenues of approach up the hill; and D/187th, operating to the northeast, was to continue attacking in that area. Colonel Conmy, who had been closely following developments, to include visiting the 3/187th CP on the ground, determined that additional forces would be required to take the Hill 937. Accordingly, he ordered 1/506th, which had been operating to the southwest of Hill 937, to begin moving toward the hill to reinforce 3/187th for its attack.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
Operations were initiated on the morning of 15 May as planned. The firebases continued their almost nonstop shelling of Hill 937, reducing what was once a triple-canopy covered hill to a barren landscape of tree stumps and torn-up ground. After completing the exchange between A/187th and C/187th, the Rakkasans began their movement back up the ridges of Hill 937. NVA resistance was extremely determined and by early afternoon, all three companies were in heavy contact.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
The NVA employed command-detonated claymore mines that had been emplaced during the previous night to cover the ground that B/187th had attacked over the previous day, resulting in several casualties. After an airstrike was called in, B/187th moved forward and assaulted the firmly entrenched NVA, killing eight. In the early afternoon, A/187th and B/187th were about 150 metres (160 yd) from the top of the hill when sniper and machine-gun fire halted the advance. The NVA position was marked with smoke grenades and helicopter gunships were called in.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
A supporting ARA helicopter gunship inadvertently fired into the B/187th CP, knocking out the company's command group; two men were killed and 14 wounded, including Captain Littman. A new company commander, Captain John C. Chappelle, was immediately dispatched, but the momentum of the attack was lost. In the meantime, A/187th continued slugging it out with the entrenched NVA and only progressed an additional 75 metres (82 yd) up the hill. The battalion CP was hit by RPGs during the afternoon, wounding 13 men including Lieutenant Colonel Honeycutt and his S3 (Operations), both of whom refused evacuation.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
Honeycutt assessed the situation and determined that, while it appeared that A/187th could continue its advance, it was doubtful that B/187th, with its command group knocked out of action, would be able to continue. Additionally, D/187th, while progressing slowly, was in no position to support A/187th should they continue up the hill. Rather than risk putting a single company on the hill alone, Honeycutt canceled the attack and recommended that the companies pull back to their previous NDPs. While the companies returned to their previous night’s positions, airstrikes and artillery continued to pound the hill.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
Sporadic contact continued throughout the night, including a probe by NVA sappers on C/187th’s perimeter and that of the battalion CP. Honeycutt requested and received continuous close air support from minigun-equipped AC–119 Shadow gunships in addition to the always available artillery support. It became apparent, based on the day's contact, that the NVA force was more than just a battalion-sized element as originally suspected. Some of the NVA killed during the day had fresh haircuts, clean uniforms, and new weapons, confirming that reinforcements were being slipped into the area from across the Laotian border.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
The NVA appeared to be well-trained and disciplined, adept at camouflage and concealment, and capable of delivering high volumes of fire against the Rakkasans. Based on a review of the situation, Colonel Conmy decided not to attempt another ground attack up Hill 937 until 1/506th was in a position to support 3/187th from the south. That evening, 1/506th reported that it was within 1,200 metres (1,300 yd) of the lower LZ.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
Honeycutt directed his artillery liaison officer to give this message to the division staff: "I want you to make sure that everybody gets this. And I mean the artillery people and the gunship pilots and the liaison officers … everybody. I don't want any more ARA out here if they can't shoot the enemy instead of us. I'm tired of taking more casualties from friendlies than from the enemy. The next goddamn sonofabitch who comes out here and shoots us up, we're gonna shoot his fuckin' ass down. And that's final. Now you go back and tell 'em that."


