After a north vietnamese strike against the special forces camp at plei me, american forces deployed in an effort to destroy the attackers. And a uh1 huey helicopter is flying in toward the area. The battle of ia drang was the first major battle between the united states of america and the peoples army of vietnam in the vietnam war. The united states were trying out a new infantry concept called air mobile divisions, where infantry were dropped off by helicopter in a landing zone.
The battle lasted for three days, resulting in major. Battered but not destroyed, the 1st nva division has retreated in its sanctuaries in cambodia and will soon return to the ia drang in early 1966. It comprised two main engagements, centered on two previously scouted helicopter landing zones lzs, known as lz xray and lz albany. Pronunciation of ia drang with 1 audio pronunciation, 1 meaning, 2 translations and more for ia drang. The november 1965 battle in the ia drang valley was the first major battle between the united states army and north vietnamese soldiers. The 50th anniversary of the battle of ia drang valley, vietnam. The ia drang campaign is officially over, the total. A veteran of the lost platoon remembers vietnam mpr news. 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. The battle of ia drang set the tone for the war and showed that the u. Killing, dying and suffering indelibly marked us all joseph galloway, 73, is a veteran war correspondent who did four stints in vietnam, including a. Nov 11, 2015 listen a veteran of the lost platoon remembers vietnam galen bungum, 72, was a soldier in the vietnam war and fought in the first major battle of the war, the battle of ia drang, on november 14. Lz xray the battle that changed the war in vietnam.
Effects of weather and terrain during the battle of the ia drang valley, vietnam. Introduction ythe us 1st cavalry division and the ia drang valley battle, 1114 to 11171965 ythe arvn 3rd airborne brigade and the ia drang valley battle, 1118 to 11261965 ylocation of both battles. After action report, ia drang valley operation, 1st battalion. Sep 15, 2012 the ia drang campaign is officially over, the total casualties for the monthlong campaign are. All sourced data contained in this section are relevant to.
Jan 05, 2010 ia drang was an enemy sanctuary so deep in the jungle that it was considered virtually impenetrable to american foot soldiers. Apr, 2017 fifty years ago today, one of the vietnam wars most ferocious battles broke out in the ia drang valley. Day by day casualty list battle of ia drang valley. 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. Freeman, united states army november 14, 2019 aviation too tall freeman, 1st cavalry division airmobile, 229th assault helicopter battalion, battle of ia drang, bell model 205, bell uh1d iroquis, company a, ed freeman, ed w. This principle is correct in the case of the chu pongia drang battle. The battle was extremely important because it was the first significant. It harasses and hounds the 33rd into the eastern area of the ia drang valley. Harris is a senior lecturer in war studies at the royal. Lessons of ia drang for the vietnam war all empires. Apr 25, 2017 the battle of ia drang was the first major military operation of the united states in the vietnam war.
Before long, eight men were dead and wounded, including herrick. Despite these numbers, senior american officials in saigon declared the battle of the ia drang valley a great victory. National archives the battle of ia drang valley national security council. The significance of the battle of ia drang vietnam war books.
The 1st cavalry division deploys the 2nd battalion, 7th cavalry, at ia drang two miles to the northeast of landing zone xray. In the first major engagement of the war between regular u. After action report, ia drang valley operation, 1st battalion, 7th cavalry 1416 november 1965. An overall picture of the intelligence gathering at ia drang can be obtained by putting together the pieces of information contained in the following primary source documents. How the battle of the ia drang valley changed the course of. Battles at landing zone xray and albany greg shedd ms2500 2. We were soldiers 2002, war film based on moore and galloways book.
But the battles true toll would prove to be the hubris it bred in u. Due to its large file size, this book may take longer to download. A band of brothers pleiku ia drang 40th reunion, november 11, 2005. His voice kept choking up and the words just wouldnt come.
Section c, site 259 at the fort benning post cemetery, fort benning, ga, usa hals story began in. Home the nco leadership center of excellence effects of weather and terrain during the battle of the ia drang valley, vietnam. Moore commanded the 7th cavalry which took part in one of the bloodiest battles of vietnam, ia drang valley, known as the valley of death. 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. The ia drang campaign changed the face of the vietnam war from a more distant one to a more personal, and intensified war where both the public and the government took interest in. The two most significant events are the capture of a pavn field hospital on nov 1st along with numerous troops, weapons, and enemy documents. Effects of weather and terrain during the battle of the ia. All sourced data contained in this section are relevant to the understanding this specific b52 airstrike. American losses are 276 men to an estimated 400 viet cong.
Veterans recall battle of ia drang at 50th anniversary. The ia drang valley battle between american and north vietnamese forces was the first confrontation of battalion size and larger units. The war divided america and was a bitter defeat for a nation accustomed to military victories. The short film the battle of ia drang valley 1965 is available for free download at the internet archive. Battered but not destroyed, the 1st nva division has retreated in its sanctuaries in cambodia and will. Facts about the battle of ia drang we were soldiers. The battle was a costly one for the united states armed forces stationed in the ia drang valley as the mortality rate skyrocketed due to a pressing and suicidal viet. At the conference on pleikuia drang campaigns organized by the vietnam center in washington on 11122005, at the annual reunion of veterans of the us 1st cavalry division who took part in the ia drang valley battle, not only the role of the arvn units was not mentioned, even the naming of the battle events has been distorted. Five days of b52 bombing runs explain the need to estimate casualties on the other side, as well as the high estimate.
