The REAL Battle from We Were Soldiers - Ia Drang 65 (1/2)

[@TheOperationsRoom]

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[@Interdictiondeltawing]

The movie about the battle was good

[@Michael_OBrian]

Any chance of a video on the Battle of Samar?

[@kayhan101]

Your casualties stats may be incorrect. "-United States: 237 killed, 258 wounded, and 4 missing (~50% of troop strength) -South Vietnam ~350 -North-Vietnam(People's Army of Viet-Nam) report: 554 killed and 669 wounded (~49% of troop strength) *U.S claimed: 1,070-1,753 killed" en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Ia_Drang

[@TheOperationsRoom]

@@kayhan101 note, this is part 1...

[@bicbouy4126]

Any chance of a video on the Aussies in the battle of Long Tan ?

[@JG54206]

Little interesting factoid: the soldier depicted on the cover of the book “We Were Soldiers Once… and Young” is a man named Rick Rescorla. Amongst his many other life achievements; Rick Rescorla was the head of security for one of the firms in the WTC on 9/11. I can’t remember which company he worked for but I believe they had the most floor space of all tenants. After the 1993 WTC attack he began making all employees of his company including the big wigs partake in quarterly fire drills. He would time them and was strict on his time requirements. On the day of 9/11 he was seen going room to room, floor by floor with his megaphone shouting “it’s a great day to be an American.” Rick Rescorla died during the collapse of the tower he was in. It’s unknown how many people his preparations and actions saved but it’s agreed that there are more than a few people who owe it to him for being alive today. A true American hero. EDIT- I can’t believe I forgot to mention that he was born in Britain and served in the British army and the Rhodesian Police before moving to America.

[@wouldntyouliketoknow9891]

That's an odd thing for him to be saying. You would think "the building is on fire, get out now" would be more practical. After all, we didn't know it was a terrorist attack while he was alive.

[@JG54206]

@@wouldntyouliketoknow9891 I think he was singing it. He was known to sing to calm soldiers during Vietnam.

[@bishop6218]

Well, if he wasn't a hero i don't know who is !

[@maquettemusic1623]

​@@wouldntyouliketoknow9891 Yes he did know. He had actually predicted this exact event happening in 1993, when the WTC was first bombed, albeit with Cargo planes, and had discussed it with his close friend Dan Hill and Fred McBee as part of his job as head of security.

[@ma9x795]

@@wouldntyouliketoknow9891 If memory serves, he'd actually predicted a terrorist attack along the lines of what actually happened, I think possibly after the car park bomb a few years earlier. On 9/11, once the second aircraft had hit, it couldn't be anything other than a terrorist attack.

[@L_Train]

RIP Joe Galloway. CIVILIAN at this battle who received a bronze star. 1941-2021 He went on to become a famous journalist and Author. Interviews with him are a must listen.

[@malcolm5514]

omg I had no idea he had died! :/

[@Capt_OscarMike]

@@malcolm5514 I HAD NO IDEA EITHER...The movie, as all movies, doesn't project the reality of what occurred on both sides like the book did...totally amazing..

[@ThatSockmonkey]

Joe Galloway has been one of my heros since I was in my late teens. He displayed courage, honour and decency thought his life and career, and we could do with a few more people like him in the world of journalism these days.

[@ramal5708]

Plus Joe Galloway also one of the guys that wrote the article about the 2003 invasion of Iraq was a scam, there were no active WMDs in Iraq anymore and they were there because of shoddy intelligence and of course, Oil

[@USAR8888]

I'll never forget his interview in the documentary "Vietnam in HD" where he recalls the friendly fire napalm attack that killed SPC Jimmy Nakayama, who Joe had to lift up by his burned legs and the the flesh just fell away. You can see in his body language as he reluctantly talks about it that it has haunted him for the rest of his life. He ends it crying "that boy is my nightmare". Very powerful and heartwrenching interview and very hard not to get choked up watching it.

[@rs4028]

My father was a rifleman in the 1st Cav 2/5. He went into Nam two weeks after this happened in '65. He's still alive and well at 79.

[@davidcatalano3781]

If your dad's suffers from PTSD. There is a website that may help ww.w Patriot a nonprofit organization run by Vietnam colonel Antonio Monico

[@goat165]

Please pass on my thanks to him for his service.

[@matteotivan3414]

Awesome choice! "We were soldiers once and young" was the first book I've read in English (I'm Italian). Just wanted to share this small moment of pride with you lol

[@le-coup-détat]

Congrats!