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
The seventh day of the battle for Dong Ap Bia, 16 May, began identical to the previous six, with airstrikes and seemingly perpetual artillery rounds dropping onto both known and suspected NVA locations. Even so, the NVA held their positions. There were no significant contacts in 3/187th’s sectors during the day. The line companies remained in the vicinity of their NDPs preparing for their next attack up the ridges, which was planned for the following morning if 1/506th was able to get in position by then.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
Realizing that D/187th's three days of trying to find an approach to the top of the mountain through the ravine was enough, Lieutenant Colonel Honeycutt told Captain Sanders to move D/197th to secure the lower LZ. Honeycutt planned the next day’s attack with A/187th leading off, supported by 1/506th on its flank. However, the already slow movement of 1/506th was slowed even further by increasing NVA resistance. A platoon-sized NVA force hit 1/506th’s lead elements along separate routes of advance with heavy fire from the three other hill masses on Dong Ap Bia.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
Artillery, airstrikes, and helicopter gunships were employed to suppress the NVA; however, the enemy persisted. It became obvious that 1/506th would not be in position to support 3/187th for the coordinated attack on Hill 937 that was planned for the following morning. Without the help of 1/506th, Honeycutt had to cancel the attack. Colonel Conmy would not allow Honeycutt to conduct another ground attack up Hill 937 until he had 1/506th to support 3/187th. On 17 May, 1/506th had still not arrived to support 3/187th.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
Therefore, Honeycutt rescheduled the two-battalion attack on Hill 937 for the next day and used the time to prepare his battalion for the upcoming assault. Honeycutt planned to have elements of 3/187th move to positions from which to provide fire support for the main attack by 1/506th coming from the southwest. It was decided that the best way to support 1/506th’s attack was to move up Hill 937 and exert maximum pressure on the NVA defenses from the northwest.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
The attack would be supported by a CS gas (tear gas) preparation in addition to the usual tactical airstrikes and artillery preparation. Flak jackets were issued to the attacking companies to reduce casualties even though the extreme heat made wearing them almost unbearable. New gas masks, extra ammunition, and other supplies were also issued. Meanwhile, 1/506th continued its movement toward Hill 937 during the day, facing increasing resistance as they advanced. The NVA on the south side of the hill, as on the north side, were well dug-in and occupied concentric rows of mutually supporting bunkers. 1/506th continued their advance, fighting from bunker to bunker to progress, supported by continuous artillery, helicopter gunships, and airstrikes. By nightfall, 1/506th was finally in position to launch its attack the next day. The artillery pounding of the NVA positions continued throughout the night.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
On the morning of 18 May, with both 3/187th and 1/506th in position to begin their attacks, airstrikes were again placed on the Dong Ap Bia mountaintop to soften up the NVA positions. The once thickly covered hill mass was completely bald. The airstrikes were followed by an intense artillery preparation and then the CS gas preparation that proved to be only marginally effective because of the weather conditions. At 10:25, the two battalions moved out, 3/187th with three companies from the north and 1/506th with three companies from the south.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
Lieutenant Colonel Honeycutt directed A/187th and D/187th to advance up the two finger ridges found to be the only access routes to the summit. Both companies were immediately engaged. D/187th’s 3rd Platoon was in the lead when it was particularly hard hit at a bunker line by NVA automatic-weapons fire, RPGs, and claymore mines; casualties were heavy. Captain Sanders told his 3rd Platoon leader to keep his men moving up the ridge. Sanders knew that he had to keep moving or lose more men. Sanders was subsequently wounded and First Lieutenant Jerry Walden took over command of the company.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
At 11:37, Walden reported that he was within 75 metres (82 yd) of the summit. Minutes later, he was wounded by shrapnel. D/187th was now being lead by NCOs and was running out of ammunition. Honeycutt directed D/187th to hold in place and dispatched C/187th to reinforce D/187th, taking all the ammo it could carry. Captain Johnson was directed to take command of both D/187th and his own company. In trying to reach D/187th, C/187th had to fight its way up the ridge under heavy fire and was pinned down for a short time.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
