The Battle of Hill 881 was a battle during the Vietnam War between the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN, or in US sources "North Vietnamese Army" or NVA) and United States Marines. Conducted in the I Corps Tactical Zone it became known as "the Hill Fights", involving Hill 881 North ( WikiMiniAtlas16°41′26.5″N 106°39′34.5″E / 16.690694°N 106.659583°E / 16.690694; 106.659583), Hill 881 South ( WikiMiniAtlas16°40′18″N 106°39′45.2″E / 16.67167°N 106.662556°E / 16.67167; 106.662556), and Hill 861 ( WikiMiniAtlas16°40′36″N 106°41′13″E / 16.67667°N 106.68694°E / 16.67667; 106.68694).The 'hill' designation in this case actually refers to a "hill mass" or a collection of ridges and saddles, the numbers to the elevation the highest point of the hill masses in meters.
With the hills properly bombarded, American forces managed to take Hill 881 North and South in the same day. After beating off a fierce NVA counterattack on Hill 881 North, the Marines could finally claim victory in what had become the bloodiest battle of the Vietnam War so far.
((HUGS))Good Tuesday afternoon, AZ. How’s it going?
Thank you for reminding us of this pivotal battle!