Ia Drang is where the NVA learned how to fight the US Army....."Hug Them by their Belt" Tactic.....get in close so we could not use our superior firepower (air and artillery) due to risk of killing our own Troops.
Ia Drang would have turned into a total defeat had Colonel Moore not been able to deploy his Troops to exactly the right place as they arrived piecemeal. It took multiple flights of helicopters to land his Battalion and fortunately they arrived just in time for him to be able to counter the NVA's moves. Moore read the battlefield and figured out what the enemy commander was thinking.
The battle was a very near thing.....at a couple of points during the fight it looked as if the Battalion would be over run and wiped out. Only the immense firepower focused on the NVA saved the day. The 1st Cav Artillery particularly place very effective fires on the NVA.
The Helicopters also were instrumental in the delivery of Ammunition and Medical Supplies.....and removing the Wounded....done at no small risk to themselves. Two Pilots were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions that day....along with some of the Infantry.
Yes.....Washington....refused a Commission by the English.....only to achieve some success in the new American Army.....but the American Army was an organization with lots of upward mobility at the time instead of lots of English Nobility. We saw how that played out at Jamestown didn't we?
Last edited by SASless; 18th Jul 2013 at 11:50.