After Johnson reached D/187th, he told his 1st Platoon leader to move his platoon further up the ridge. The men leapfrogged forward. The mountaintop was only 100 metres (110 yd) above them. To the south of D/187th, A/187th’s 3rd Platoon led the company's climb up a thirty-degree slope, assaulted and overran a line of bunkers, and attacked a second line of bunkers. Honeycutt realized the seriousness of the situation despite optimistic reports from his company commanders.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
From his command helicopter, Honeycutt saw that 1/506th had moved only about 100 metres (110 yd) against strong opposition and was in no position to assist with a coordinated assault on the mountaintop. He radioed Colonel Conmy and requested an additional “fully intact air assault company.” Conmy approved the request and informed Honeycutt that his reinforcing company would be airborne shortly.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
Since it was becoming increasingly difficult to move in the face of the withering NVA fire, the attack was halted from 12:50 until 13:30 while the NVA was again hit with a concentrated mix of napalm and bomb strikes, artillery, helicopter gunships, and mortars. The attack resumed and the determined infantry companies were almost on top of Dong Ap Bia when they were repulsed by an enemy who blew claymore mines and grenades amid their own positions.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
Honeycutt, overhead in his helicopter, called in airstrikes, artillery, and mortar fire on the NVA positions, and guided his companies in directions that appeared to have the best chance of success. He began to feel that his Rakkasans were finally going to take the mountain after nine days of fighting. As he landed at B/187th’s LZ, the sky darkened, the wind increased, and a heavy driving rain began to fall. Visibility dropped to 20 metres (22 yd). The rain continued, turning the slopes of the bald hill into a mudslide.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
The soldiers could not keep their footing and kept sliding down the hill. Honeycutt directed A/187th and D/187th to halt their advance until the rain stopped. With casualties mounting, heavy rain falling, and considering that 1/506th was having an equally hard time progressing up the other side of the mountain, Honeycutt decided to pull back his battalion to avoid taking any more casualties. C/187th covered the withdrawal of A/187th and D/187th. By 15:30, all three companies had pulled back.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
Meanwhile, General Zais had been following the action, as he had been doing since 10 May. To have a clear picture of what was happening, he spent most of every day either overhead, following the action from his helicopter, or on the ground talking with the soldiers and their leaders, getting a first-hand view of the tactical situation and the hardships facing the soldiers. At this point in the battle, Zais had a choice to make – cancel the operation or press on.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
After carefully reviewing the situation, Zais decided to reinforce 3/187th and 1/506th with two additional battalions to surround Dong Ap Bia. Zais discussed his decision with the 1st ARVN Division’s commanding general, who eagerly made 2/3 ARVN available as one of the reinforcing battalions. 2/501st, which had been operating east of the A Shau Valley was designated to be the second reinforcing battalion. During the night, plans were developed for a four battalion coordinated attack on the morning of 20 May.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
Honeycutt had been told to expect a reinforcing company. General Zais, concerned about 3/187th’s casualties, 14 KIA and 64 WIA, had countermanded Conmy’s order. At 17:00, Zais arrived at Honeycutt’s CP and asked him if he could continue the fight. Honeycutt said he could with the addition of another company. “General, if there is anybody that deserves to take that sonofabitch, it’s the Rakkasans – and you know that as well as I do.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
And there is just no goddamn way in hell that I want to see Sherron and 2/506th come in here and take that mountain after all we've been through. And if it ain't gonna be that way, then you just fire my ass right now." Zais thought about it for a minute and then said, "Okay, you can have your company." At 18:30, A/2/506th landed by helicopter on the upper LZ, joining B/187th in the blocking position while A/187th, C/187th, and D/187th set up NDPs in place.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
When the battalion colors returned to Fort Campbell, the unit had distinguished itself by earning two Valorous Unit Awards, and its third and fourth Presidential Unit Citations for the battles of Trang Bang and Dong Ap Bia Mountain (commonly known as "Hamburger Hill"). The Iron Rakkasans emerged from the Vietnam War as the country's most highly decorated airborne battalion.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Vietnam War (interim edit), 1969, Dong Ap Bia Mountain (Hamburger Hill) (interim edit)