[@JustMe-gn6yf]

That book is captivating and in depth and so easy to become immersed in, I read it when I worked out of state I would reread the last chapter I read the previous night I highly recommend reading it

[@seedy80]

Good choice. It's detail is incredible.

[@johnnaugle5762]

Congratulations!

[@neon7104]

A good book! Great choice

[@DiplexHeated]

When the real battle is crazier than the movie. Looking forward to part 2!

[@tytoalbasoren9457]

MoWAS2 battle of Ia Drang, yes?

[@L_Train]

All real battles are crazier "than the movie" you sheltered reprobate. what do you think you're funny or something? think this is a meme? Or are you really just that unintelligent and cretinous?

[@CHAOS88100]

Part 2 isn't shown in the movie for obvious reasons... it was a complete disaster for the US and they lost several hundred men and several companies were almost wiped out in the ambush. The movie ended on this battle as at least it looked like a US victory.

[@christianelthorp8601]

@@CHAOS88100 yeah. The movie, while showing much of what did occur during its time span, certainly took massive liberties in certain sections and the upcoming massacre in part ii

[@docbaztardyt2342]

Damn bro, I remember watching your Rome and Shogun videos when I was 12 or 13 over like 10 years ago haha. You kickstarted my interest in military history. Glad to see you're still around.

[@glennheth3472]

I had the honour of meeting General Moore a number of years ago. He would have been pushing 80 years old but he probably still could have kicked my ass. He was very easy to talk to, but he was also not afraid to be bluntly honest about what he thought. For example, in reference to Donald Rumsfeld, he said that he never thought he'd see the day when someone would make McNamara look good in comparison. And that the Iraq War wasn't worth the life of a single American soldier. The only time he really got emotional was when he talked about Rick Rescorla, who, if you watched We Were Soldiers, is depicted in the Movie capturing the bugle from the NVA. Rescorla was the chief of security for Morgan Stanley and his office was in the World Trade Center. He died on 9/11 helping get hundreds of people out of the Tower before it collapsed. Moore said that he died as a soldier, and was Killed in Action on the battlefield of Manhattan.

[@alexgramm5170]

Wow! I was just saying in other comment that I would have liked to meet him. These men cared about the life of an American soldier. "Don't make them like that anymore"

[@looinrims]

The Iraq war was worth much more than just one single American life, but alright

[@looinrims]

@@cin806 uh yeah, both wars were still worth it, regardless if he couldn’t see the bigger geopolitical picture

[@looinrims]

@@BadTakesGuy I’m a zionist for saying Saddam Hussein was evil and deserved to be killed? Okay

[@Delaydenydefend]

Anybody still talking about "geopolitics" in reference to dead young Americans is either a Lockheed lobbyist, or seriously needs their head removed from their ass......

[@maquettemusic1623]

Many heroes were on the battlefield that day, including a Cyril "Rick" Rescorla from Cornwall, UK. Rescorla was a plt comd, 2/5, who would go on to save 2,000 people during 9/11. Both on the battlefield and during the twin towers he would sing Cornish songs to calm people. He died going back up the collapsing tower. A Cornish and American Hero, today his monument stands on the bank of Hayle Harbour. Kosk yn kres, gorour, onen hag oll.

[@maxkennedy8075]

What was a Cornishman doing in Vietnam? Was he Cornish American or a volunteer from Cornwall proper?

[@maquettemusic1623]

@@maxkennedy8075 He was a Cornishman through and through, born in Hayle. He was first in the British Army, then Rhodesian Colonial Police, before becoming a US citizen.

[@JG54206]

I literally just commented that myself! Glad I’m not the only one who thought it was worth mentioning.

[@maquettemusic1623]

@@JG54206 Rescorla's story embodies what it means to be both a proud American and a Cornishman, and our shared history. Few younger people here know his story, which I think is a shame for a place which now more than ever needs local heroes.

[@patrickwolff2727]

He just couldn’t leave anyone behind. Ever.

[@kingoftypehoeshd_tv3658]

Just finished rewatching We Were Soldiers yesterday! Talk about timing

[@DaveSCameron]

Imma talkin bout timin ma man✌️

[@hop1130]

Same, just watched it for the first time!

[@thatguygambit5062]

Same. Just saw it on netflix.

[@JimmyMon666]

Beautiful morning Sergeant. What, are you a F'n weather man now? Love that character and that movie.

[@jimknowlton342]

does it take multiple days to watch it?

[@ww3032]

Hal Moore reassuring the forward air controller despite having his hq hit by bombs was such a badass thing to do.

