I ran the first part of the battle on Friday, the anniversary date. Today is Part two, the part that my father was in on the day it happened, the 17th, as a young Cavalry trooper with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Cav.
Dad never talked much about Ia Drang. He didn't have that problem with the rest of his tours though - that fucker would keep me entertained for hours with all of his war stories, just not the Ia Drang.
As dawn broke on November 17, 1965, an eerie calm descended upon the Central Highlands, a deceptive stillness that belied the storm that was about to erupt. Having weathered the unrestrained battle at LZ X-Ray, the soldiers of the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) believed the worst was behind them.
Amidst the rustling leaves and the distant calls of exotic birds, a column of soldiers were patrolling the forest. Their steps, though cautious, carried an air of carelessness – a sense of relaxation after the horrors they had just experienced. However, with every step taken, they unknowingly inched closer to an unseen ambush. The seemingly tranquil jungle was, in reality, a labyrinth of shadows and silent enemies, ready to spring their deadly trap. The North Vietnamese forces, undeterred by heavy losses at LZ X-Ray, were prepared to strike once more. Their target? Landing Zone Albany.
And so, in the dense jungles of the La Drang Valley, another chapter of the gruesome battle is about to be written – darker, grimmer, and bloodier than what had gone before.
Cant get past the ad blocker so this video is one I will not see. I saw a lot of the war on Over the air TV. We did not have the correct mindset for that war. But I am old, so what do I know anyway.
ReplyDeleteKenny, I really appreciate the history posts you make. These, and the ones on the old west. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThanks. Next to the Good Mornings, these are my favorite ones to post. A lot of readers can relate to them in some manner, no matter what they cover.
DeleteKen, this could be a small world. A friend that I made when I first went to VA after retiring was a PFC at Ia Drang. Tall skinny guy that later went on to the dark side to become an officer and retired a LTC sometime in the 80s. He passed away from cancer about 10 years ago probably related agent orange after multiple tours.
DeletePaul,
ReplyDeleteThe war was not meant to be won, it was meant to be continuous.
George Orwell 1984
GWOT falls under the same header, along with War on Drugs, etc.
Agreed there is a lot to say about the Viet Nam war. What I stick to is those young Americans showed the world they could kick some ass. They were tough and rugged men and saw and did things those back home could never imagine let alone grasp. You could tell a civilian what it was like but them understanding just aint gonna happen.
ReplyDeleteSo, that was your Dads baptism by fire. My hat is off to him. I saw some shit but I didn't see that.
ReplyDelete