November 14 17, 1965 the first major battle between american and vietnamese forces, the battle of ia drang valley would be claimed as a victory by both sides and would offer important lessons for each army. Rodney dangerfield at his best on the tonight show starring johnny carson 1983 duration. For thirtyfive days the division pursued and fought the north vietnamese 32d, 33d, and 66th peoples army of vietnam pavn regiments, until the enemy, suffering heavy casualties, returned to his bases in cambodia. American advisers in the field had long been pushing for the arvn forces to be. When the hueys took them into a clearing in the ia drang valley, the men had no idea they were heading into a fight they were american air cavalrymen, trained in a new kind of warfare in which the helicopter gave them mobility on the battlefield. The battle of the ia drang valley idv was actually of series of engagements between the us 1st cavalry division airmobile and the b3 front, north vietnamese army nva from 1018 to 112465. Historys first large scale deployment of light infantry forces by helicopter occurred here, and this battle is where the first use of b52 strategic bombers in a tactical support role was made. The heavy casualties suffered in ia drang shocked the public opinion and the high command alike. Many considered the battle of ia drang valley to be us armys 1st battle in vietnam.
Armys 1st cavalry division airmobile and the 33rd and 66th regiments of the north vietnamese army nva marked a watershed change in the military strategies of both sides. The battle for the ia drang valley in october and november 1965 was not only a tactical pyrrhic victory for the north vietnamese, but a strategic one as well. It was november 14, 1965, in the ia drang valley of the central highlands of vietnam. Vo nguyen giap, the pavn commander, launched a major offensive in the central highlands, southwest of pleiku. The bayonet has had a controversial role for over 100 years.
This is his story of the battle of ia drang valley. General hal moore talks about the battle of ia drang at the 2008 american veterans centers conference. Ia drang the battle that changed the war in vietnam by harold g. Apr 25, 2017 the battle of ia drang was the first major military operation of the united states in the vietnam war.
One of the most significant battles of the vietnam war, the 1416 november 1965 battle in the ia drang valley in south vietnams central highlands between the u. The battle of ia drang was the first major battle between the united states army and the peoples army of vietnam pavn, also referred to as the north vietnamese army nva, and was part of the pleiku campaign conducted early in the vietnam war. Lz xray the battle that changed the war in vietnam. Nov 06, 2012 this battle of ia drang pioneered the use of air mobile infantrydelivering troops into battle via helicopterwhich became the staple of us operations for the remainder of the war. Ia drang the battle that changed the war in vietnam from the worlds largest community of readers. It was certainly the 1st battle between of us division operating under of field force headquarters and 3 nva. This title is highly illustrated account of the ia drang campaign of 1965, a key event in. The battle of ia drang was the first major battle between regulars of the united states army and regulars of the peoples army of vietnam pavn nva of north vietnam during the vietnam war. Moores lessons apply to the boardroom as well as the battlefield. What really happened at ia drang battle general hieu. The battle of ia drang was fought november 1418, 1965, during the vietnam war 19551975 and was the first major engagement between the us army and the peoples army of vietnam pavn. In the first major engagement of the war between regular u. Marine corps selects one book that he believes is both relevant and timeless for reading by all marines. The battle at lz xray was documented in the cbs special report battle of ia drang valley by morley safer and the critically acclaimed book we were.
Think charging with a spear, because the old single shot musket was just that after you fired it. Hal moore, were dropped by helicopter into a small clearing in the ia drang valley. An overall picture of the intelligence gathering at ia drang can be obtained by putting together the pieces of information contained in the. The day this began was november 14, 1965, in the ia drang valley of the central highlands of vietnam. The twopart battle took place between november 14 and november 18, 1965, at two landing zones lzs northwest of plei me in the central highlands of south vietnam approximately 35 miles south. But the battles true toll would prove to be the hubris it bred in u.
This principle is correct in the case of the chu pong ia drang battle. How the battle of the ia drang valley changed the course of. Pushing out of the perimeter, moore and tully succeeded in rescuing the lost. Moore usaret february, 1922 february 10, 2017 gravesite.
