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The Ia Drang (Film: "We Were Soldiers Once...", starring Mel Gibson) was the first large battle with US conventional troops (US regulars). Remember; that Vietnam was fought with US Leadership that were VETERANS OF WWII (GEN's Curtis Lemay (adviser), Maxwell Taylor, Westmoreland, Abrams (Veteran of the Battle of the Bulge), COL Robin Olds, veteran of aerial combat over Germany, etc.). The attitude of these men was "fight to win!" When confronted with a "limited war"; no atomic weapons allowed, no invading of the north allowed, etc. Confusion & frustration set in.

The US, during it's whole military history up until possibly the Korean War (but definitely during the Vietnam War), had used the measurement of "holding the ground" (the Vietnam war would replace that with "BODY-COUNT") as the indicator of victory or defeat. As an example: During the Mexican War 1846-1848, in which California, Nevada, Arizona, became US territory, the Battle of San Pasqual was fought near San Diego, California. In that battle, involving GEN Kearny, Kit Carson, LT. Edward F. Beale (USN), against the California Lancers (an element of the Mexican Army during the war), the US Army lost approximately 22 men dead. The Californian's losses were mostly wounded, and they rode away (they were on swift horses, Kearny's men were on MULES), leaving the field to Kearny's men (he himself had been wounded by a lance). Because the Californian's "left the field" to the US Army...US Army records that battle as an "official United States victory", at San Pasqual. In reality, Kearny's Dragoons were burying their dead, most had been wounded, all were starving and cold; Kit Carson & Beale had to crawl (through enemy lines) to San Diego, and get reinforcements from ADM Stockton, which was sent, to "relieve" (rescue) the Dragoons.

At the Ia Drang, which lasted 3 days, the US Army lost approximately 300 men dead. The movie "We Were Soldiers...", only shows Moore's (Mel Gibson) battalion, with less than a hundred dead US servicemen. NOT in the film is the second battalion that was cut to pieces as they walked in single file to another LZ. Because we held the field, (The US Army "held the ground", Ia Drang is officially a US Victory).

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