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.