And a uh1 huey helicopter is flying in toward the area. The battle of ia drang fought between november 14th 18th, 1965 was the. The second push had advanced just over 75 yards 70 m toward the lost. This principle is correct in the case of the chu pongia drang battle. Apr 08, 2019 the battle for the ia drang valley in october and november 1965 was not only a tactical pyrrhic victory for the north vietnamese, but a strategic one as well. The commandants choice for 1993 is we were soldiers once. Learn about the battle including the planning, combat and. Fifty years ago today, one of the vietnam wars most ferocious battles broke out in the ia drang valley. Thirteen kilometers westward on the northern bank of the ia drang was the 32d north vietnamese army regiment, still 5 a formidable fighting force despite some losses during the recent battle. This battle had been fictionalized by hollywoods we were soldiers, based on a book written by lt. This battle of ia drang pioneered the use of air mobile infantrydelivering troops into battle via helicopterwhich became the staple of us operations for the remainder of the war. He later wrote of his experiences in the bestselling book we were soldiers once. This 1965 cbs news special report anchored by morely safer looks at a battle in vietnam that began on october 19, 1965, and lasted for five. Zones xray and albany in the valley of the river drang have become iconic.
Moore after his book, we were soldiers onceand young ia drang the. War stories from ia drang valley, rebecca gell and. By 11 november its three battalions were positioned along both banks of the ia drang, a few kilometers west of the 33d regiment. Usually, in a battle, whichever side has better intelligence than the opposite side, that side has more chance to win the battle. This photo shows two soldiers watching an area with enemy presence and keeping a low profile. The battle of ia drang valley 1965 vietnam remembered series.
A vietnam memoir and millions of other books are available for. Moore uses very personal events and stories from his life to trace the development of leadership rules and principles equally applicable to military and business. We were soldiers hal moore talks about the battle for ia drang. Battle of ia drang valley part of the vietnam war operation silver bayonet, pleiku campaign 1965 uh1 huey helicopter and u. The battle for the ia drang valley in 1965 was the first confrontation between the united states army and the peoples army of vietnam.
This title is highly illustrated account of the ia drang campaign of 1965, a key event in the vietnam war, which was immortalized in the film we were soldiers once and young. Battle of ia drang military wiki fandom military wikia. First major battle of the vietnam war the most fierce battle of the war forces were three battalions of the us and bombers 1st and 2nd of the 7th calvary unit and the 2nd of the 5th calvary unit forces of the vietnam 5 infantry battalions 1st battalion, 33rd pavn regiment 7th, 8th and 9th battalions. The force majeure for the second enemy attempt on plei me special forces camp was the newly arrived 66th north vietnamese army regiment. The battle of ia drang valley was the first major battle between the united states army and the peoples army of vietnam pavn. If the hand was being played by an old soldier, a war veteran, i can assure you he would guard that war card to the bitter end and play it reluctantly and. The battle took place on november 14, 1965 and lasted three long days. How the battle of the ia drang valley changed the course. The main push for this book seemed to be a gimmick for fundraising.
Battle of ia drang valley project gutenberg selfpublishing. Section c, site 259 at the fort benning post cemetery, fort benning, ga, usa hals story began in. American troops were transported by helicopter to clear landing zones and set up the command center of the operation at a large termite mound in. Through much of november, in the battle of the ia drang valley, u. During the battle of the ia drang valley, did a bayonet. Pleiku province and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. All sourced data contained in this section are relevant to. Thirteen kilometers westward on the northern bank of the ia drang was the. The families of the soldiers who fought in the vietnam war battle of ia drang valley suffered much pain as they received updates from the front. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. After 35 years since the ia drang battle took place, merle pribbenow a former cia analyst who worked at the saigon cia station from 1970 to 1975, and is now in the process of translating pavn official documents into english was able to compile a dozen books published from 1988 to 1995 written by north vietnamese authors about the ia drang battle. Battle of ia drang valley by morley safer and the critically acclaimed book we. The significance of the battle of ia drang vietnam war books. Apr, 2017 fifty years ago today, one of the vietnam wars most ferocious battles broke out in the ia drang valley.