[@zemog1025]

One only needs to read about the fate of the 7th Infantry Division in Korera to understand Hal Moore's quality of leadership. What happened up near Chosin makes the second phase of the Ia Drang look likes child's play.

[@rowmagnvs]

@@zemog1025 what’s amazing about the Korean War is how so few marines or army held off so many incoming Chinese and Koreans. It’s crazy shit

[@joshuagann8026]

You forget about that one charlie, you're keeping us alive

[@CoreyandCrew]

@@rowmagnvs quantity isn't quality it seems

[@xxbryan715xx]

The “broken arrow” scene from we were soldiers has always given me chills. The amount of resources and fire power available to the American combatant at the other end of a radio is awe inspiring. Seeing that what was depicted in the movie was a serious understatement is even more impressive.

[@Luis-be9mi]

During WW2 there was a saying how you can tell which enemy you were engaging. If the enemy responded with very controlled and disciplined rifle fire you were fighting the British. If the enemy responded with heavy MG fire you were fighting the Germans. If the skies suddenly start raining artillery shells and bombs you were fighting the Americans.

[@ramal5708]

But I guess you never heard of the call "Prairie Fire" before, it was used generally by MACV Sog guys deep behind enemy lines

[@PurplePanda1233]

@@ramal5708 Bombing the enemy into submission is the American way, i.e the ending of WWII was a heads up to the rest of the world. The US has planes and will use them.

[@tyleralfred8846]

Haven’t seen that movie in years when I was around 11-12 that used to be my favorite movie. Than I got older.

[@Giveme1goodreason]

@@Luis-be9mi one of my favourite interviews was an American journalist talking to a Japanese veteran. It went like this. Journo: tell me who was the best at fighting in the jungle in your experience?? JV: (thinks) I’m I’d have to say it was the Australians. They were ferocious and very adaptable. Journo: (who’d clearly expected to hear Americans) well who was the 2nd best then??? JV: (thinks) I’d have to say it was the gherkers. They aren’t normal people. Scared of nothing. Journo: what about Americans?? How were they in the jungle???? JV: I do not know. They never fought in the jungle. They just blasted the landscape and fought in the craters.

[@Rokaize]

I have to admit, those NVA soldiers were incredibly brave. Some seriously fierce warriors.

[@pudanielson1]

The NVA were trained in conventional warfare, knew the terrain well used it to their advantage. We Americans have a lot of hubris and this showed.

[@parkertang2134]

@@pudanielson1 surprising how 100,000 NVA died during the 1972 Easter Offensive trying to invade South Vietnam. They were obliterated by US air support and ARVN soldiers

[@briantincher9284]

The NVA regulars were well trained and disciplined soldiers. Most had grown up in constant conflict and therefore were very battle hardened. Muck respect to them and their command. They knew the lay of the land and used it to their advantage. The U.S. troops fought well and will always have my respect for their sacrifice and devotion to our country whether they fought in this particular battle or not? God Bless all current and former men and women in our armed services.

[@cudanmang_theog]

The entire NVA strength never exceed 250.000 men and if they attacked through Ho Chi Min trait , only ~25,000 were able to smuggled and engage in the south. Most NVA forces still in North Vietnam. 25,000 NVA and 70,000 Vietcong guerillas was the highest peak. Both South and North Vietnam back then had low population density and small population according to the World Bank Population charters.

[@Rokaize]

@@cudanmang_theog do you have a source for that? The south Vietnamese and the CIA estimated them at approximately 400,000-500,000. Both NVA and guerrilla forces combined.

[@spoonfed7724]

Scary how relentless the NVA were! Even with air assaults they kept on pressing

[@turnerthe75themperor19]

No shit, Sherlock. If they didn't do that then how are they suppose to hold the country

[@youtubeguy2k]

@@turnerthe75themperor19 what?

[@garretth8224]

@@turnerthe75themperor19 "We". You were probably not even born during the Vietnam war.

[@danghoangluong2942]

@@turnerthe75themperor19 You probably didn't even fight the war

[@andro7862]

When you're fighting for the independence and unity of your homeland it's victory or death, no going back.

[@spencerboone10]

This battle is one where I have to actively say to myself “this was not a movie, this actually happened”. I don’t have an honest frame of reference for it. God bless these men. Thanks for sharing!

[@sufianansari4923]

Wow! 4:28 - the big fella in the photo with Westmorland is a young Major Norman Schwarzkopf later a general in command of all land forces in the 1st Gulf War

[@ramal5708]

Exactly, I wanted to find that picture all my life, when I wrote my school papers about Generals Eisenhower, Walker, Westmoreland and Schwarzkopf

[@sufianansari4923]

@@ramal5708 Isn't it in Storming Norman Schwarskopfs biography - It Doesn't Take a Hero?

