BLOODY Dawn of the Vietnam War: Battle of Ia Drang at LZ X-Ray

It was a chilling morning, November 14, 1965, as the first rays of the sun cast long, haunting shadows across the Central Highlands. The stage was set for a battle that would go down in history as one of the deadliest confrontations of the entire Vietnam War.

The air resonated with the thumping of helicopter blades, creating an intense sense of anticipation. Echoes of distant artillery fire reverberated through the hearts of young American soldiers, as their faces etched with the grim understanding that they were venturing into the very jaws of danger. These brave men, members of the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), were about to embark on a mission that would test their mettle.

As the UH-1D transport helicopters descended upon Landing Zone X-Ray, a clearing amid the thick jungle, the tension was palpable. Below, the treacherous terrain awaited, concealing an invisible adversary – the North Vietnamese forces – who lay in wait, ready to unleash a torrent of fury.

This was the moment, the beginning of an epic struggle where bravery confronted fear, and determination battled despair. The Battle of Ia Drang was about to begin.

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Contents of this Video:
00:00 Bloody Clash at Ia Drang
01:13 Prelude to the Battle
04:15 The Plan
06:30 Day One
16:34 Day Two
22:37 Day Three

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The Militology Channel does it's best to produce historically accurate content for history enthusiasts. All content is carefully researched and sources shared. Images and footage of the actual events may not be 100% accurate due to availability, but we do our best. Some images and footage may be used for dramatic effect, but the narrative content adheres to historical accuracy based on available sources. Please reach out with any concerns around historical accuracy so we can incorporate feedback. We also want to hear your constructive interpretation of historical events in our video comments.

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Script Author:
Dejan Milivojevic

Sources:
1st, United States. Army. Cavalry Division. Combat Operations After Action Report, Pleiku Campaign: Pleiku Province, Republic of Vietnam, 23 Oct-26 Nov 1965, 1966.
Carland, John M. Combat Operations: Stemming the Tide, May 1965 to October 1966 (Paperback): Stemming the Tide, May 1965 to October 1966. Department of the Army, 2000.
Cash, John A. Seven Firefights in Vietnam. DIANE Publishing, 1985.
Harris, J. P., and J. Kenneth Eward. Ia Drang 1965: The Struggle for Vietnam’s Pleiku Province. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2020.
Galloway, Joseph. “Ia Drang – The Battle That Convinced Ho Chi Minh He Could Win.” HistoryNet, October 18, 2010.
Miskimon, Christopher . “Bloody Clash at the Battle of Ia Drang.” Warfare History Network, December 10, 2019.