S1E3- Battle for Hill 64: A Firsthand Account of Survival at Khe Sanh

In this powerful conversation, Navy Corpsman Rod Fink and Marine Rich Lissy reflect on their experiences at Hill 64 during the Battle of Khe Sanh. They recount the relentless bombardment by NVA forces, with over 360 rounds raining down each day, while three B-52 bombers carpet-bombed enemy positions every 90 minutes. On February 8th, Alpha Company's 1st platoon, holding Hill 64, was hit at around 3 a.m. Outnumbered and surrounded, they were locked in hand-to-hand combat, calling for help over the radio. Rich remembers the screams and the chaos as his 2nd platoon, under Capt. Radcliffe, moved to assist. By dawn, they fought their way into the trench line, where the NVA left behind small squads to continue the attack. At one point, a Marine's grenade was thrown back by the NVA, tragically killing two Marines nearby. Rod recalls crawling through the trenches, searching for wounded amid bodies piled high, ultimately working to save the lives of Marines like Sammy Lucas, who later credited Rich with saving his life. After the battle, with over 150 NVA dead and 28 Marines lost, Rod reflects on the grim aftermath and the hope that medevac had for survival.

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