Well, you are going to hear an awful lot of stories and theories; fighting to preserve the Republic of South Vietnam, fighting for the old red white and blue, and of course fighting for freedom. And of course trying to destroy the enemy, always have to "destroy that enemy." The truth of the matter was the US Army was experimenting with a new type of war machine (plus a NEW rifle, the M16!) and a new type of organizational unit an Air Cavalry Division.
That new machine was the UH-1 Iroquois helicopter (that most civilians love to call the HUEY which was simply a dragged out breath of UuHh which sounded like "Huey.") and that new organizational unit was "helicopter borne infantrymen" which, after the Ia Drang, became "Air Cavalry Divisions" or in this particular case the "1st Air Cavalry Division" since they were the men that fought at the Ia Drang in '65.
So we got 3 new things outa the Ia Drang:
1. The M16 worked out OK
2. The UH-1 worked out OK
3. The Air Cav Divisions worked out OK
And of the course the NVA learned a lot about fighting the regular US Army too. This was their first major fight with US Regulars.
The U.S. Army 1st Air Cav and the North Vietnamese Army.
The US Army claims victory as they retained the field of battle.
The morning of November 14, 1965, It started with several platoons of American troops landing by helicopter at a clearing located in the Ia Drang River Valley, Vietnam. This was the first of several battles in the area.
South Vietnamese troops did not participate in the battle. There were an estimated 1000 NVA(North Vietnamese Army) casualties in the Battle of the Ia Drang ; see related link to additional information .
Central Highlands. 13 degrees 34'4.6"N 107 degrees 42'50.4"E Slightly North of the base of the Chu Pong Massif. Go to rjsmith.com?ia-drang-1-nf.html
Resulted in the permanent establishment of US Army Airmobile Divisions. Ia Drang was the US Army's first official Airmobile Division battle .
Ia Drang battle in '65; 300 dead GI's in 3 days.
1965.
The Battle of Ia Drang lasted from 14 November through 18 November in 1965 .
WWII validated the "Airborne" divisions (paratroopers) Vietnam validated the "Airmobile" divisions (helicopters); Ia Drang battle in '65.
No
The morning of November 14, 1965, It started with several platoons of American troops landing by helicopter at a clearing located in the Ia Drang River Valley, Vietnam. This was the first of several battles in the area.
South Vietnamese troops did not participate in the battle. There were an estimated 1000 NVA(North Vietnamese Army) casualties in the Battle of the Ia Drang ; see related link to additional information .
Ia Drang valley.
Ya Drang
Ia Drang...300 dead GI's, in three days.
Is Drang is "River" Drang in Hmong.
GI's called it "I" Drang.
Ia Drang and the commencement of Rolling Thunder.