[@ArmyMP]

Came here to say the same thing. Good catch!

[@rg20322]

Westmorland was over his head in everything he did.

[@rg20322]

A disgrace.

[@litterallyNobodyyy]

I don’t know why I keep watching these.. I’m a soldier and hearing about how my fellow soldiers throughout history fought and died for what they believed in brings tears to my eyes. Imagining what they were going through and the hardship they endured before they died..

[@pearltothejam]

This only proves just how formidable the NVA were. If the US didn’t have so much air and artillery support they would’ve been annihilated

[@ChristinaHauser-j4m]

That's why we have an air force. Why wouldn't we have air support?

[@ChristinaHauser-j4m]

Pearl, you know better than this

[@24YOA]

Could you add a distance scale in a corner for the wider map shots? I feel it could be beneficial to get a sense of scale for how far apart units are.

[@Iymarra]

This, please. Scale would be great where possible

[@MattH-wg7ou]

Always have a North arrow and a scale!

[@lynnhudson838]

While I was teaching college in central IL, I used Hal Moore as an example. One of my students said, "I know Hal Moore.". He always seemed to know everyone. I asked him how he knew him. He said that Colonel Moore lived a few doors down from his parents in Los Vegas! I about fainted.

[@mosesracal6758]

I think scaling distance would be too difficult for them as the distances between units are clearly of mostly artistic interpretation.

[@whyme943]

@@mosesracal6758 Maybe only fade it in when they’re confident on scale/locations?

[@SouthTexasDude210]

A family friend is a veteran of the Ia Drang, he was on one of the 81mm mortar crews. His stories of that battle are truly breathtaking.

[@CD-zx4zu]

My grandfather was a mortarman for this battle, doesn't talk much about it

[@jeffcarroll1990shock]

One minute they were everywhere and the next they just disappeared? The screams of those set on fire by Napalm carrying for miles? The deafening noise of death reigning from above?

[@Arbitrageur_]

I played an extra in the movie, we were soldiers. They shot a couple scenes at ft Benning while I was there in 01. Paid $50 a day for two days. The scene was where three helicopters fly over a parade field while mel gives the speech how he won't leave anyone behind, before they go to Vietnam. We also showed them how to move to contact, react to an ambush, bounding etc etc. It was neat.

[@tyjans370]

12:08 Using a .45 in each hand to fend off the enemy. Now that’s soldiering.

[@leonardotavaresdardenne9955]

I'm guessing that wasn't in the movie because nobody would buy that literal John Woo bullshit actually happened

[@ramal5708]

They never depicts a US Marine dual wielding M1A1 Thompson SMGs in the movies during Peleliu 1944 as well.

[@1pcfred]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6azoHeEetNmf5I

[@triandfit1]

I'm guessing the replies to your Sharpe reference went right over their heads!

[@ArmyVet82ndAbn]

My utmost respect and thank you to all who served. My late father served in Korean war and 3 tours in Nam. My little brother and I followed in dads footsteps. Respect...Hooah.

[@drak347]

I’ve always had a hard time picturing the scope of this battle from the movie - this was awesome!

[@Awesomes007]

The book. Incredible

[@drak347]

Been wanting to check it out - now I have to. Thanks!!

[@ThisHandleFeatureIsStupid]

@@Awesomes007 No, in the book it's all very well described. But in the movie, the layout of the battlefield is indeed pretty damn unclear.

[@dougmasters4579]

The movie was very disappointing.

[@leoaero1948]

Wonderful and comprehensive. The birds eye view of the battle-space gave a sense of depth and understanding of what took place at La Drang..

[@cniinc]

Imagine killin ten times the amount of men you lost, in a battle that was a surprise to both sides and saw rushing attacks for a whole day...and none of the men wore body armor. Jesus christ what a battle.

[@kayhan101]

The ratio is more than likely 3-5 times "the amount of men you lost". If you factor in 900 sorties by USAF(16 B-52 dropped 200 tones of bombs alone) including Napalms, the Vietcongs fought pretty darn well. Problem seems to be that the military-industrial concerns, had already made up their mind about expanding the war over in Vietnam.

[@spoonfed7724]

Your right , must of been a bloodbath. Heavy casualties from both sides.

[@garystu9878]

The 2nd part of this series will most likely focus on the Battle at LZ Albany. The casualty figures for that battle would be much less one-sided (and for the Americans, significantly worse) than this battle at LZ X-Ray.

