Delta Company vs the 66th NVA Regiment | Ngọc Kom Liệt Ridge | Đắk Tô 1967

November 6, 1967. Three understrength American paratroop companies push into the jungled ridges above Bến Hét — and walk, without knowing it, straight into the kill zone of a full North Vietnamese regiment. What follows is a desperate, close-quarters fight for survival on a ridgeline called Ngọc Kom Liệt, decided in the end by one captain's refusal to take no for an answer when he called for air support. This is the story of Delta Company, 4th Battalion, 503rd Infantry (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade, and the sister companies who fought to reach them — told through the after-action record of the men who were there: the officers who made the calls, the radiomen who relayed them, and the young paratroopers, most on their first combat tour, who held the line. ****** Units and Commanders American / South Vietnamese side (173rd Airborne Brigade task force): 4th Battalion, 503rd Infantry (Airborne) — Lt. Col. James Johnson, battalion commander 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division (operational control) — Col. Richard Johnson, brigade commander Alpha Company — Capt. Muldoon; 2nd Platoon led by Lt. Din Bravo Company — Capt. Beck Charlie Company — Capt. Connell; assault squad led by 2nd Lt. John Delta Company — Capt. Bowers; 1st Platoon led by Lt. Burton, 2nd Platoon led by Lt. Allen One CIDG (Civilian Irregular Defense Group) platoon attached to each rifle company, from the Bến Hét camp, each led by a U.S. Special Forces NCO Artillery support — Battery B, 3rd Battalion, 31st Field Artillery North Vietnamese side: 1st NVA Division — Gen. Nguyễn Hữu An, division commander 66th NVA Regiment (including its 2nd Battalion, whose command post Delta Company approached) 32nd NVA Regiment 24th NVA Regiment 174th NVA Regiment #VietnamWar #DakTo #NgocKomLiet #173rdAirborne #MilitaryHistory #USArmy #WarHistory #VietnamWarHistory #NVA #CIDG #1967 #WarDocumentary #NamHoa #ArmedForcesHistory #CentralHighlands