Ia drang the battle that changed the war in vietnam harold g. The result was the battle of the ia drang, named for a small river that flowed through the valley, the area of operations. The commandants choice for 1993 was we were soldiers once. Killing, dying and suffering indelibly marked us all joseph galloway, 73, is a veteran war correspondent who did four stints in vietnam, including a.
The ia drang valley battle between american and north vietnamese forces. Harris is a senior lecturer in war studies at the royal military academy. Battle of the ia drang encyclopedia article citizendium. A monthlong action fought in the vietnam war in 1965, the battle of the ia drang was a campaign, composed of multiple battles against the a divisionsized force from the peoples army of viet nam. Even so, ia drang didnt have the effect of deterring further american participation. Read after action report, ia drang valley operation, 1st battalion, 7th cavalry 1416 november 1965 by anon. He told moore to execute an airmobile assault into the ia drang valley north of the chu. Edwards was the commander of ccompany of 1st battalion 7th cavalry regiment and fought at lz xray. We were soldiers hal moore talks about the battle for ia. Jan 06, 2017 bayonet charges are a thing of the past. Westmoreland responded with the 1st air cavalry division air mobile. The battle of ia drang was the first major battle between the united states army and the. After a north vietnamese strike against the special forces camp at plei me, american forces deployed in an effort to destroy the attackers.
It comprised two main engagements, centered on two previously scouted helicopter landing zones lzs, known as lz xray and lz albany. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. The ia drang valley battle between american and north vietnamese forces was the first confrontation of battalion size and larger units. It is among the most famous battles in the storied history of the 1st cavalry division and the first major battle of the vietnam war. A month later, on august 8, 1966, my replacement sent alpha company, 1st battalion, 7th cavalry back into the ia drang valley by itself, and twentyfive men were killed in one terrible day. The two men return to the ia drang battlefield in the company of the men they were. Veterans recall battle of ia drang at 50th anniversary. Fight at ia drang, lz xray after action report by ltc hal moore. The cavalrymen were calm and confident, far better prepared than the draftees who would be inserted willynilly into south vietnam in months to come. American troops were transported by helicopter to clear landing zones and set up the command center of the operation at a large termite mound in landing zone xray lz xray. Reflections and perceptions ia drang the battle that. It comprised two main engagements, centered on two previously scouted helicopter landing zones lzs. Ia drang valley vietnam battle of 1965 books alibris.
It is an especially informative topic, since, in addition to the u. They were immediately surrounded by 2,000 north vietnamese soldiers. It was the first time united states ground troops fought the north vietnamese army nva in a major battle. Shop ia drang valley vietnam battle of 1965 books at alibris. I had hoped that my next assignment would be to the infantry school at fort benning, where i could pass along what i had learned in vietnam to the young. If the hand was being played by an old soldier, a war veteran, i can assure you he would guard that war card to the bitter end and play it reluctantly and with the fear and trepidation of experience. Battle of ia drang valley information for a229 avn 1 cav b229 avn 1 cav 19 cav 1 cav 17 cav 1 cav for date 651114 a229 avn 1 cav was a us army unit b229 avn 1 cav was a us army unit 19 cav 1 cav was a us army unit 17 cav 1 cav was a us army unit. Battles at landing zone xray and albany greg shedd ms2500 2. In november 1965, some 450 men of the 1st battalion, 7th cavalry, under the command of lt. War is absolutely the last card any national leader should play, and only when every other alternative has been exhausted. First major battle of the vietnam war the most fierce battle of the war forces were three battalions of the us and bombers 1st and 2nd of the 7th calvary unit and the 2nd of the 5th calvary unit forces of the vietnam 5 infantry battalions 1st battalion, 33rd pavn regiment 7th, 8th and 9th. Cav at the battle of the ia drang valley, it wasnt until i read larry gwins memoir that i. The pleiku campaign of octobernovember 1965 was a major event in the vietnam war, and it is usually regarded as the first substantial battle between the us army and the peoples army of vietnam. Major battle erupts in the ia drang valley history.
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