One of the deadliest battles of the Vietnam War ended on Thanksgiving Day, 23 November 1967.

That was the Battle of Dak To and the final assault on Hill 875 by the 4th Infantry Division and 173rd Airborne Brigade.

In the spring of 1967, battles with North Vietnamese Army (NVA) forces in the central highlands led to the launch of Operation Greeley — search and destroy missions conducted by elements of the 4th Infantry and 173rd Airborne, along with the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). Operation Greeley took place between 17 June and 11 October in and around Dak To.

The heated Battle of Dak To and Hill 875 was at the end of Operation Greeley over three weeks between 3 and 23 November.

On the morning of 19 November, three companies of the 2/503rd Infantry, each with 110 men, moved into ready positions from which to assault Hill 875. Two platoons of Company A prepared to assault with the classic “two up one back” formation that had been effectively utilized since World War I. They followed Companies C and D moving up the hill slope.

Within an hour of beginning the assault, American units were 300 meters from the hilltop when NVA machine-gunners opened fire on them, also utilizing B-40 rockets and 57mm recoilless rifles. It was an ambush that would cost our forces enormous casualties.

After being pinned down for three hours, the Company A platoons retreated up the slope so they would not be cut off from the Company B and C platoons. NVA fighters stayed on their heels, but against overwhelming enemy forces, machine-gunner PFC Carlos Lozada stayed behind in an exposed position to provide Company A cover fire with his M60. He continued taking out NVA enemy soldiers until he was shot to death.

This is his story.

Carlos was born in Caguas, Puerto Rico, but grew up in New York City. He joined the Army right after completing high school.

In June of 1967, then-21-year-old Lozada was deployed to Vietnam and assigned to Company A, 2nd Battalion, 503 Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade.

His heroic actions on 20 November defending his fellow soldiers on Hill 875 would earn him a Medal of Honor.

According to his MoH citation:

While serving as a machine gunner with 1st Platoon, Company A, PFC Lozada was part of a four-man early warning outpost, located 35 meters from his company’s lines. At 1400 hours a North Vietnamese Army company rapidly approached the outpost along a well-defended trail. PFC Lozada alerted his comrades and commenced firing at the enemy who were within 10 meters of the outpost. His heavy and accurate machine-gun fire killed at least 20 North Vietnamese soldiers and completely disrupted their initial attack. PFC Lozada remained in an exposed position and continued to pour deadly fire upon the enemy despite the urgent pleas of his comrades to withdraw. The enemy continued their assault, attempting to envelop the outpost. At the same time enemy forces launched a heavy attack on the forward west flank of Company A with the intent to cut them off from their battalion. Company A was given the order to withdraw.

His citation continues:

PFC Lozada apparently realized that if he abandoned his position there would be nothing to hold back the surging North Vietnamese soldiers and that the entire company withdrawal would be jeopardized. He called for his comrades to move back and that he would stay and provide cover for them. He made this decision realizing that the enemy was converging on three sides of his position and only meters away, and a delay in withdrawal meant almost certain death. PFC Lozada continued to deliver a heavy, accurate volume of suppressive fire against the enemy until he was mortally wounded and had to be carried during the withdrawal. His heroic deed served as an example and an inspiration to his comrades throughout the ensuing four-day battle.

His citation concludes: “PFC Lozada’s actions are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.”

Carlos was one of three members of the 173rd Airborne Brigade to received the Medal of Honor for their actions, the other two being Army Chaplain MAJ Charles J. Watters and PFC John A. Barnes III, also posthumous awards.

Carlos was also one of five Puerto Ricans who received the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War.

On 23 November, two days after Carlos was killed, the 2nd and 4th Battalions of the 503rd and the 1/12th Infantry renewed their assault on Hill 875, and as they finally reached the crest, the NVA abandoned and retreated from their positions.

Hill 875 was one of the deadliest battles because it was the site of the worst friendly fire incident during the Vietnam War. On the first evening of the attack, a Marine Corps A-4 Skyhawk fighter-bomber dropped two 250-pound Mark 81 Snakeye bombs into the 2/503rd’s perimeter. One of the bombs exploded in a tree burst above the center of the 2/503rd’s position, the location of the command groups, medics, and wounded. There were 42 Americans killed and another 45 wounded.

By the end of the Hill 875 assault, concluding the three-week Battle of Dak To, Americans suffered 361 killed, 1,441 wounded, and 15 missing. There were also 40 helicopters lost in the battle. Another 73 ARVN soldiers were killed and 290 wounded. There were 1,664 NVA and Viet Cong killed and more than 2,000 wounded.

PFC Carlos Lozada: An ordinary man faced with extraordinary circumstances, he summoned the greatest measure of courage to place his life in imminent peril to save others. Your example of valor — a humble American Patriot defending Liberty for all above and beyond the call of duty — is eternal.

“Greater love has no one than this, to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

Live your life worthy of his sacrifice.

(Read more Profiles of Valor here.)

Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis
Pro Deo et Libertate — 1776

Follow Mark Alexander on X/Twitter.

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