GI's called it "I" Drang.
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The Battle of Ia Drang lasted from 14 November through 18 November in 1965 .
Ia Drang...300 dead GI's, in three days.
The Battle of Ia Drang was fought from November 14 to November 18, 1965 between the United States and North Vietnam. The result of the battle was inconclusive, with both sides claiming victory.
Most historians might be inclined to say the Tet Offensive of '68; things got pretty rough during that time period...weekly US casualties were very high. But the Battle of the Ia Drang (1st Air Cav Division) in '65 could've been the worst (the film "We Were Soldiers..."); also NOT DEPICTED in the movie, there were over 300 dead GI's from that 3 day fight. The film, starrying Mel Gibson only showed his battalion...there were two involved, and the movie left the second battalion out of it. The book will cover both battalions however. Dak To in '66(?) fought by the 173rd Airborne Brigade may have had higher casualties still...they did lose more men than the Ia Drang fight; but then again it lasted longer. That second battalion at Ia Drang was cut to pieces in one day; they were in single file column and were hit from both sides by NVA regulars. The jungle was so thick they couldn't maneuver and had to stand and fight right then and there.
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