The Battle of Dak To
November Action
November Action
The Battle of Dak To took place mainly during the month of November 1967, culminating in the fight for Hill 875
I found descriptions of the battles that took place during November. These fights took place generally in the area of the Ngok Kom Leat ridge, Hill 823 and Hill 724 in the first half of November, and Hill 875 at the end of November.
The first description I found is an after-action report on the fighting at the beginning of the month. The report has a great amount of detail, reporting the exact map locations of the action, and naming the soldiers involved.
The second description covers the same time period but is more of a narrative and it includes the Hill 875 battle. This description lives on the web, so I hope it endures.
For the action on Hill 875, I have 3 reports. They don't show map coordinates, but they do have diagrams showing the action. The report in the 173d newsletter contains some or all portions of the other reports that are here.
What I have here is only a small fraction of the information you can find on the web about these battles, and also battles a year before and a year after this.
--Ernie Camacho Feb. 2022--
I found descriptions of the battles that took place during November. These fights took place generally in the area of the Ngok Kom Leat ridge, Hill 823 and Hill 724 in the first half of November, and Hill 875 at the end of November.
The first description I found is an after-action report on the fighting at the beginning of the month. The report has a great amount of detail, reporting the exact map locations of the action, and naming the soldiers involved.
The second description covers the same time period but is more of a narrative and it includes the Hill 875 battle. This description lives on the web, so I hope it endures.
For the action on Hill 875, I have 3 reports. They don't show map coordinates, but they do have diagrams showing the action. The report in the 173d newsletter contains some or all portions of the other reports that are here.
What I have here is only a small fraction of the information you can find on the web about these battles, and also battles a year before and a year after this.
--Ernie Camacho Feb. 2022--
Action around the Ngok Kom Leat ridge and Hill 823
173d Airborne Brigade
After Action Report - Battle of Dak To
After Action Report - Battle of Dak To
Notes:
This report stops after the Ngok Kom Leat action. It has map coordinates of the battle locations. The Google Earth images below show them.
The report mentions types of fire: RR-Recoilless Rifle, AW-Automatic Weapons, SA- Small Arms
This report stops after the Ngok Kom Leat action. It has map coordinates of the battle locations. The Google Earth images below show them.
The report mentions types of fire: RR-Recoilless Rifle, AW-Automatic Weapons, SA- Small Arms
Weapons and Warfare website
Dak To - Ngok Kom Leat and Hill 875, South Vietnam, 1967
Dak To - Ngok Kom Leat and Hill 875, South Vietnam, 1967
Notes:
This report covers both the Ngok Kom Leat fighting and the Hill 875 fighting.
A photo is identified as being on hill 742. I can't find it. It may be that they meant hill 724.
Where the report says "19 July", it should say "19 November".
This report covers both the Ngok Kom Leat fighting and the Hill 875 fighting.
A photo is identified as being on hill 742. I can't find it. It may be that they meant hill 724.
Where the report says "19 July", it should say "19 November".
Here are some Google Earth images that show where the action took place, southwest of Dak To airfield. These images cover the area of the first 9-part report, in early November.
Overview map showing the area of the battles. Dak To airfield is at the right edge of the map. Hill 875 is at the bottom-left corner of the map.
Area of operations detailed in the reports, above. This image is from 2022, showing 50 years of development. Firebase 12 is at top-right.
Place marks include map coordinates from the after-action report.
Place marks include map coordinates from the after-action report.
Area of operations detailed in the reports, above. This image from 2005 still shows the heavy vegetation. Bomb craters can still be seen.
Place marks include map coordinates from the after-action report.
Place marks include map coordinates from the after-action report.
The same area as it appears today in 2022. Only a few bomb craters can be seen now.
Action on Hill 875
Report by the US Army War College
Notes:
This report has several diagrams and maps that show the progress of the battle.
This report has several diagrams and maps that show the progress of the battle.
Newsletter of the 2nd Battalion, 173d Airborne Brigade, detailing the battle for Hill 875
Notes:
This newsletter contains portions of the After-action Report.
Hill 742 is shown in a couple of photos. It says the hill is northwest of Dak To. Hill 875 area is southwest. I can't find this hill 742. It may be Hill 724.
Not all photos were taken during this operation. They are included to provide context.
A few of the map coordinates are not correct.
This newsletter contains other reports and personal stories, including the War College report, above.
This newsletter contains portions of the After-action Report.
Hill 742 is shown in a couple of photos. It says the hill is northwest of Dak To. Hill 875 area is southwest. I can't find this hill 742. It may be Hill 724.
Not all photos were taken during this operation. They are included to provide context.
A few of the map coordinates are not correct.
This newsletter contains other reports and personal stories, including the War College report, above.
Newsletter of the 2nd Battalion, 173d Airborne Brigade, on the 52 anniversary of the Hill 875 battle, honoring the men.
Here is a Google Earth image of Hill 875, looking to the northeast. Firebase 16 is in the distance.
Google Earth image of HIll 875 as it looks now, in 2022.