Remember the hill

Photo By Sgt. Sarah Scully | Former Army Spc. Joe Leber, with 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, poses with the American flag on "Hamburger Hill" in Vietnam - the site of a 10-day battle in the A Shau Valley.  

ARJIFAN, KUWAIT

11.30.2006

Courtesy Story

40th Public Affairs Detachment

By Sgt. Sarah Scully
40th Public Affairs Detachment

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - Enduring suffocating humidity, treacherous terrain and surprise, deadly attacks, more than 60 percent of 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment's "Rakkasans" became casualties – but the remaining Soldiers refused to back down.

After the 10-day-battle for Hill 937, one of battalion's Soldiers got the call to climb up Vietnam's "Hamburger Hill" and raise an American flag in victory.

To remember those veterans' accomplishments, another Soldier flew the same American flag in Kuwait on Veteran's Day nearly 40 years later. Different wars and different generations, but both Soldiers are from the same family.

Sgt. Scott Leber grew up not knowing that his uncle, former Spc. Joe Leber, was part of the battalion that had an integral part in the May 1969 battle for "Hamburger Hill," nicknamed for the high number of dead and wounded. 101st Airborne Division Soldiers who fought for a pivotal point in the A Shau Valley.

As a 22-year-old infantry Soldier, Joe took a large flag sent by his wife and climbed the hill. On a hill where men – both friendly and enemy forces – had died, he carefully secured the symbol of American patriotism to a battered and skinny tree and raised it into the air.

"That moment is still fairly clear in my mind," said Joe, who served with the 3rd Bn., 187th Inf. Reg. "It always was something special to me, and I guess over the years, has come to mean more and more."

It means a lot to Scott, a 36-year-old operations NCO with 385th Signal Company supporting Third Army/U.S. Army Central in Kuwait, who has also deployed to Afghanistan.

Growing up, he saw the flag at his uncle's home, but never knew the story behind it until a few months ago.

"We just didn't talk about it – you don't talk about old memories," said Scott, describing how his family copes with their military service. "You don't talk about the pain and suffering – you go by the new and fresh memories that are happening right now."

Scott and other Soldiers at Camp Arifjan are making new memories while deployed in Kuwait – they heard the story and saw the flag fly on Veteran's Day.

"I hope they feel a bond with all of those who serve[d] our country," said Joe. "It's ironic that our two generations should be tied together in conflict," he said. "No two wars are alike – the only thing that is the same is that young men and women serve."

Both Scott and his uncle represent the two generations and the two wars on the Wall of Heroes at Area Support Group-Kuwait. Three pictures taken of Joe and the flag on "Hamburger Hill" hang on the wall, along with Scott's inscription detailing the event.

"It's a great honor to have it out here," said Scott. "For me, it's to share what my uncle did during Vietnam – to show the symbolic patriotism for the country when he was a Soldier."

The flag has taken on a life of its own – flying on the USS Enterprise Navy ship and now in Kuwait. Soon it will head back to its original owner, and Joe plans to keep the flag in the family instead of giving it to the Fort Campbell museum – home of the "Rakkasans."

Resting in a place of honor at Joe's home, "it is the one and only thing our eldest son...wants when it's time for my 'dirt nap,'" said Joe.

Joe and Scott both come from a long family tradition of serving in the military – they can trace the lineage back to the Spanish-American War in the 1890s. And they both feel pride for enduring sacrifices to support their country.

"It is with great pride I say I served with the 101st," said Joe. "It afforded me to become part of something much bigger than I could have ever anticipated.

"I truly feel that [current Soldiers'] dedication out shadows my meager experience."

• Date Taken: 11.30.2006
• Date Posted: 11.30.2006 10:05
• Story ID: 8440
• Location: ARJIFAN, KW