We lost a real Soldier when Hal Moore passed away.
He was very much the real deal and was a true professional Soldier who led by example and cared for his Troops.
His leadership during the LZ X-Ray battle know as the Ia Drang Battle was exemplary and allowed his far outnumbered command from being over run and destroyed by the North Vietnamese Army units engaged during that fight.
Hand Salute, Sir! See you at the Green!
For those not familiar with that Battle....the first major engagement of US and NVA Troops.....one that each side felt it had won....here is an animation that shows what happened over the three days of the fight. The Americans felt they had proven the Air Mobile Concept and would be able to over come the NVA. The NVA learned how to fight against the American superiority in firepower and be able to defeat American Ground Units by staying in very close proximity of the American Unit.
Hal Moore correctly anticipated each of the NVA Commanders movement of Troops and was able to best deploy his own Troops to counter those movements.
That combined with Airpower and Artillery support allowed the American unit to survive.
Ia Drang and Landing Zone X-Ray