November 1967

The month of November

Always brings tears

For those who remember

Although, it’s been forty years

On a hill called eight seven five

An under strength battalion fought

Early the nineteenth they started their drive

They didn’t know the number the NVA brought

A hill trap maneuver caught them halfway

They could not advance; could not go back

Another battalion was on the way

Twenty four hours later they started attack

On the first night a Marine Phantom Jet

Was misdirected and took forty two away

Another forty five wounded waiting to be met

While the other battalion kept NVA at bay

On a nondescript hill in five long nights

One hundred fifty eight members of the 173rd

Died in Dak To in the bloodiest firefight

The Herd’s many wounded waited for birds

While sixteen hundred and forty four

NVA Regulars lay dead on the hill

The small patch of real estate cost us more

Than any other battle on any one hill

Remember November and the Sky Soldiers then

The Herd’s dead soldiers who died on eight seven five

Drink a quiet toast to the Herd’s brave men

And be thankful for those brave soldiers still alive.

© 9/21/07 Terry Sutherland

Awarded 9/25/2007