Battle of Hill 881

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Hill 881
partof=the Vietnam War


caption=Hill 881 north and south as seen from the old Khe Sahn airstrip in 2006
date=April - May 1967
place=Khe Sanh, South Vietnam
result=American victory
combatant1=
combatant2=
commander1=
commander2=
strength1=
strength2=
casualties1=947 killed
casualties2=155 killed, 455 wounded

The Battle of Hill 881 was a battle between soldiers of the North Vietnamese Army and United States Marines during the Vietnam War. It became known as "the Hill Fights", involving Hill 881 North (coord|16|41|26.5|N|106|39|34.5|E|type:mountain), Hill 881 South (coord|16|40|18|N|106|39|45.2|E|type:mountain), and Hill 861 (coord|16|40|36|N|106|41|13|E|type:mountain).cite book| last =Kelley| first =Michael P.| title =Where We Were In Vietnam| publisher =Hellgate Press| date =2002| pages = p. 5-236 | id = ISBN 1-55571-625-3 ] The numbers refer to the elevation of the hills in meters.

It was one of the bloodiest battles of the war, with two Marine battalions facing a large NVA force intent on destroying Khe Sanh . The Marines stormed the hills and were able to take them with 155 KIA and 455 WIA. The NVA were well dug in, but lost over 900 troops and withdrew.

Notes

References

*cite news
title =Arrow of Death
publisher =TIME Magazine
date =1967-05-12
url =http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,843725,00.html
accessdate = 2007-04-21

External links

* [http://www.hodierne.com/881splash.htm The Battle for Hill 881 -- May 1967] -Photos