Why was the Battle of Ia Drang Valley
Battle of Ia Drang
The Battle of Ia Drang was the first major battle between the United States Army and the People's Army of Vietnam, also referred to as the North Vietnamese Army, and was part of the Pleiku Campaign conducted early in the Vietnam War. It comprised two main engagements, centered on t…
What is the significance of the Battle of Ia Drang?
The Battle of Ia Drang ( Vietnamese: Trận Ia Đrăng, [iə̯ ɗrăŋ]; in English / ˈiːə dræŋ /) was the first major battle between the United States Army and the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN), as part of the Pleiku Campaign conducted early in the Vietnam War, at the eastern foot of the Chu Pong Massif in the central highlands of Vietnam, in 1965.
Who won the Battle of la Drang Valley?
American officials declared the Battle of the la Drang Valley a victory. The service members killed in the Battle of la Drang are remembered on Panel 3E of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The Battle of Ia Drang was the first major engagement during the Vietnam War, between members of the U.S. Army and the People’s Army of North Vietnam.
How did the Ia Drang Valley Campaign start?
Battle preparations for the Ia Drang Valley campaign began following an enemy attack on an American installation at Plei Mei on October 19, 1965. The United States ordered a response by establishing search zones in the western areas of Plei Mei.
How many American soldiers died at the Battle of la Drang?
Before the Battle of la Drang was over, 305 Americans had been killed along with an estimated 2,000 North Vietnamese troops. American officials declared the Battle of the la Drang Valley a victory. The service members killed in the Battle of la Drang are remembered on Panel 3E of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The Battle of Ia Drang Valley
What happened at the Battle of Ia Drang 1965 What was its impact?
Ia Drang set the blueprint for the Vietnam War with the Americans relying on air mobility, artillery fire and close air support, while the PAVN neutralized that firepower by quickly engaging American forces at very close range.
Why is the battle of the Ia Drang Valley significant quizlet?
Why is the Battle of the Ia Drang Valley significant? It was the first major ground battle between American troops and North Vietnamese regulars.
What did North Vietnamese learn from Battle of Ia Drang Valley?
The fighting at Ia Drang set the tone for the conflict as American forces continued to rely on air mobility and heavy fire support to achieve victory. Conversely, the North Vietnamese learned that the latter could be neutralized by quickly closing with the enemy and fighting at close range.
What was the biggest battle in the Vietnam War?
Khe SanhA 77 day battle, Khe Sanh had been the biggest single battle of the Vietnam War to that point. The official assessment of the North Vietnamese Army dead is just over 1,600 killed, with two divisions all but annihilated. But thousands more were probably killed by American bombing.
What incident started the Vietnam War?
Gulf of Tonkin incident, complex naval event in the Gulf of Tonkin, off the coast of Vietnam, that was presented to the U.S. Congress on August 5, 1964, as two unprovoked attacks by North Vietnamese torpedo boats on the destroyers Maddox and Turner Joy of the U.S. Seventh Fleet and that led to the Gulf of Tonkin ...
In what ways did the American public respond to US involvement in Vietnam?
New left organizations organized protests, and the SDS held a march on Washington. Many students opposed the war on the basis that the US had no business fighting there. Attack on the US embassy, air bases, and southern vietnamese cities, it drastically changed public opinion that the US was winning the war.
How do you pronounce Ia Drang Valley?
It Is Not Pronounced "Yee Drang"...... Ia is pronounced "Ya"... As In "Eee Ya", or "Ya Drang Valley" & No Grunt who fought there ever Mispronounced The Name.
How much of the movie We Were Soldiers is true?
Then came the 2002 movie, We Were Soldiers, starring Mel Gibson as Moore and Barry Pepper as Galloway. (Moore says the film is about 60 percent accurate; Galloway, 80 percent.)
Can you visit the Ia Drang Valley?
The Ia Drang valley area is closed off for visitors and although it is located only around 50 kilometer south west of Pleiku, we do not recommend anyone to try to go there without a proper permit, this should be pursued by contacting the authorities in Pleiku.
Who won the battle of Ia Drang Valley?
AmericanOf the 500 men in the original column, 150 were killed and only 84 were able to return to immediate duty; Company C suffered 93 percent casualties, half of them deaths. Despite these numbers, senior American officials in Saigon declared the Battle of the Ia Drang Valley a great victory.
What was the bloodiest day in Vietnam?
November 19, 1967 was one of the bloodiest days for American troops in the Vietnam War.
How many soldiers died on their last day in Vietnam?
1,448 soldiers1,448 soldiers were killed on their last day in Vietnam. 31 sets of brothers are on the Wall. Thirty one sets of parents lost two of their sons. 54 soldiers attended Thomas Edison High School in Philadelphia.
Which Battle do you think was the most important in turning the war in favor of the Allies?
But the Battle of Stalingrad (one of Russia's important industrial cities) ultimately turned the tide of World War II in favor of the Allied forces.
Which Battle do you think was most important in turning the war in favor of the Allies why 10.8 3?
The Battle I think was most important in turning the war in favor of the Allies was the Battle of El Alamein. This Battle began October 23rd. The roar of close to 1,000 British guns too the Axis soldiers by surprise.
Which Battle do you think was most important in turning the war in favor of the Allies quizlet?
The battle that was the most important in turning the war in favor of the Allies was the D-Day invasion that began with the Normandy Landings on June 6, 1944.
What crucial lesson was learned at the Battle of Britain?
Ch. 16QuestionAnswerWhat crucial lesson was learned in the Battle of Britain?That Hitler's advances could be blockedWhat event occurred on the day described as " a date which will live in infamy"?Attack on Pearl HarborWhat was significant about the Battle of Midway?It turned the war in the pacific against the Japanese16 more rows
What was the Battle of La Drang Valley?
The Battle of the la Drang Valley would come to be remembered as one of the most iconic battles of the Vietnam War, and later would set the scene for the film We Were Soldiers based on the novel We Were Soldiers Once……And Young. It was the first major combat action between U.S. ground forces and the North Vietnamese Army. And it all began early one fall day.
How many Americans died in the Battle of La Drang?
It was the most successful ambush against U.S. forces during the course of the entire war. Before the Battle of la Drang was over, 305 Americans had been killed along with an estimated 2,000 North Vietnamese troops. American officials declared the Battle of the la Drang Valley a victory. The service members killed in the Battle ...
What was the first major battle in the Vietnam War?
The Battle of Ia Drang was the first major engagement during the Vietnam War, between members of the U.S. Army and the People’s Army of North Vietnam.
Why did the North Vietnamese have higher casualty rates?
North Vietnamese forces had higher casualty rates, due to the U.S. airstrike and artillery support. On the second day, North Vietnamese forces launched a heavy attack including hand-to-hand combat. Charlie Company took the brunt of the assault.
How many soldiers were saved by the 7th Cavalry?
They resupplied ammunition, water, and supplies, while evacuating the wounded. They saved some 70 soldiers. Both later were awarded the Medal of Honor, our nation’s highest award for heroism in combat. By the end of the first day, the 1 st BN, 7 th Cavalry was reduced to approximately 340 men.
What temperature did the American cavalry attack?
Temperatures reached 100 degrees, and by the afternoon there was a firestorm battle for survival.
Why did the Central Highlands use helicopters?
This allowed troops to be quickly brought in and out for battle. The central highlands had few roads and challenging terrain, making air mobility the only viable mode of transportation.
What happened months before the Battle of Ia Drang Valley?
Months before the Battle of the Ia Drang Valley, both adversaries had committed substantial numbers of regiments and divisions of their conventional armies to the fight in South Vietnam.
Where was the Ia Drang Valley?
Suddenly, 90 Americans found themselves in the Ia Drang Valley, deep in South Vietnam’s Central Highlands, a remote Communist base area from the days of the French Indochina War of the late 1940s and early1950s. Within seconds of touching down at the base of the Chu Pong Massif, a 2,400-foot high mountain mass that stretched some seven miles ...
How did the attrition strategy work in Vietnam?
The attrition strategy killed a great many enemy soldiers and Vietnamese civilians, but it failed dramatically to produce the desired results. Despite a massive ground and air interdiction campaign, the U.S. by the end of 1967 had failed to stanch the flow of either North Vietnamese divisions or war materiel into South Vietnam. In fact the flow of Communist troops and supplies had steadily increased from 1965 to 1967. Seventy five thousand PAVN troops had come down the Trail just in 1967, and on January 31, 1968, 84,000 Communist troops launched a massive surprise offensive against more than a hundred objectives countrywide. Two months earlier Westmoreland had predicted the enemy was “on the ropes” and that the war had “reached the point where the end is beginning to come into view.”
What holes did the PAVN dig into?
As the battle progressed, PAVN troops “dug into small spider holes” just outside the perimeter and waited for American defenders to expose themselves before firing their weapons. Others “dug into the sides and tops of anthills” and had to be eliminated with antitank weapons.
Why did McDade gather his command?
McDade assembled his company commanders and sergeants at the front of the column to discuss whatever new intelligence he could gather from the enemy prisoners. Meanwhile, the men in the column dropped to the ground to relax, smoke, or get some desperately overdue sleep.
How many people died in the Battle of X Ray?
American losses at X Ray were 79 killed in action and 121 men wounded, many severely. But the battle of the Ia Drang Valley wasn’t truly over. Not yet.
What was the fighting in Vietnam?
Previously, most of the fighting had been at the small unit level, typically involving platoons, companies, or at most, a single battalion, on each side. After the clash in the Ia Drang Valley, small unit fighting persisted all over South Vietnam. But henceforth the conflict also involved conventional campaigns, pitting multiple regiments and even divisions of the U.S. Army and Marine Corps against the regular army of North Vietnam, commanded and built from the ground up by the hero of Dien Bien Phu, Senior General Vo Nguyen Giap.
Who was the commander of the Battle of Ia Drang?
The Battle of Ia Drang (1965) Col. Brown selected Lt. Col. Moore and his men for the mission, with the explicit orders not to attempt to scale the mountain. There were several clearings in the area that had been designated as possible helicopter landing zones, typically named for a letter of the NATO phonetic alphabet.
What is the Ia Drang?
Ia Drang comprised two main engagements, centered on two helicopter landing zones (LZs), the first known as LZ X-Ray, followed by LZ Albany, farther north in the Ia Drang Valley.
What was the name of the battle that the PAVN attacked?
At 07:45, the PAVN launched an assault on Crack Rock , near its connection with the beleaguered C/1/7. Enemy fire started to hit the 1st Battalion command post, which suffered one medic killed and several other troops wounded (including one of Moore's own radio operators, Spec. 4 Robert Ouellette). Under heavy attack on three sides, the battalion fought off repeated waves of PAVN infantry. It was during this battle that Spec. Willard Parish of Charlie Company, situated on Delta Company's lines, earned a Silver Star for suppressing an intense PAVN assault in his sector. After expending his M60 ammunition, Parish resorted to his .45 sidearm to repel PAVN forces that advanced within 20 yards (18 m) of his foxhole. After the battle, more than 100 dead PAVN troops were discovered around his position. : 128–9
What were the first signs of the presence of the PAVN?
The first indication of PAVN presence was observed by the reconnaissance platoon's point squad, leading the American column. SSgt. Donald J. Slovak, the squad leader, saw " Ho Chi Minh sandal foot markings, bamboo arrows on the ground pointing north, matted grass and grains of rice." After marching about 2,000 meters, Alpha Company (1/7) leading 2/7, headed northwest, while 2/5 continued on to LZ Columbus. Alpha Company came upon some grass huts, which they were directed to burn. At 11:38, Tully's men of 2/5, were logged into its objective, LZ Columbus. PAVN troops in the area consisted of elements the 8th Battalion, 66th Regiment, 1st Battalion, 33rd Regiment and the headquarters of the 3rd Battalion, 33rd Regiment. The 33rd Regiment's battalions were under strength from casualties incurred during the battle at the Plei Me camp, the 8th Battalion was General Chu Huy Man's reserve battalion, fresh and rested.
How far is the Drang River from the northwest?
The Ia Drang River was about 2 km (1 mi) to the northwest. LZ Albany: about 2.5 km (2 mi) to the northeast of X-Ray at 13°35′43″N 107°42′55″E. / 13.59528°N 107.71528°E / 13.59528; 107.71528 ( LZ Albany) LZ Columbus: about 2.2 km (1 mi) east of Albany at 13°35′20.8″N 107°44′29″E.
What did Ernie Savage do for the lost platoon?
Sgt. Ernie Savage's precise placement of artillery throughout the siege of the "Lost Platoon" enabled the platoon to survive the long ordeal. For his "gallantry under relentless enemy fire on an otherwise insignificant knoll in the valley of the Ia Drang", Ernie Savage received the Distinguished Service Cross.
When did the ARVN withdraw from the area?
On November 26, with no further contact, the ARVN withdrew from the area.
Why was the Battle of Ia Drang Valley important?
The Battle for the Ia Drang Valley was heralded as an important triumph for the United States Army. The campaign displayed the power of air mobility, American firepower and the determination of the United States to engage the enemy in a conventional battle while being significantly outnumbered.
What was the name of the Army division that fought in the Battle of Ia Drang Valley?
The encounter witnessed elements of the United States Army 7th Calvary Division (Airmobile), also known as the Air-Cavalry Division, challenge the 66th and 33rd PAVN Regiments massed along the Chu Pong Mountain, which was just west of the village of Plei Me. The Battle for the Ia Drang Valley had a number of important implications.
What was the 7th Cavalry Division responsible for?
The 7th Cavalry was responsible for driving the enemy out of the Ia Drang Valley by securing landing zones X-Ray and Albany. The PAVN attempted to crush the Americans at X-Ray by sending continuous waves ...
How many North Vietnamese soldiers died in the Ia Drang Valley?
After-action reports estimated that between 1,500 and 2,000 North Vietnamese soldiers had perished during the Ia Drang Valley campaign. The Battle for the Ia Drang Valley occurred from November 14 to 18, 1965, in zone Lime within the Chu Pong Mountain of the Central Highlands. The engagement pitted the United States Army 7th Cavalry Division ...
What was the first major strike against the Americans?
Shortly after 12 p.m., PAVN launched its first major strike against the Americans. The North Vietnamese successfully cut off Company B while simultaneously leading a full assault on Companies A, C and the remainder of B located at X-Ray. Soldiers within the 1st Battalion fought to repel the attack, but it wasn't until nightfall when the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry arrived to reinforce X-Ray that the PAVN retreated.
What was the PAVN attack on X-ray?
Under the cover of the night, PAVN troops continued to harass the stranded Company B while positioning for a three-pronged assault against X-Ray at dawn on November 15. The wave of PAVN soldiers nearly overwhelmed the 7th Cavalry. However, in a move that saved the division, Moore called for 'Broken Arrow,' which requested all available air, artillery and gunship support to target within yards of the American perimeter at X-Ray. Soldiers popped smoke grenades to identify their positioning. The area was bombed, strafed and napalmed all in an effort to save the 7th Cavalry.
What battle was the first conventional struggle in Vietnam?
