THE WALL OF FACES

The Battle of Dak To was a series of major engagements of the Vietnam War that took place between November 3 to 22, 1967, in Kon Tum Province, in the Central Highlands of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam). Dak To lies on a flat valley floor, surrounded by waves of ridgelines that rise into peaks (some as high as 4,000 feet) that stretch westward and southwestward towards the tri-border region where South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia meet. One of those peaks was Hill 875. On November 19, 1967, the 2/503d Infantry had been alerted to assault Hill 875 after the 26th MIKE Special Forces Company (OPCON to the 2/503d Infantry) had made contact with a large NVA force on its slopes the previous day. The assault was made with two Companies abreast, D Company on the left and C Company on the right, with the trail running up the mountain acting as a boundary between the attacking companies. The assault bogged down when a main enemy bunker system was encountered. The CO ordered his men to form a perimeter defense. The NVA attacked their position, approaching on a large well-traveled trail that was very well constructed, including steps cut into the side of the hill. They smashed into the west flank of the 2nd Platoon near the front, cutting them off from the rest of their Company around the landing zone. SP5 Aaron K. Hervas was leading the 2nd Platoon when the NVA opened up with a heavy volume of fire. He spun firing, hitting several NVA before he was felled with a bullet through the head. PFC Frank E. Stokes and PVT Ernesto Villarreal were killed in the same action. PFC Bruce M. Benzing and PFC Sexton were pinned down by enemy fire. SP4 Orendorf and some others moved down and were able to get Sexton out. However, PFC Benzing, after killing 5-10 NVA from behind a tree, was himself killed. [Taken from patriotfiles.com]

The Battle of Dak To was a series of major engagements of the Vietnam War that took place between November 3 to 22, 1967, in Kon Tum Province, in the Central Highlands of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam). Dak To lies on a flat valley floor, surrounded by waves of ridgelines that rise into peaks (some as high as 4,000 feet) that stretch westward and southwestward towards the tri-border region where South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia meet. One of those peaks was Hill 875. On November 19, 1967, the 2/503d Infantry had been alerted to assault Hill 875 after the 26th MIKE Special Forces Company (OPCON to the 2/503d Infantry) had made contact with a large NVA force on its slopes the previous day. The assault was made with two Companies abreast, D Company on the left and C Company on the right, with the trail running up the mountain acting as a boundary between the attacking companies. The assault bogged down when a main enemy bunker system was encountered. The CO ordered his men to form a perimeter defense. The NVA attacked their position, approaching on a large well-traveled trail that was very well constructed, including steps cut into the side of the hill. They smashed into the west flank of the 2nd Platoon near the front, cutting them off from the rest of their Company around the landing zone. SP5 Aaron K. Hervas was leading the 2nd Platoon when the NVA opened up with a heavy volume of fire. He spun firing, hitting several NVA before he was felled with a bullet through the head. PFC Frank E. Stokes and PVT Ernesto Villarreal were killed in the same action. PFC Bruce M. Benzing and PFC Sexton were pinned down by enemy fire. SP4 Orendorf and some others moved down and were able to get Sexton out. However, PFC Benzing, after killing 5-10 NVA from behind a tree, was himself killed. [Taken from patriotfiles.com]

I remember your 16th birthday so well. I baked that awful cake and sang "your pretty brown eyes, your wavy hair...." as I was walking into your house with it. Oh to go back to those carefree days again. You were a very special person to me then and now you are my hero. You gave your life for us and I have never forgotten you for that sacrifice. We shall meet again one day my friend.

Dear SP5 Aaron Kamala Hervas, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter

An account of SP5 Hervas' final mission and death can be found in the document titled “The Battle for Hill 875, Dak To, Vietnam 1967,” authored by LTC Leonard B. Scott for the U.S. Army War College, page 20.