U.s. Army Command and General Staff College

Major General Melvin Zais and Hamburger Hill U.s. Army Command and General Staff College

Major General Melvin Zais, a second generation Russian American, orchestrated the battle between the 29th Regiment of the People?s Army of Vietnam and the 101st Airborne Division around Dong Ap Bia (Hamburger Hill), Vietnam. General Zais, focused operations on and around Hamburger Hill to prevent build up of men, weapons, and supplies in the A Shau Valley which would have allowed for VC and NVA forces to conduct another Tet Offensive. As General Zais developed the situation in Thau Thien Provence, similarities can be drawn to an offensive he assisted in coordinating within southern France in World War II. This familiarity in size of terrain, enemy presence, and friendly tactical actions assisted Zais in his understanding of the situation, and conducting continuous assaults up the 937 meters of Dong Ap Bia to destroy the 29th Regiment of the People?s Army of Vietnam, and prevent the perceived threat of another Tet Offensive.