[@thomasdowe5274]

@@kayhan101 Yes, but the head of that snake: Military Industrial Complex is the Government who borrows Debt at increasing levels to enrich themselves and their industrial and military friends; Ceo's and Admiral/General ilk. Who is responsible for that Debt? *The People* and who just stand-in-line, and just follow orders, because 'The Sky is Falling!' or some war or another. If nothing else, they'll seed some hurricanes. "Here, here is the cure you must take that won't cure you, but you'll need more and more different vaccines for this 'Pandemic'"...and that's and order!

[@MarcosElMalo2]

@@kayhan101 NVA, not VC. These were well trained, well disciplined North Vietnam troops, fully equipped with chi-com armaments at battalion strength, with supporting battalions nearby. While VC could also be disciplined units, they weren’t always such, nor were they as well equipped. And they rarely operated as battalions in the field. Many VC units were locally based, like a local militia, and wouldn’t ever participate in larger set piece battles outside of their regular ao. Don’t think I’m trying to run down the Vite Cong. They were no joke. But NVA is on another level.

[@JamieBainbridge]

It's so easy to look at this from above after the event. I imagine these guys saw almost nothing themselves, they probably felt surrounded by identical jungle while bullets whizzed around seemingly from everywhere.

[@nilloc93]

That's accurate, its interesting to compare how soldiers are trained/briefed today or even in the 90's vs in the 60/70's. Today you had best know at least what formations are on your flanks and what your att/det support units are, mission profile, intent, ect. back then it seemed like they only cared about squad/platoon level knowledge. Equipment and training were pretty bad too according to people i've talked to.

[@iivin4233]

@@nilloc93 It seems like the US kept its best divisions in Germany, Japan, Korea and in the US. I don't have a source for this. Only hearsay.

[@nilloc93]

@@iivin4233 that's pretty odd hearsay since the US deployed elements of some pretty well trained units. Such as a brigade from the 82nd airborne or the 1st infantry division. Not to mention the host of special forces that were sent in country. Of course they never sent in their armored units since Vietnam is hardly the terrain for large maneuver units.

[@pheonix6321]

@@iivin4233 What divisions would be the best? nilloc93 said the the 1st Infantry Division. I haven't seen where the the 82nd was deployed, but the 101st Airborne Division was. Hill 937, aka Hamburger Hill, which is also located in the Ia Drang Valley, was a major battle fought by them with major causalities, hints the name. You also had the 1st Marine Division there, besides the Special Forces, (SEALs, Green Berets, Recon, and PJ's) who were also recently formed at the time, deployed there. So it wasn't like the US Military went in there on the cheap like Afghanistan, or even the 2nd Gulf War. In some ways the mind set of the soldiers and marines played into Viet Nam. It was an unpopular war, which had a lot of draftees serving, so putting a bunch of people who probably don't want to be in military into combat is not the best thing. Put on top of that the limitations that were put on the military due to politics, and yeah the "War" was due to be lost from the start. It didn't matter that every major engagement that was fought the US won until their major withdraw, they couldn't risk going into North Viet Nam because of the risk of being nuked by China and Russia. The same as the US with Afghanistan not being able to go into Pakistan to hunt down Al Qaeda, and the Taliban. Hints why the "War" in Afghanistan took us 20 years, and why there was a 2nd Gulf War.

[@geordiedog1749]

Amazing how resilient the NVA were.

[@bubbles190]

Relentless

[@maquettemusic1623]

Many accounts in the book of their bravery, including soldiers who died bent over their grenades to detonate when their bodies were moved, or those seen bleeding out yet still trying to get off rounds. They were true soldiers too, as Hal Moore highlights.

[@alastor8091]

They honestly have my respect. Whenever people question how the people could stand against the US government, I always point to them first.

[@geordiedog1749]

@@maquettemusic1623 I must get around to reading the book. Along with all the others that I must get around to reading. God I wish I could read a bit faster:)

[@BenCadorette]

Well what else are they gonna do? Pack up and go home?

[@jmainzer8315]

I remember hearing about this from old E7s and above when I was at Ft Benning in 1986. After a few years in Germany, I got to know a bunch of retired vets living in the Frankfurt area. Every one of them focused on what happened to the "other battalion" when we talked about the battle. Most were from the 173rd anyway, but seemed pretty informed. When the movie came out, it motivated me to finally buy the book, and Holy Hand Grenade was I shocked at the second half of the book. When my 4 kids all started enlisting in 2014,15, 17 and 18 I made sure they read the whole thing. Another outstanding presentation sir!!

