In the first major engagement of the war between regular U.S. and North Vietnamese forces, Col. Tony Nadal and his fellow 3rd Brigade, 1st Calvary Division (Airmobile) launched the first heliborne assault of its kind against the North Vietnamese forces. This three day battle resulted in the loss of thousands of lives, and tested the limits of both armies capabilities. It was later depicted in the book We Were Soldiers Once … and Young and its subsequent film adaption.
In October 1965, the VC attacked the Special Forces camp at Plei Me, the US launched three counterattacks to cut them off from their retreat to Cambodia and destroy them. The battle for Ia Drang was part of the second phase from November 14th to 18th when the VC launched a conventional attack on US forces that deployed by helicopter close to their main supply bases and the border. Instead of employing their usual guerrilla tactics they went head to head trying to overrun the Americans.
The VC was beaten off and despite high casualties, both sides declared a victory. It taught the Americans to stick to their superior air power, and the VC to stick to guerrilla warfare.
In this amazing documentary, Tony Nadal tells his story which, supported by original footage from the battle at LZ X-Ray – including Nadal himself.
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