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Hamburger Hill
In 1969 the U.S. command was determined to suppress NVA activity in the A Shau Valley. This blow-by-blow account captures the courage, the costly mistakes and the griping fury of the battle for Ap Bia Mountain--renamed "Hamburger Hill" by the men who lived through it.
Hardcover
First published October 1, 1988
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 26, 2023
In his book, Samuel Zaffiri chronicles the notorious battle of Dong Ap.
Lasting for eleven days in May 1969, it involved 2,000 men from five infantry battalions, fewer than 100 of whom died. Compared to other famous battles, the number of casualties might seem insignificant, but in percents, the losses were shocking: Alpha Company took over 30 percent casualties, Bravo and Charlie took 50 and 60, and Delta took 75. In the American Civil War and the First World War, the two conflicts with the highest number of casualties, there had been almost no units who had taken 50 percent losses. Worse, a few weeks after, the Americans announced that they were leaving the hill, confirming that all the lives were lost for nothing. This provoked widespread criticism in America, and the battle of Dong Ap became known as an instance of stupidity among commanders.
However, explains the author, the American soldiers actually had not planned to capture Dong Ap in the first place – it was not even mentioned in the briefings for their operation. The A Shau valley, which surrounded the hill, had too many intervening ridges and hills, and it could not be seen well from the top, so Dong Ap would not have been of much use to the Americans. They were there to find and kill the enemy, but they did not expect the Communists to hold their ground because they usually chose to disappear over the border of Laos. This time they stayed, though, and the Americans had to destroy them, which resulted in high casualties on the Communists' side too – 600 dead.
According to the author, the Communists had chosen to hold ground that time because Dong Ap was one of the most heavily fortified hills in Vietnam – a perfect defensive position with long, narrow, steep sides. Furthermore, Laos, where their replacements, resupply, and medics were, was only several kilometers away and so were other supply areas and regiments.
Zaffiri is a good writer, so he does a great job depicting the battle. However, he bases his account on the official 3/187th after-action report of operation Apache Snow, as it was called, and this report is now known to be flawed and incomplete. For instance, it puts the battalion headquarters at a wrong place on the map, and the map in this work also has this mistake. Furthermore, the report includes contradictory information about the locations of the companies.
What surprises me is that the person who pointed out these mistakes was Frank Boccia, the leader of Bravo Company, whom Zaffiri thanked for his help. If the author had had the opportunity to discuss Hamburger Hill with Boccia, why did he not ask him to check whether he got the facts right? According to Boccia, mistakes in the report were noted as early ad June 1969. This demonstrates that the author has not done his research well.
HAMBURGER HILL is an interesting and well-written, but sometimes incorrect, account of the battle of Dong Ap. This book would have been more informative if Zaffiri had not drawn upon the wrong report.
Lasting for eleven days in May 1969, it involved 2,000 men from five infantry battalions, fewer than 100 of whom died. Compared to other famous battles, the number of casualties might seem insignificant, but in percents, the losses were shocking: Alpha Company took over 30 percent casualties, Bravo and Charlie took 50 and 60, and Delta took 75. In the American Civil War and the First World War, the two conflicts with the highest number of casualties, there had been almost no units who had taken 50 percent losses. Worse, a few weeks after, the Americans announced that they were leaving the hill, confirming that all the lives were lost for nothing. This provoked widespread criticism in America, and the battle of Dong Ap became known as an instance of stupidity among commanders.
However, explains the author, the American soldiers actually had not planned to capture Dong Ap in the first place – it was not even mentioned in the briefings for their operation. The A Shau valley, which surrounded the hill, had too many intervening ridges and hills, and it could not be seen well from the top, so Dong Ap would not have been of much use to the Americans. They were there to find and kill the enemy, but they did not expect the Communists to hold their ground because they usually chose to disappear over the border of Laos. This time they stayed, though, and the Americans had to destroy them, which resulted in high casualties on the Communists' side too – 600 dead.
According to the author, the Communists had chosen to hold ground that time because Dong Ap was one of the most heavily fortified hills in Vietnam – a perfect defensive position with long, narrow, steep sides. Furthermore, Laos, where their replacements, resupply, and medics were, was only several kilometers away and so were other supply areas and regiments.
Zaffiri is a good writer, so he does a great job depicting the battle. However, he bases his account on the official 3/187th after-action report of operation Apache Snow, as it was called, and this report is now known to be flawed and incomplete. For instance, it puts the battalion headquarters at a wrong place on the map, and the map in this work also has this mistake. Furthermore, the report includes contradictory information about the locations of the companies.
What surprises me is that the person who pointed out these mistakes was Frank Boccia, the leader of Bravo Company, whom Zaffiri thanked for his help. If the author had had the opportunity to discuss Hamburger Hill with Boccia, why did he not ask him to check whether he got the facts right? According to Boccia, mistakes in the report were noted as early ad June 1969. This demonstrates that the author has not done his research well.