[@Go-hard-or-go-home]

According to Hal Moore, vast majority of US casualties were inflicted through small arms fire, noting well placed ambushes, owerhelming attacks through small units on US positions,he also noted their accuracy and determination. On the contrary PAVN casualties were primarily inflicted through air power (B 52) and artillery barrages.

[@ww3032]

There was immense respect for the enemy on both sides. You know that this battle was fought by warriors.

[@alexeubanks467]

The arty fire was intense . My grandfather was a senior NCO with 1/3 E battery 82nd Arty AVN. He flew over the battle in an OH13 for hours calling in Arty to support the lost platoon and direct fire wherever they were drawing fire from . He said the rate of fire was constant and that they had to rotate the light weight howitzers to keep them firing accurately. He had selected the ground the howitzers were sling loaded and brought into in order to better support the men in the shit. He eventually inserted into the battle before night fall Plotting where to hit the enemy with the exit Arty screen in morning before exfilling the next day . He was forward artillery observer & intelligence sergeant with ww2 & Korea Combat experience. He said over half of the men and most of the COs and NCOs had combat experience and were true warriors willing to die for their brothers . Every man from the top all the way to privates had serious balls and heart by his measure. He didn’t speak of this for almost 25 years as he was dying from agent orange. He said he didn’t do anything the next man wouldn’t have done for him and that he would have given that bronze star back to bring even 1 of those men back. He summed it up by saying better men then him never made it home .

[@chaosXP3RT]

Americans love guns, but can't shoot accurately! they hide behind artillery and planes

[@oscarmeyer785]

@@chaosXP3RT a real smoothbrained comment 😂

[@DP-ec3zo]

@@chaosXP3RT then volunteer to stand in front of an American with a gun 🤷‍♂

[@Cbenumea]

Shame that in the movie they didn’t feature the gunship that helped the Lost Platoon

[@Reaver70]

I bet the director wanted it but the accountants said "no sir, a +10 million to the budget for a 3 minute clip on already overbudget "mel gibson payout" is not acceptable.

[@irishmarine3]

Or the dude that was literally dual-wielding pistols shooting at people like Neo

[@miguelmagallon7863]

Or albany it should of ended with that attack

[@alexeubanks467]

My grandfather called in Arty from the right seat of an OH13 for hours attempting to cover the lost platoon. He also selected the ground that the sling loaded howitzers were brought to so they could better support. E battery 82nd artillery 1st cav 3rd battalion

[@floydvaughn836]

Or Rick Rescorla.

[@Chiller01]

The Americans at LZ X-ray were well lead and were able to defend themselves with enormous help from air and artillery support, in the face superior numbers. The following day approaching LZ Albany the Americans were not so well lead, the North Vietnamese were able to infiltrate American lines negating artillery and air support and essentially overrun the Americans. We tend to remember X-ray and forget Albany.

[@daniellee9328]

The riflemen of each side were very good at their jobs but US air support and fire missions gave them the ability to defeat the NVA in battle. Without that American troop losses would have been higher in every engagement. But at the same time without Soviet SAMs the North would have lost the war.

[@kx4998]

@@daniellee9328 i wouldn't say the NVA would lose the war but it would certainly prolong the conflict.

[@daniellee9328]

@@kx4998 Without Soviet SAMs they don't shoot down a single USAF jet. USAF and USN can bombard North Vietnam as much as they want during the war. Look up Operation Linebacker 2 humiliating defeat for USA because of Soviet SAMs and forced America to the negotiation table. North Vietnam was getting most of its weapons and ammo from the Soviet Union including jets. China also provided tanks, small arms, artillery etc...

[@zemog1025]

Many tend to forget Albany because their only knowledge of the battle comes from the movie. Sort of like the Battle of Mogadishu morphing into "Blackhawk Down". What happened there was a brutal meeting engagement while the US units were strung out in a marching column and had inadvertently halted adjacent to an equally surprised but organized and battle ready NVA unit. In addition to the cited poor leadership, this battle exposed US infantry locked in close combat without the doctrinal fire support which they relied on. The NVA were able to roll up the isolated platoons and squads that were strung out in the disorganized column in a disastrous one-sided battle. One of the poor leadership points was when the US battalion commander called all of his company commanders to the head of the halted and stung-out column leaving the majority of the troops in a state of poor to non-existent leadership, the boys definitely let their guard down and paid the price. The NVA leadership was superior in that they quickly recognized the tactical situation and were able to organize and strike the vulnerable and exposed underbelly of the American column. US definitely got complacent and got kicked in the mouth in the second phase of the Ia Drang.

