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The Battle of Charlie Hill (Hill 1015, also known as Sac Ly Hill)
Oct
The Battle of Charlie Hill (Hill 1015, also known as Sac Ly Hill) took place from April 12 to April 14, 1972, in Kon Tum Province. It was one of the fierce engagements that marked the opening phase of the 1972 Spring–Summer Offensive, also known as the “Red Fiery Summer,” in the Central Highlands.
Basic Information About the Battle
- Date: April 12–14, 1972.
- Location: Hill 1015 (Charlie Hill), situated in the border area where the districts of Sa Thầy, Đăk Tô, and Ngọc Hồi meet, in Kon Tum Province.
- Forces Involved:
- People’s Army of Vietnam: The 64th Regiment and the 52nd Regiment, both belonging to the 320A Division.
- Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN): The 11th Airborne Battalion, nicknamed Song Kiếm Trấn Ải (“Twin Swords Guarding the Frontier”), commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Nguyễn Đình Bảo.
Main Developments
- Opening Attack: On April 12, 1972, the People’s Army of Vietnam launched an assault on the Charlie Hill stronghold, supported by intense artillery fire.
Loss of Commanding Officer: On the same day, April 12, 1972, a 130 mm artillery shell struck the command bunker, killing Lieutenant Colonel Nguyễn Đình Bảo. Major Lê Văn Mễ subsequently assumed command of the unit.
(Lieutenant Colonel Nguyễn Đình Bảo (the man wearing glasses on the right side of the photograph) was the commanding officer of the 11th Airborne Battalion, known as Song Kiếm Trấn Ải (“Twin Swords Guarding the Frontier”). He was killed in action on April 12, 1972, on Charlie Hill, when artillery fire from the People’s Liberation Armed Forces of South Vietnam struck his command bunker.)
- Đàm Vũ Hiệp, the battalion commander who was killed in action during the battle at the age of just 22 years and 9 months, having completed exactly five years of military service.
Đàm Vũ Hiệp (front row, third from the right) pictured with General Võ Nguyên Giáp at a commendation conference held after the Route 9–Southern Laos Campaign.
- Conclusion: The battle continued for three days and nights amid intense bombardment and sustained fighting. By April 14, 1972, under mounting pressure and facing dwindling ammunition supplies, the 11th Airborne Battalion was forced to withdraw from the Charlie Hill position.