HAMBURGER HILL is an interesting and well-written, but sometimes incorrect, account of the battle of Dong Ap. This book would have been more informative if Zaffiri had not drawn upon the wrong report.
April 14, 2020
A narrative history of the assault on Dong Ap Bia, the subject of the movie of the same name.
The book does a good job of setting out the reasons for the North Vietnamese occupation of the A Shau Valley, and subsequently the need for US efforts to dislodge them from their stronghold. The repeated US assaults are told in detail, with the book finishing with an examination of the far reaching political repercussions of the battle and finally the participants are given voice to provide their views on this.
While the book provides an excellent overview of the battle, it lacks any personal input (apart from the final section) and only provides an American perspective on the battle - although given it's publication date (1988) this is probably not surprising.
The book does a good job of setting out the reasons for the North Vietnamese occupation of the A Shau Valley, and subsequently the need for US efforts to dislodge them from their stronghold. The repeated US assaults are told in detail, with the book finishing with an examination of the far reaching political repercussions of the battle and finally the participants are given voice to provide their views on this.
While the book provides an excellent overview of the battle, it lacks any personal input (apart from the final section) and only provides an American perspective on the battle - although given it's publication date (1988) this is probably not surprising.
November 1, 2018
This book does a good job of setting the stage talking about the indigenous population in the valley, and how the Ashau valley became part of the North's supply network into South Vietnam. The book also does well in telling a blow by blow account of the battle, and it finally concludes with the final thoughts of some of the participants of the battle. The book is weakened by a failure to adequately place the battle in the context of the war, and it is written exclusively from the US point of view. There are no sources from ARVN or NVA participants.
Ironically, the political impact of the battle in the US helped to speed up the American withdrawal from Vietnam, so any tactical victory was offset by the fact that it was interpreted domestically as a useless bloodbath. With the benefit of hindsight, if there was no solid plan to permanently hold the terrain, then simply engaging a protracted struggle to secure the hill did not make much sense in the context of an attritional campaign. As it was each US attack was preceded by airstrikes, helicopter strikes, and artillery bombardments. Even so, the battle took ten days and 500 casualties, and the hill was subsequently abandoned. While the NVA sustained around 1,500 casualties, it was a fairly cost-intensive way to kill enemy soldiers.
Ironically, the political impact of the battle in the US helped to speed up the American withdrawal from Vietnam, so any tactical victory was offset by the fact that it was interpreted domestically as a useless bloodbath. With the benefit of hindsight, if there was no solid plan to permanently hold the terrain, then simply engaging a protracted struggle to secure the hill did not make much sense in the context of an attritional campaign. As it was each US attack was preceded by airstrikes, helicopter strikes, and artillery bombardments. Even so, the battle took ten days and 500 casualties, and the hill was subsequently abandoned. While the NVA sustained around 1,500 casualties, it was a fairly cost-intensive way to kill enemy soldiers.
December 8, 2010
I read the book Hamburger Hill by Samuel Zaffiri. It was about the large battle that took place between May 11th to the 20th. The story was based in Vietnam on Mount. Dong Ap Bia. The story began telling the history of the mount. starting when the indians settled there and went all the way up till the war started and units of the 101st airborne moved into the valley surrounding it. That was the beginning of the violent battle that would be known as “hamburger hill”.
This was a good book, it was slow to begin with but after that was very fast paced. The first 7 chapters were about the history off the hill and were not that interesting after that the marines move into the valley and after that it was very interesting. The story was well told and easy to follow but there were no real main characters, it skipped from person to person, so it was hard to tell who the author was talking about
I rate this book at 4 out of 5 because it was occasionally hard to follow what character the author was talking about.
This was a good book, it was slow to begin with but after that was very fast paced. The first 7 chapters were about the history off the hill and were not that interesting after that the marines move into the valley and after that it was very interesting. The story was well told and easy to follow but there were no real main characters, it skipped from person to person, so it was hard to tell who the author was talking about
I rate this book at 4 out of 5 because it was occasionally hard to follow what character the author was talking about.
July 4, 2012
Samuel Zaffiri has written an excelent book on one of the key battles of the Vietnam War and US History.The valor of the Soldiers that fought for this hill is in keeping with the best traditions of the US Military. Sadly it took fighting this battle, then retrograding off the terrain, to convince the Senior Leadership of the nation that the war could not be fought in this manner. The result was Vietnamization and the eventual withdrawl of US troops from Vietnam. I recommend this work to anyone that is interested in History, Military History, or current events (because this battle went on to define Civil/Military relations in the conduct of war).
April 30, 2022
Solid tactical level detail of a single battalion strength operation during the Vietnam War. Numerically superior NVA ground forces meet technologically superior US ground and aviation forces, highlighting some of the contradictions of asymmetrical warfare.
Amazing the amount of work and hours the author must have committed to researching info and to tracking down sources.
