Video
February 25, 2007
This comes courtesy of CasperPlatoon.com.
Watch the video (opens Windows Media Player).
The song is called “8th of November,” and it’s done by country group Big & Rich. If you can get through this without crying, then we’ll be surprised.
At about 0600 on the morning of 8 November C Company began a move northwest toward Hill 65, while B Company moved northeast toward Hill 78. Shortly before 0800, C Company was engaged by a sizable enemy force well dug in to the southern face of Hill 65. At 0845, B Company was directed to wheel in place and proceed toward Hill 65 with the intention of relieving C Company.
B Company reached the foot of Hill 65 at about 0930 and moved up the hill. It became obvious that there was a very large enemy force in place on the hill,C Company was getting hammered, and by chance, B Company was forcing the enemy’s right flank.
Under pressure from B Company’s flanking attack the enemy force—most of a Viet Cong regiment—moved to the northwest, whereupon the B Company commander called in air and artillery fires on the retreating troops. B Company halted in place in an effort to locate and consolidate with C Company’s platoons, managing to establish a coherent defensive line running around the hilltop from southeast to northwest, but with little cover on the southern side.
Meanwhile, the VC commander realized that his best chance was to close with the US soldiers so that the 173rd’s air and artillery fire could not be effectively employed. He attempted to out-flank the US position atop the hill from both the east and the southwest, moving his troops closer to the Americans. The result was shoulder-to-shoulder attacks up the hillside, hand-to-hand fighting, and isolation of parts of B and C Companies but the Americans held against two such attacks. Although the fighting continued after the second massed attack, it reduced in intensity as the VC commander again attempted to disengage and withdraw. By late afternoon it seemed that contact had been broken off, allowing the two companies to prepare a night defensive position while collecting their dead and wounded in the center of the position. Although a few of the most seriously wounded were extracted by USAF helicopters using Stokes litters, the triple-canopy jungle prevented the majority from being evacuated until the morning of 9 November.
The result of the battle was heavy losses on both sides—48 Paratroopers dead, many more wounded, and 403 dead VC troops.
It is for these 48 Paratroopers–and all of our brothers and sisters–that we will be in Washington on the 17th.
Eagles Up!
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What a wonderfull Tribute To The 173RD,If it weren’t for Finances I would be there with you At THE WALL for the gathering Sincerely Hardy Showell USN SEABEES VN 67,68,69
I’m a Kraut and I owe the finest and brightest men and women of the United States - Our Troops, my freedom! I will never forget that! American Soldier’s are always welcomed in my house!
God bless Our Troops and their Families!
Awesome…. Just awesome !
Oh wow. That says it all.
We were warriors once. And we still are. Awesome song, about some awesome guys …
Here’s to Sgt Pat Emery … God rest his soul … He was there on Hill 65.
Gonna miss that brother, as bad as all the other brothers who have gone on before…
They will all be with us as well on the 17th …
Many HERD brothers will be there … in Warrior Spirit and in the warrior Flesh.
AIRBORNE ALL THE WAY
Sky~Soldier
A/4th/503rd Abn Inf
173d AIrborne Brigade (SEP)
Vietnam 68/69
Thank you and God Bless you.
Just….DAMN!!!
See you on the line on the 17th
I will be there.
AIRBORNE to Big & Rich for that great song honoring The Herd. They also put on a free concert in Atlanta with Lynard Skynard last October and raised over $500,000 IN ONE NIGHT to help pay for the 173d Airborne Brigade Memorial at Ft. Benning, Ga. They’re the greatest.
All the best to Niles Harris and the troopers of the 1/503d Airborne Infantry who survived the 8th of November, 1965.
Peace my brothers. All the Way.
Ranger566
173d Airborne Brigade ‘69-’70
Total SUPPORT to you all from this old Vietnam Vet from Australia.
2 Squadron RAAF Phan Rang SVN ‘67-’68
ALLTHEWAY..from an old “BLACK Hat” 1/507TH Ft Benning,68-70
Hey, Rodney C, H, Showell!
How much do you need to go to the wall?
I will help get you there!
Audrie