The Central Highlands witnessed some of the fiercest combat during the Vietnam War, particularly around Dak To, approximately 280 miles north of Saigon near the Cambodian border. The 1,000 U.S. troops stationed there were reinforced by an additional 3,500 troops from the U.S. 4th Division and the 173rd Airborne Brigade. They faced off against four communist regiments totaling around 6,000 troops.
The climax of the operation unfolded in a brutal battle from November 19th to 22nd for Hill 875, located 12 miles southwest of Dak To. The 173rd Airborne Brigade emerged victorious, compelling the North Vietnamese forces to abandon their last defensive position on the ridge of Hill 875. However, this triumph came at a high cost, as the paratroopers suffered the loss of 135 men, with 30 falling victim to an inadvertent U.S. air strike on American positions. Over the course of 19 days of intense combat, it was estimated that North Vietnamese casualties numbered around 1,455.
The total U.S. casualties encompassed 285 killed, 985 wounded, and 18 missing in action. Despite heavy losses, the American forces achieved a significant victory. They inflicted such severe damage on three enemy regiments that they were rendered ineffective for the Tet Offensive, which the Communists launched in late January 1968. This marked a crucial strategic success for the U.S. forces in the region.