Wish there had been more political discussion, but that is arguably outside the scope of this book. Or maybe at the time of publication, it would have been too soon for a relevant discussion.
Makes me wonder how some of this might resonate today with Russian forces engaging in the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Feels like a lot of potential parallels.
Amazing the amount of work and hours the author must have committed to researching info and to tracking down sources.
Wish there had been more political discussion, but that is arguably outside the scope of this book. Or maybe at the time of publication, it would have been too soon for a relevant discussion.
Makes me wonder how some of this might resonate today with Russian forces engaging in the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Feels like a lot of potential parallels.
June 21, 2023
A brutal 10 day battle for a mountaintop in Vietnam. Detailed description of the battle including names, places and the emotions of the battle. The cost of war is clear on the battlefield. The unanswered question is if it was worth it.
The cost to the US in dead and wounded were high for a single battle but the cost to the enemy was higher. Is that the way to judge the value of a battle. The ground was of little value and given back in the end.
This is not for the weak at heart.
The cost to the US in dead and wounded were high for a single battle but the cost to the enemy was higher. Is that the way to judge the value of a battle. The ground was of little value and given back in the end.
This is not for the weak at heart.
March 13, 2017
Unbelievely devastating
I think this book explained so many questions,,,,but too what purpose? We lost so many on the battlefield.,and afterwards when they came home. The NVC took it all back . There were too many wasted lives . There's was no reason for t his war....none we lost .....we lost ...I will never forget our men we lost and families devastated!
I think this book explained so many questions,,,,but too what purpose? We lost so many on the battlefield.,and afterwards when they came home. The NVC took it all back . There were too many wasted lives . There's was no reason for t his war....none we lost .....we lost ...I will never forget our men we lost and families devastated!
October 26, 2017
There’s the Movie and then There’s the Facts.
The movie is one thing the actual events are another. I found this a very well rounded look at the battle for Hill 937. It gives a good look at the battle from an abundance of different perspectives. From the buck private all the way up to the two star general.
The movie is one thing the actual events are another. I found this a very well rounded look at the battle for Hill 937. It gives a good look at the battle from an abundance of different perspectives. From the buck private all the way up to the two star general.
September 2, 2025
Hamburger Hill is the story of the ten day battle of Dong Ap Bia, where American airborne troops battle their way up a mountain that has a heavily fortified enemy. The book goes into the brutality of the battle and ends with the controversy that surrounded the battle. A must-read for those interested in the Vietnam War.
May 28, 2019
Crouching Beast vs. Dak To
Well described , comparable to Dak To, where casualties were worse & both left w/ question: what was accomplished? Post comments of those involved key elements of story
Well described , comparable to Dak To, where casualties were worse & both left w/ question: what was accomplished? Post comments of those involved key elements of story
August 13, 2021
Excellent
Very descriptive and easy to follow a complex military strategy. Read like a novel, difficult to put down. Addresses all the issues involved, fast paced account of a dreadful battle.
Very descriptive and easy to follow a complex military strategy. Read like a novel, difficult to put down. Addresses all the issues involved, fast paced account of a dreadful battle.
July 17, 2020
A very good book about a very tough battle.
February 25, 2023
I really liked the way Samuel Zaffiri told the incredible story of this historic military battle. It is very well written.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2025
Read Zaffiri's account as source of background info regarding the US side in a wargame development project. Noted another reviewer's observation that author was uncritical in his use of 3/187 AAR. Also observed his uncritical handling of interview material, e.g., a claim that USS New Jersey bombarded Dong Ap Bia. Within these limitations found his account provided helpful data on US movements and losses.
July 6, 2012
Awesome read! The pace of the book is outstanding. The author does an amazing job conveying the feel of the battlefield. Describing the various issues faced by squad, platoon, company, battalion, as well as brigade level of command. This was an amazing fight with both sides pouring in all they have. The fact that we were focused on destroying the enemy, not terrain oriented, shows how the US wanted to find and destroy the NVA. There is nothing wrong with this. The NVA wanted a fight and they got one.
May 25, 2012
On "Vietnam in HD" on the History Channel, one of the highlights and most brutal battles was the battle to take over "Hamburger Hill," one of the scariest hills in the world. I wanted to know more, so I read this very informational and knowledgeable book.
March 22, 2009
I love this book. It has a great view of the vietnam war. If you enjoy history then this book is just a great read.
August 12, 2011
A good account of what happened at Hamburger Hill. I wasn't there, but heard a lot about it - good read if you are interested in that era.
November 1, 2014
Every conflict has a defining battle; Hamburger Hill defined the Vietnam war. Good men died to win the Battle for Ap Bia, this is sometimes forgotten, this book reminds us.
March 8, 2015
An excellent account of the harrowing 10 days in 1969 that American Forces fought through on Hill 937. The soldiers' stories were riveting and horrifying.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews