Posted on 11/18/2013 8:43:59 PM PST by neverdem
As the sun rose on Nov. 14, 1965, a clear, hot Sunday, four U.S. Army helicopters flew, as unobtrusively as such machines can, across the rugged Ia Drang Valley in South Vietnam's Central Highlands. Below them was a wild and desolate place that in normal times offered a living only to elephants, tigers and a few Montagnard tribesmen. Lt. Col. Harold G. Moore scanned the terrain intently, scribbling notes and marking his maps. He was about to lead the U.S. 7th Cavalry on its most audacious charge since Lt. Col. George A. Custer led his troopers to the Little Bighorn 89 years earlier.
Like Custer, Hal Moore had no use for timidity or half measures. The lean, blond Kentuckian, a 43-year-old graduate of West Point, Class of '45, demanded the best from his men and gave the same in return. Behind his back, the 457 officers and men of the 1st Battalion of the 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), sometimes called Moore by Custer's nickname, "Yellow Hair." It was a soldier's compliment, and Moore took it as such.
Moore was hunting big game in the tangle of ravines, tall elephant grass and termite hills around the base of Chu Pong Massif, a 2,401-foot mountain whose forests stretched 5 miles into Cambodia. A month earlier, the 2,200-man 33rd People's Army Regiment–part of the first full North Vietnamese Army division to take the field since the fall of Dien Bien Phu in 1954–had attacked the camp at Plei Me, a vital listening post astride the road to Pleiku, the provincial capital. Saigon and Washington feared that if the North Vietnamese overran Pleiku, Route 19 to Qui Nhon on the coast would be wide open, and South Vietnam could be cut in two. But one of the North Vietnamese commanders, Maj...
(Excerpt) Read more at usnews.com ...
Ping
Just watched a rerun last night. Whenever I visit the Wall or its replicas, I always stop by Panel 3E and pay my respects.
Thanks for posting this. It’s hard to believe it will be 50 years ago in just 2 years.
pfl
BFL - Long but historically interesting article on Nam.
In 65, hmmm, had just met the gal that became my wife , was a junior in high school (a good public one) and had bought my first car, a 56 Chevy 2 door hard top and just began thinking about ending up in Vietnam! As it happened, I ended up in Japan for 2 years. Thank you God!
Mean, bad assed bush BTTT!
I spent a year in Nam, 67-68, and I don’t know a day in the field where anyone thought it was a “walk”.
1-5 and 2-5 CAV were in Ia Drang
So did I, FRiend. I spent my year at Camp Enari, which was, as best I can figure, somewhere around half way between Plei Me and Pleiku. It was 4th Inf. Div. base camp. I wrenched on a lot of those Hueys and had a chance to see a lot of those places from going on check rides. That article got my blood pumping. You sure never forget those days.
BTW - If anybody knows exactly where Camp Enari was in relation to those places, I’d appreciate it if you could refresh my mind. Old age, ya know.
Mark
Coming up on the 50th year anniversary.Wow,It seems like last week.I remember watching the news with my Dad dang near every night during the war.Dad hated the commie walter.
I knew a judge who was there, maybe 15 years ago. He never really got over it. By that, I mean he was still traumatized. I think he felt better talking about, at least I hope so.
I suppose after something like that, law school is nothing, but I spoke with him about it—he brought it up on an anniversary, and it still haunted him after all those years. He resigned early.
Any of you dealing with something similar, try talking about it if you meet someone who you think wants to listen.
Thanks for the posting
Of interest to me is where this Galloway piece was presented. And what else was going on here at that time which by the way if one was honorably discharged still could not join the American Legion or the VFW because it was not considered an active combat theater .
Google Maps Satelite View
I was there in 67-68 and I agree.
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NEVER FORGET
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“WE WERE SOLDIERS” Battle of IA DRANG-1965 Photos
http://www.lzxray.com/guyer_collection.htm
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NEVER FORGET
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