3/187th Infantry's exploits from 10 to 20 May 1969 on Hill 937 in the A Shau Valley were depicted in a 1987 movie using the hill's nickname Hamburger Hill as the title. For this action, the unit received the Presidential Unit Citation.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Post–Vietnam
When the 101st returned from Vietnam, most of its personnel in the rank of staff sergeant and below were discharged upon arrival at Oakland, California, or Seattle, Washington. What remained largely consisted of a command group of staff officers and senior NCOs. The division settled into buildings recently vacated by the US Army Training Center at Fort Campbell.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Post–Vietnam
When the 101st was rebuilt, the separate 173rd Airborne Brigade was inactivated and its assets used to form the 3rd Brigade as an airborne unit consisting of 1/503rd Infantry, 2/503rd Infantry, and 3/187th Infantry. The partial airborne capability also extended to supporting units of the division (i.e., one company of three in a supporting unit was airborne). This lasted only until April 1974, when jump status for the 3rd Brigade was terminated, and the Airmobile Badge (renamed Air Assault Badge later that year) was introduced.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Post–Vietnam
In October 1983 the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Battalions, 187th Infantry, were activated, and on 21 November 1984, 5th Battalion was activated. The 1st and 2nd Battalions were assigned to the 193rd Infantry Brigade in the Panama Canal Zone and the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Battalions were assigned to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell. The 4th and 5th Battalions were created by reflagging the existing 1/503rd and 2/503rd, the colors of which were soon reactivated in Korea within the 2nd Infantry Division.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Post–Vietnam
The Panama-based 2/187th included one airborne company (Moatengators) within the battalion, and later jump status was expanded to the entire battalion. 2/187th was the last airborne battalion of the 187th. During a realignment of the Army's combat forces in 1987, the 1st and 2d Battalions were inactivated and the 5th and 4th Battalions were reflagged as the 1st and 2nd Battalions, respectively.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Post–Vietnam
From July 1984 to January, 1985, the 4th Battalion, reorganized at TF-4-187 (Rakkasan Raiders) deployed to the Sinai Desert, Egypt as the United States' contingent of the Multinational Force and Observers peacekeeping mission.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Post–Vietnam
From September 1988 through March 1989, the 1st Battalion reorganized as Task Force 1–187 and deployed to the Sinai Desert, Egypt as the United States' contingent of the Multinational Force and Observers peacekeeping mission.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Gulf War
In September 1990 the Rakkasans were deployed to Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield. In February 1991 two companies from the 1st Battalion captured 434 Iraqi soldiers during the air assault into Objective Weber and on 25 February the Rakkasans conducted the deepest and largest air assault operation in history. Striking 155 miles (249 km) behind enemy lines into the Euphrates river valley, the assault led to the timely defeat of Iraqi forces and contributed to a total allied victory. The unit moved farther north than any other unit during Operation Desert Storm.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Between the Gulf War and the Global War On Terrorism
From 1991 to 1993 the 3-187 was commanded by Lt. Colonel (later General) David H. Petraeus who renamed the battalion the "Iron Rakkasans" after the physical training test he created. CSM Donald Purdy was the Battalion Command Sergeant Major during this time.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Between the Gulf War and the Global War On Terrorism
In 1995 the Iron Rakkasans battalion was organized as Task Force 3-187 and deployed to the Sinai Peninsula in July 1995. The Iron Rakkasans were responsible for the southern portion of Zone C and based at South Camp, Sharm el Sheik, Egypt. During the deployment, they were instrumental in the recovery of casualties from an accident near one of the sector control centers and evacuating them to hospitals utilizing Multinational Forces Helicopters. On 23 November 1995, the 7.3 Mw Gulf of Aqaba earthquake hit the Sinai Peninsula. Again the Iron Rakkasans performed road recon and rescue operations throughout the peninsula. The Iron Rakkasans earned an Army Superior Unit Award for their actions during the deployment. The unit returned to the United States in January 1996.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Between the Gulf War and the Global War On Terrorism
In September 1996, elements of Raider Rakkasan (2nd Battalion),  Alpha Co. "Blackhawks," Charlie Co. "Hard Rock," and Bravo Co. "Warriors," 2nd Battalion deployed to Saudi Arabia  through April 1997 in support of Operation Desert Focus, providing force protection for U.S. personnel in support of U.S. air assets in Saudi Arabia relocated from Dhahran and from Riyadh to the remote Prince Sultan Air Base, Camp Eagle Town II. The move's purpose was force protection, and came in the wake of 25 June 1996 terrorist bombing at Khobar Towers which killed 19 airmen and wounded many more.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Between the Gulf War and the Global War On Terrorism