Listen a veteran of the lost platoon remembers vietnam galen bungum, 72, was a soldier in the vietnam war and fought in the first major battle of the war, the battle of ia drang, on november 14. Ia drang valley memorial on the virtual wall in memory of these brave soldiers of the first cavalry divisionairmobile who gave their lives for their country and the men who fought beside them in the ia drang valley during the pleiku campaign in october and november 1965. Instead of flying the wias all the way to pleiku, they used lz falcon as a transfer point to the medevac ships. Listen a veteran of the lost platoon remembers vietnam galen bungum, 72, was a soldier in the vietnam war and fought in the first major battle of. 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 southwest of.
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. Even so, ia drang didnt have the effect of deterring further american participation. Vietnam war veterans reflect on their wartime experiences during the. 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. This was also the battle that convinced ho chi minh that he could win because he learned that if he kept his troops physically close to the u. Fifty years ago today, one of the vietnam wars most ferocious battles broke out in the ia drang valley. One of his platoons was quickly cut off by the enemy. After action report, ia drang valley operation, 1st. The struggle for vietnams pleiku province campaign j. At 1520h they started bringing in the last of the 17th cav two ships at a. Home the nco leadership center of excellence effects of weather and terrain during the battle of the ia drang. How the battle of the ia drang valley changed the course. The battle at lz xray was documented in the cbs special report battle of ia drang valley by morley safer and the. They had been loaded onto the c at pleiku, the closest main airbase to the battle site, and had been sent to da nang, since it had the only american mortuary operation in vietnam at the time.
I cannot find a daybyday list of the casualties for the three day battle. Battle of ia drang valley information for a229 avn 1 cav b229 avn 1 cav 19 cav 1 cav. Edwards was the commander of ccompany of 1st battalion 7th cavalry regiment and fought at lz xray. One defining element of ia drang was the separation and attempted rescues of lieutenant henry herricks platoon. Hal moore, dropped into the ia drang valley and soon engaged the enemy.
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 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. Major battle erupts in the ia drang valley history. Mcoe to mark 50th anniversary of ia drang battle with. Battle of ia drang 1965 ad fast play rules for students. The battle of ia drang was the first major battle between the united states army and the. The heavy casualties suffered in ia drang shocked the public opinion and the high command alike. This film is about the first cavalry division in vietnam.
Hal moore, dropped into the ia drang valley and soon engaged the. Moore usaret february, 1922 february 10, 2017 gravesite. At the conference on pleiku ia drang campaigns organized by the vietnam center in washington on 11122005, at the annual reunion of veterans of the us 1st cavalry division who took part in the ia drang valley battle, not only the role of the arvn units was not mentioned, even the naming of the battle events has been distorted. There they are ambushed by communist forces and nearly overrun until rescued by the 1st battalion, 5th cavalry. Army 1st cavalry division reported 1,500 north vietnamese deaths by bodycount, an additional 2,000 by estimate, and 304 deaths among their own troops. The battle of ia drang is the centerpiece of operation long reach and the raison detre of the insertion of air cavalry troops at lz xray was to facilitate the 5 consecutive day b52 airstrikes over the chu prong ia drang complex. The bodies were from the recent ia drang battle in the central highlands. Five soldiers from maryland were killed on the same day nov. Army and elements of its air cavalry and the peoples army of north vietnam. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. This photo shows two soldiers watching an area with enemy presence and keeping a low profile. A229th continued to fly in ammo and extract casualties.
Lieutenant colonel moore leads 7thcalvary into ia drang valley. Ia drang was an enemy sanctuary so deep in the jungle that it was considered virtually impenetrable to american foot soldiers. A defining element of ia drang was the separation and attempted rescues of lieutenant henry herricks platoon. 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. The short film the battle of ia drang valley 1965 is available for free download at the internet archive we were. He told moore to execute an airmobile assault into the ia drang valley north of the chu pong peak early the next morning and to conduct search.
Captain ramon tony nadal, 29, commanded alpha company. The battle of ia drang happened on november 14th through 18th, 1965 in the ia drang valley of vietnam. In november 1965, the 1st battalion, 7th cavalry, led by lieutenant colonel harold g. This battle was the beginning of a new kind of warfare using helicopters. Vietnam war 19541976 the vietnam war remains fresh in americas collective memory. After three two ship missions, all of a229th set up a shuttle flying in ammo and water, taking out casualties. 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 the first engagement of north vietnamese forces and an american unit, bolstered by the technology of the helicopter to deliver troops into battle. Struggle for vietnams pleiku province campaign book 345. Between november 14 and 18, 1965, the united states army engaged the peoples army of vietnam or pavn in one of the first and largest conventional struggles of. The ia drang valley battle between american and north vietnamese forces. This month marks 50 years since the battle of ia drang valley, the first major fight between the u. The battle of ia drang was a panel at a threeday vietnam war summit held at the lbj presidential library in austin, texas. The most significant individual battle of the vietnam war was fought on november 14, 1965 in the ia drang valley in the central highlands.
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