[@parkertang2134]

@@daniellee9328 Actually, Linebacker II plan was to bring North Vietnam back to the negotiating table and they did just that. Linebacker II was probably one of the most successful operations of the Vietnam War for the American and South Vietnamese side in terms of risk and reward. Although 26 aircraft were shot down, including 16 b-52 (North Vietnamese sources claim 81 shot down, including 31 b-52), they had eliminated almost all of North Vietnam's Airfields, railroads, petrol dumps, and electrical grids. They had also depleted almost all of North Vietnam's SAM's (American aircraft were virtually unfired upon during the last 3 days of Operatin Linebacker II). North Vietnam returned back to the negotiating table after the damage was done. America would have won the war if they just continuously gave South Vietnam weapons and air support after the peace treaty but a group of Anti-War geniuses inside US Congress decided to cut aid and air support for so called "peace, not war". In the end, nearly 1 million of our South Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Laotian allies were slaughted by the Communist invaders thanks to Anti War politicians and protesters, 700,000 died at sea trying to escape Vietnam after the Communist's took over. The Vietnam War was not a war of independence but a war of Communist agression, same as the korean War, but this time, politicians and the mainstream media had to make sure that we don't win the war and make us look like we (South Vietnam, USA, Republic of korea, Republic of China, Philliphines, Australia, New Zealand, etc) are the villians and Communists are heroes despite killing millions of their own people (North Vietnam, Peoples Republic of China, Soviet Union, North korea, Cuba, East Germany, etc).

[@christopherwang4392]

9:50 thru 9:57 As explained in _We Were Soldiers Once...and Young_ (1992), machine gunners SP4 Russell Adams and SP4 Bill Beck, along with another machinegun crew consisting of SPC Theron Ladner and PFC Rodriguez Rivera, were deployed between Alpha and Charlie Companies where their heavy fire prevented the NVA from exploiting the gap between the two rifle companies. When Adams became incapacitated by a head wound, Beck was forced to take over their M60 and hold off the enemy attack by himself for the next two hours. Adams and Beck's heroic efforts, along with those of Ladner and Rivera, were credited by LTC Hal Moore for preventing the NVA from rolling up Alpha Company and driving a wedge into the battalion between Alpha and Charlie Companies. Adams miraculously survived his head wound and both he and Beck were awarded the Bronze Star with Valor in 1996.

[@brucevanatta8586]

My drill sergeant in basic training was awarded the silver star from actions at LZ X-ray.

[@X2_DACA]

My dad "Hernandez" was 1/12 C company 65-66

[@Fatkiller22]

When The Operations Room uploads you know its a good day! Thanks for all the work you put into these!

[@ragejay1063]

Agreed!

[@trevorcoyle517]

“How do you know what kind of God damn day it is?”

[@TheOperationsRoom]

My pleasure!

[@jamescowperthwaite1374]

@@trevorcoyle517 what are you the goddamn weatherman now?

[@joethebassplayer]

Mt step-father was in this battle (Mortar Platoon in 7th Cavalry), I just shared the video with my mother and she will show it to him later today. Thank You

[@Doc_Tar]

I've read Col. Moore's book. You've added context to the start of this battle that I don't remember being part of Moore's narrative. I hope you do a second part on what happened to those battalions that moved off the new LZ after the first battle.

[@Hemiheaded18]

My favorite TOR video yet. I have always found Vietnam as a point in warfare history to be so incredibly fascinating. As much as Ia Drang was a victory in numbers for the US, it proved to North Vietnam (and the US) that the NVA were not only well equipped and extremely motivated but that they could plan and execute massive campaigns. We would learn again at the end of January 1968 what they were capable of on an even bigger scale.

[@tylernelson152]

"Gentlemen, prepare to defend yourselfs." I get chills every time.

[@fakeyf2]

We Were Soldiers was a good movie but every one should read the book. Its fantastic. The reality of the battle is far more intense than what could be conveyed in a Hollywood production. When 2nd Battalion, 5th Cav marched in to relieve Moore's troopers they spent 30 minutes walking past strewn bodies on their way up to the lines. Specialist Parish of Delta Company that won the Silver Star had over 100 bodies around his machine gun position. The NVA would just stand up and laugh at the American troopers and then get cut down in hail of bullets. Stuff like like that is too unbelievable to be shown in a movie. Audiences wouldn't buy it!

[@mnguy98]

Audie Murphy actually said the same thing when he was filming To Hell And Back; he had some of the battle sequences toned down from his real experiences, because he thought people wouldn't believe how crazy things actually were

[@rudah90]

@@mnguy98 Agree, even difficult to imagine 19 year old stand against 200+ enemy alone and take victory alive.

