Operation Apache Snow

[Bill Farnie]

16 May 1969

The day began just like the others with air strikes and massive artillery bombardment. Honeycutt's plan was to have his companys supported by a flanking attack by the 1/506th but the Currahees were in trouble. The NVA hit the battalion with heavy fire from hills 900,800 and 916. Not having the help of the 1/506th, Honeycutt called off the assault. LtCol. Honeycutt was frustrated thinking that it was taking the 1/506th to long to get to him and he rightly sensed that the NVA were bringing in reinforcements/replacements from Laos. My company was alerted to make a CA to the border area of Laos to patrol and setup ambushes along the ridgelines that lead to the Dong Ap Bia mountains. The 1st and 3rd platoons made the CA leaving the 2nd and 4th platoons at FSB Currahee for its defense. We made contact soon after leaving our LZ with a small group of NVA. Three of the enemy were killed and the 1st platoon had one WIA.

[DMZ-LT]

Thank you for your service Homie. Seems like yesterday sometimes. Welcome Home Brother !!

[Bill Farnie]

17 May 1969

The 1/506th, fighting up the mountain crests, still hadn’t arrived in a support position so LtCol. Honeycutt put the day “on hold” to prepare for the assault by re-supplying his men.

The two platoons of D/1/506th, looking for infiltrators, had wandered into Laos. This was discovered when Lt. Cook, 3rd platoon leader, called in our position. He was told, by battalion, to "nose around a bit".

[Packo]

Thank you and keep it up.

Tom, (Frisco), Dan was for sure in the A Shau....just not when Bill was. Don't know if James had gone LRRP by then. Even though you weren't in the A Shau...you did a helluva job! All you guys.

Airborne!

Pack

[Bill Farnie]

18 May 1969

Once again, air and arty pounded the hill but the first CS rounds landed in the middle of A/3/187 and division called off the CS attack. A & D companys moved out and every man wore a flak jacket received in the re-supply. A & D companys assault was halted by the enemy so air strikes using napalm were called and after that arty and gunships. The A & D troopers also fired on the bunkers using everything they had including LAW’s and 90mm recoilless rifles.

A company attacked and overran the first line of bunkers. D company reported that they were within 100 meters from the crest of Hill 937, which would be named "Hamburger Hill" by the 101st troopers. Honeycutt thought things were going well, in spite of the fact that the 1/506th, still in heavy contact on the other hills, couldn’t help in the assault but the NVA halted the advance of both companys and the men were running low on ammo. Air strikes were called for again while all units held in place. C company reinforced D company and attacking came to within 100 meters from the top of the hill. Honeycutt, who was overhead in his CC chopper directing air strikes and arty fire, landed when he thought that they will finally take the hill. At the LZ his men were attacked and Honeycutt shot an NVA soldier.

Then the rain came. It was so bad and was lasting so long the slopes became slick mud and visibility was about twenty meters. Forward movement was impossible so he called the 3rd Brigade CO and after discussing his situation, decided to withdraw. Earlier in the day, Honeycutt requested another company of the 506th from Conmy and it was granted but unknown to Honeycutt General Zais, the 101st Abn. Division commander was hesitant to send one so at 1700 he flew to Honeycutts CP. After a heated exchange with the general, Honeycutt told him that the 3/187th deserves to take the hill and if he didn’t agree with that, to fire him. Gen. Zais agreed to send him another company. At 1830 A/2/506th began to land.

My platoon spotted a large group of NVA near the border. They were moving along the Trung Pham River. We called in ARA. When we performed a sweep of the area we found five of the enemy killed and numerous blood trails leading back towards Laos.

[Bill Farnie]

19 May 1969

At 0630 the fast movers arrived and hit the enemy positions with seven air strikes using bombs, napalm and rockets. For some strange reason, the NVA popped purple smoke. We didn’t use “grape” so the jets had accurately marked targets.

3/187th and A/2/506th moved to what was called “the lower LZ”. 2/3 ARVN moved by chopper from Hue to an LZ 1000 meters south of AP Bia and then climbed northwest to an assault position 500 meters from the top of hill 900. Three companys of 2/501st air assaulted from FSB Airborne to an LZ 800 meters northeast of Ap Bia and humped to 400 meters from the base of hill 937. The 1/506th positioned south of the mountain.

Over a captured NVA radio, Honeycutt received an eerie message. The NVA taunted him with; “Black Jack we are going to kill all your men tomorrow. When you come up the mountain in the morning Black Jack we will be waiting for you. All you men are going to die. Can you hear me Black Jack? , all will die.”

Honeycutt barked back “We’ll see who dies tomorrow, asshole”

[DeadlyDaring]

Very good story of the 506th Infantry Bill so I did my own research ...you guys need more reconition than you did get. Operation Apache Snow, 3/187th and A/2/506th, Hamburger Hill (Dong Ap Bia)
Your Government sure sucked the guts out of the 101st airborne 506th

Lest we forget brother

[Robert Ryan]

You weren't around for the A Shau but you made to another hell hole called Dak To. I remember you talking about it. I spent two weeks to many in Dak To it was the Nastiest place I was in in Vietnam when I was with the 4th ID. The Ia Drang Valley was no picnic either.

[splummer]

Did you see the movie Hamburger Hill, and if you did, what did you think???

[DeadlyDaring]

I rate it as a very good movie, not like some others that were made