Born: November 19, 1943
** Private First Class, United States Army **(See note below) Service# 28674501 C CO, 8TH ENGINEER BATTALION (DIVISIONAL),
1ST CAVALRY DIVISION, US ARMY–VIETNAM Date of Enlistment: April 13, 1965
Home or Place of Enlistment: Rigby, Idaho Start of Tour: August 19, 1965 Died: November 17, 1965 Battle of Ia Drang, Pleiku Province, South Vietnam |
The Battle of Ia Drang comprises two main engagements conducted by the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment that took place on November 14–15, 1965 at LZ X-Ray and by the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment on November 17 at LZ Albany further north in the Ia Drang Valley. It was the first major battle between the United States and the North Vietnamese during the Vietnam War. This battle became a blueprint for tactics by both sides. The Americans used air mobility, artillery fire and close air support to accomplish battlefield objectives. The NVA learned that they could neutralize that firepower by quickly engaging American forces at very close range.
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