We have been learning about Bruce Pochardt’s Vietnam service. After graduating from Lynd in 1966, he farmed until drafted in 1968. He completed Army training with his friend, Francis Maeyaert. The two deployed to Vietnam in August 1968.

About mid-tour after three months on a mortar crew at a firebase in the northernmost military region of Vietnam, the command pulled Bruce’s crew to rejoin A Company of the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment. The good news was Bruce was back with Francis. But now both men were going on combat patrols.

Bruce’s battalion was one of five that moved west in May to the remote, A Shau Valley, near the Laotian border. This was Operation Apache Snow, intended to disrupt enemy units in the area. Bruce recalled the beginning of what was almost two weeks of fighting.

“At the beginning of the A Shau Valley we were going through down by the river. There was activity and then this tremendous blast. A friend of mine (10 feet away) dropped like a box of rocks and sat. His backpack wouldn’t let him tip over. He was dead before he hit the ground.”

Bruce’s battalion reported five soldiers killed in action and 25 more medevac’d due to injuries. This was day two of the operation.

The operation soon focused on Dong Ap Bia, a mountain dominating the valley’s northern end. American troops referred to it as Hill 937 for its height in meters on their maps. Bruce recalled this change in focus.

“We were still patrolling from the time that guy was killed. We just kept moving toward (Hill 973), moving up and found a place where we could stage. You could see the hill.”

A declassified memorandum from the operation’s Commanding General, from May 1969 provides an account of what Bruce’s battalion encountered the day after his friend was killed, as it moved up the mountain’s rain-forested slopes.

“On 12 May the 3-187th continued their push along the rough, canopied ridges. By (9:05 a.m.) they made contact with a force estimated at two companies dug in about 200 meters to their front. They maneuvered against the force and called in ARA (Airborne Rocket Artillery) and artillery fire to dislodge the enemy from fortified positions. The enemy held fast and throughout the day the 3-187th received heavy automatic weapons and RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade) fire.”

Bruce’s battalion pulled back that night. He recalled this became the pattern for the next week.

“Every morning they’d soften it up with artillery crashing on top and then we’d go and make our move. We’d pull back every day and regroup.”

Each day’s assault on the mountain took a toll. For instance, on May 13th Bruce’s battalion reported three soldiers killed and 64 medevac’d due to injuries. On Sunday, May 18, the battalion reported 12 soldiers killed and 55 more medevac’d.

Another declassified memo from the Commanding General quoted an AP story by Jay Schuratt. He caught a helicopter to the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry staging area and was there May 18, when injured troops returned from Hill 937.

“(Wounded) paratroopers came from the mountain, their shirts dark green with sweat, their weapons gone, their bandages stained brown and red from mud and blood. Many cursed their battalion commander, who sent three companies to take the 3,000 foot mountain. ‘That damned Blackjack won’t stop until he kills every one of us,’ said one of the wounded troopers.”

Bruce explained that the battalion’s companies were not bloodied equally during the fighting.

“We had our side (to assault). Was it Bravo or Charlie Company that had the worst? I’ve got where all the fortified bunkers were. That company must have gone up against the worst.”

Bruce’s A Company also took casualties. One hit close to home.

“Francis got hit there. He got shot right in this pocket. (Pointing to his left, breast pocket) His billfold was there and it saved his life.”

On May 20, 1969, the American forces pushed through the enemy defenses on Hill 937.

“Finally, we made it to the top. I remember seeing the cardboard sign there, “Hamburger Hill.” They first put a sign up talking bad about the Colonel. Blackjack was his call sign. There was a nasty word in front of “Blackjack.” (Bruce chuckled) (The top) was just bare ground. Everything was blown away — large trees blown to bits.”

Bruce described how the Army airlifted the surviving men of 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry on May 21st.

“They picked us up with helicopters and we went directly to the beach for an in-country R&R. I think we had two or three days.”

The Army authorized 767 soldiers for Bruce’s battalion. The unit was likely not at full-strength for the operation because of soldiers leaving or not cleared for duty. The battalion reported 36 soldiers killed during the operation and another 255 medevac’d. That meant about forty percent of the unit was missing when it returned from the A Shau Valley.

The commanding general pulled the remaining American troops off Hill 937 and out of the A Shau Valley on June 5, at the end of the operation.

The Army medevac’d Bruce’s friend, Francis, to an Army hospital in Japan. Bruce had more than two months remaining on his tour of duty.

He reflected on the battle, “Nothing was quite as dramatic as Hamburger Hill — I don’t even remember anything after that.”

The Lyon County Museum is organizing an exhibit about the Vietnam War and Lyon County. If you would like to share Vietnam experiences or help with the exhibit, please contact me at prairieviewpressllc@gmail.com or call the museum at 537-6580.