An unidentified African American soldier looks out over the desolate and torn-up landscape of Hill 937 of Dong Ap Bia, better known to Americans as Hamburger Hill. The 101st Airborne Division, with armor from 3rd Battalion, 5th Mechanized Infantry Division, were on top of Dong Ap Bia as part of operations in A Shau valley. In May elements of the 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne, together with North Vietnamese Army infantry troops fought fiercely to gain control of the hill, a battle that would become known as the Battle of Hamburger Hill. Despite the hard-won victory, Stars and Stripes photographer Bob Hodierne's original photo caption sheet already stated that "[The] 101st does not intend to make a permanent base on Hamburger Hill."

Bob Hodierne, © 1969; 2019 Stars and Stripes, All Rights Reserved | BUY THIS PHOTO