Battle for the Ia Drang Valley. Between November 14 and 18, 1965, the United States Army engaged the People's Army of Vietnam (or PAVN) in one of the first and largest conventional struggles of the Vietnam War, known as the Battle for the Ia Drang Valley. The encounter witnessed elements of the United States Army 7th Calvary Division (Airmobile), ...
Why was the Battle of Ia Drang Valley important?
The battle was extremely important because it was the first significant contact between U.S. troops and North Vietnamese forces. The action demonstrated that the North Vietnamese were prepared to stand and fight major battles even ...
Where did the Battle of Ia Drang take place?
Major battle erupts in the Ia Drang Valley. In the first major engagement of the war between regular U.S. and North Vietnamese forces, elements of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) fight a pitched battle with Communist main-force units in the Ia Drang Valley of the Central Highlands.
How many men died in the Battle of Albany?
In a related action during the same battle, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry, was ambushed by North Vietnamese forces as it moved overland to Landing Zone Albany. Of the 500 men in the original column, 150 were killed and only 84 were able to return to immediate duty; Company C suffered 93 percent casualties, half of them deaths.
Overview
The Battle of Ia Drang was the first major battle between the United States Army and the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN), as part of the Pleiku Campaign conducted early in the Vietnam War, at the eastern foot of the Chu Pong Massif in the central highlands of Vietnam, in 1965. It is notable for being the first large scale helicopter air assault and also the first use of Boeing B-52 Stratofortress s…
Background
By early 1965, the majority of rural South Vietnam was under limited Viet Cong (VC) control, increasingly supported by People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) regulars from North Vietnam. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) General William C. Westmoreland had secured the commitment of upward of 300,000 U.S. regulars from President Lyndon B. Johnson and a build-up of forc…
LZ X-Ray
On November 14, an ARVN intelligence source by intercept of radio communication indicated that before dawn, some assault elements of the PAVN B3 Field Front started moving out of their assembly areas to attack the Plei Me camp.
At 10:48, the first troops of the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry (1/7) arrived at LZ X-R…
LZ Albany
At 09:00, 1st Air Cavalry TOC submitted an Arc Light request to J3/MACV for 13:00 on 18 November.
Meanwhile, the two remaining battalions abandoned LZ X-Ray and began a tactical march to new landing zones. Lt. Col. Bob Tully, commanding the 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry, went to LZ Columbus about 4 km (2 mi) to the northeast, and Lt. Col. Robert McDade, commanding the 2nd …
Effect and aftermath
On the last day of the battle (November 18), General Westmoreland and General Cao Văn Viên, visited the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry. They were briefed by Lt. Col. Moore about the battle at LZ X-Ray. Westmoreland told them they were being recommended for a Presidential Unit Citation. They then flew to the 3rd Air Cavalry Brigade commanded by Col. Brown who gave them a briefing and they flew over the operation area. Before leaving Pleiku, they also had a meeting with General Vi…
Notable award recipients
Although many decorations have been awarded to veterans of the Battle of Ia Drang, in his book We Were Soldiers Once...And Young, Lt. Gen. Harold Moore writes:
We had problems on the awards... Too many men had died bravely and heroically, while the men who had witnessed their deeds had also been killed... Acts of valor that, on other fields, on other days, would have been rewarded with the Medal of Honor or Distinguished Service Cross or a Sil…
In media
• The short film The Battle of Ia Drang Valley (1965) is available for free download at the Internet Archive.
• We Were Soldiers (2002), war film based on Moore and Galloway's book
• Alley, J. L. Bud (1Lt) (2016). The Ghosts of the Green Grass., an account of the ambush of 2nd battalion at LZ Albany
General sources
• Carland, John M. (2000). Combat Operations: Stemming the Tide, May 1965 to October 1966. Government Printing Office. ISBN 9780160873102.
• Cash, John A.; Albright, John; Sandstrum, Allan W. (1985) [1970]. "Fight at Ia Drang". Seven Firefights in Vietnam. Washington, D.C.: The United States Army Center of Military History.