U.S. and Saudi Arabian officials agreed to split the $200 million cost of relocating more than 4,000 US troops. Some 2nd Battalion soldiers were awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Army Achievement Medal Army Superior Unit Award and the CIB. LTC Twomey was the battalion commander. Elements of 1/187th, deployed to Saudi, were part of Operation Desert Eagle, From Sept. to Dec. 1997.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Between the Gulf War and the Global War On Terrorism
From February 2000 through August 2000 1-187 deployed to Kosovo for peacekeeping operations as a part of Task Force Falcon in support of Operation Joint Guardian.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Afghanistan and Iraq
In 2001–2002, following the attacks of 9-11, the Rakkasans deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom where they most notably participated in Operation Anaconda in the eastern Shah-i-Khot region. The 2d Battalion (Raider Rakkasans) as well as Companies B,C, and D, 1st Battalion (Leader Rakkasan), were awarded the Valorous Unit Award for combat valor during this period.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Afghanistan and Iraq
In 2003, the Rakkasans, commanded by Colonel Mike Linnington, were deployed for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The 3d Battalion, 187th Infantry was temporarily attached to the 3d Infantry Division and accompanied them during the push into Baghdad. While attached to the 3d Infantry Division, 3d Battalion cleared the Republican Guard headquarters and Baghdad International Airport in April 2003. For this action the battalion earned an unprecedented fifth Presidential Unit Citation. Following the invasion, 3d Battalion conducted six months of security operations near Rabia, Iraq, on the Syrian border, to block the flow of foreign fighters. Prior to returning stateside in January 2004 the Iron Rakkasans conducted combat operations in Husaybah, Iraq with the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment. Once back in the US the battalion added a forward support company.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Afghanistan and Iraq
Before moving north to Ninawa Governorate (province), the Rakkasans conducted extensive stability and support operations in Baghdad's southeast sector. The Rakkasans conducted the majority of their operations in the northwest of Ninevah province with the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry focusing efforts around Tallafar, Zumar, and Avgani. The 2d Battalion, 187th Infantry worked primarily around Sinjar and Baji, and the 3d Battalion was headquartered in Rabia.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Afghanistan and Iraq
They returned to Fort Campbell in 2004 and redeployed to Iraq again in the fall of 2005. During their second tour in Iraq, they focused operations in Salah ad Din province, with the 3d Battalion. The brigade commander was Colonel Michael D. Steele. During this deployment that the brigade conducted "Operation Swarmer," one of the largest combat operations in Iraq since the initial invasion. Rakkasans worked with Iraqi Army soldiers throughout Salah ad Din province defeating insurgents, Al Qaeda cells, and uncovering numerous caches of weapons and explosives.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Afghanistan and Iraq
In October 2007 the Rakkasans again deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 07-09 led by brigade commander Col. Dominic Caraccilo. The brigade was headquartered at Camp Striker near Baghdad with an area of operation that extended from the Euphrates river in the west to the Tigris in the east and ran south from Baghdad to Al-Mahmudiyah. This area included the Triangle of Death which had seen significant violence in the war and was often a staging area for the insurgency.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Afghanistan and Iraq
As a unit following the surge, the Rakkasans manned combat outposts throughout the rural areas to provide local security for the populace, partner with Iraqi defense and police forces, and facilitate numerous economic and developmental projects. When the Rakkasans redeployed to Fort Campbell at the end of their tour in November 2008, they did not transfer authority to an incoming U.S. military unit. Instead, the area became the responsibility of the partnered Iraqi forces marking a significant step in the transference of security and authority from coalition forces to the Iraqis.


187th Infantry Regiment (United States), Afghanistan and Iraq
In January 2010, the Rakkasans again deployed to Regional Command East in Afghanistan for a 12-month deployment. Special Troops Battalion, 3D Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne, received the Valorous Unit Award, for Heroism in Action, between 1 April 2010 and 31 August 2010; at Combat Outpost Sabari.