Battle of Ia Drang: the story on HearLore

The X-Ray Perimeter Defense

On the 14th of November 1965 at 10:48 the first troops of the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry arrived at LZ X-Ray after about 30 minutes of bombardment via artillery, aerial rockets and air strikes. The troops were inserted about 200 meters from the position of the PAVN 9th Battalion, 66th Regiment. Within approximately 30 minutes one squad under Sgt. John Mingo surprised and captured an unarmed deserter from the PAVN 33rd Regiment. The prisoner revealed there were three PAVN battalions on the Chu Pong Massif , an estimated 1,600 troops compared to fewer than 200 American soldiers on the ground. At 12:15 the first shots were fired on three platoons of B Company patrolling jungle northwest of the dry creek bed. Just before 13:00 Devney's 1st Platoon was heavily assaulted on both flanks by the PAVN taking casualties and becoming pinned down. Herrick's platoon became separated from the rest of 1/7 by approximately 100 meters during pursuit of enemy forces. An intense firefight erupted in a clearing where Herrick's men inflicted heavy losses while suffering none initially. Within 25 minutes five men including Herrick himself were killed as his platoon formed a defensive perimeter on a small knoll. Eight men of the platoon had been killed and 13 wounded by that point. Under Sgt. Ernie Savage's leadership the platoon held the knoll for the duration of the battle at X-Ray. Spec. Galen Bungum later said they gathered all full magazines stacked up in front with no way to dig foxholes because fire was too heavy. By nightfall near 17:00 the lead elements of Bravo Company of 2nd Battalion arrived to reinforce the embattled 1st Battalion. The company closed in at 18:00 hours. Around this time Colonel Brown ordered the 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry to be heli-lifted to LZ Victor about 5 kilometers away to reinforce the next morning. At 16:00 precisely the first wave of B-52 carpet bombings fell at YA 8702 about 7 kilometers west of LZ X-Ray aiming mainly to strike units of the 32nd Regiment located 5 kilometers further west.

What was the date of the Battle of Ia Drang?

The Battle of Ia Drang took place from November 14 to the 18th of November 1965. The first troops of the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry arrived at LZ X-Ray on the 14th of November 1965.

Who commanded the U.S. forces during the Battle of Ia Drang?

General William C. Westmoreland secured commitment for U.S. regulars while Colonel Harold Moore led the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry. Maj. Gen. Chu Huy Mân commanded the B3 Front opposing them with three PAVN regiments.

How many American soldiers died in the Battle of Ia Drang?

The U.S. military confirmed 305 killed and 524 wounded including 234 killed and 242 wounded between November 14 and 18 1965. Estimates suggest perhaps as many as 2,000 North Vietnamese soldiers were killed.

Where did the main fighting occur during the Battle of Ia Drang?

Major combat occurred at LZ X-Ray and LZ Albany within the Central Highlands region of South Vietnam. The city of Pleiku served as the location of the South Vietnamese II Corps headquarters nearby.

Why was the Battle of Ia Drang significant to the Vietnam War?

The battle established a blueprint for the war by testing new air mobility tactics and using Boeing B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers in a tactical support role. It popularized the U.S. concept of body count as a measure of success with a claimed kill ratio nearly 10 to 1.

Battle of Ia Drang.

The X-Ray Perimeter Defense

The Albany Ambush And Casualties

Tactical Innovations In Warfare

Media Documentation And Historical Legacy

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