[@shawnthomasbrown3867]

Can’t show the public the real thing, then it makes us look like ruthless savages. Same shit with blackhawk down, a lot of shit that went down was not shown. General public would have been sick if they had seen for example, little birds completely dessimating 200-350 somalis within seconds with their miniguns. Public can’t handle it and if they knew what we really did, they would shame us and call us murders.

[@friendly0]

Why would you stand up and laugh at a machine gun?

[@Dionach]

@@friendly0 People react in strange ways under stress. I think it was in We Were Soldiers Once... the book, in the Albany battle when shooting started, while everyone else dropped to the ground, one of the Americans froze and just stood upright for a few seconds until he was shot. Like his brain just couldn't process what was happening in time.

[@stewartdalton3298]

The visual aspect of the battle while being narrated,in this way, actually helps me understand a whole lot more. The creeks, make shift assembly points, certain concentrations of soldiers and location of airstrikes is absolutely brilliant. Thank you for your content and presentation skills. Greetings from Australia 👍🏻🇦🇺

[@alexeubanks467]

My grandfather was inserted into the battle to direct artillery fire . He was a senior NCO artillery observer with combat experience in ww2 and Korea and he served with the orphan battery (E battery 82nd Arty AVN) he was dropped in by an OH13 which Earlier he had been circling in the area believed to contain the lost platoon. He also chose the suitable and defensible ground to bring in the sling loaded arty guns to further assist . At this time in Vietnam over half of the men had combat experience from ww2 or Korea and they were truly a brotherhood. THE FIRST TEAM . Every man was ready to his part and every man was willing to lay his life down for his brothers . Rest In Peace to those great men May their heroism under fire never be forgotten. Gary Owen !

[@arktactical6112]

Met CSM Plumley and LT Gen Moore when I was a kid in a youth bootcamp program. Living legends that changed my life as a kid back in 02-03.

[@Dionach]

Did you call him Grandpa?

[@dk5468]

I've said it before and I will say it again....and again. The Operations Room is by FAR the best battle analysis content on KZbin. Superb video as always. Happy Christmas from Western Australia :)

[@sniperboom1202]

My grandad was in Pleiku from 65-end of 66 he got home Dec. 28, 66. Just a few weeks before the Tet offensive began. He would call in Huey's to flamethrower areas that his base would take mortar fire from.

[@nicknam8478]

Tet offensive was in 1968 not 1967 so he missed it by over a year.

[@tommonk7651]

A guy from my tiny hometown in GA died early on in this battle as he was part of the lost platoon. This battle was a near run thing. Thousands of NVA soldiers in and on the mountain that the US military did not know about.

[@sproge2142]

Man, imagine if the NVA had some mortars or any kind of light artillery, with the US forces so pinned down they'd be sitting ducks. I'm suprised they didn't have access to them in this battle, considering the size of the force, one would think a force of this size would have a native section in the unit.

[@Litany_of_Fury]

A mountain region they didn't expect to fight in. i'm not surprised.

[@ww3032]

I read somewhere that they did have some light mortars. And they did cause casualties.

[@khuongle2400]

No one expecting a fight to broke out in this place

[@sproge2142]

@@Litany_of_Fury normally units travel with the weapons they use, when they move from place to place its not like they drop their weapons and get new ones when they arrive at a different place. After all, they had all the other parts of their equipment, light mortars are not much different than carrying a medium mashinegun.

[@sproge2142]

@@ww3032 I see, fair enough then, shame that they, or their effectiveness, didn't get mentioned.

[@krishm16]

The fact that the NVA just didn't give up in spite of all that hell raining down on them demands respect. If there is any real respectable opposing force in US military history. The Vietnamese without a doubt a force to be reckoned with.

[@ZoomZip]

The taliban has entered the chat.

[@VT-mw2zb]

@@peacefulamerican4994 what was "Search and Destroy" and "body count" then?

[@lodiped]

@@peacefulamerican4994 cope

[@MrKockabilly]

They should. They have just defeated the French in a war of liberation from colonial power. They would strive hard not to let another foreign power take that away.

[@deeznutz9869]

@@peacefulamerican4994 talk to a real vietnam vet about NVA regulars and get back to me lol

[@alvaromartin1185]

I would absolutely love to see the Battle of Leyte Gulf and all of its smaller battles that makes it the largest naval battle of WW2! With your skill you would make it such an awesome video series!!

[@briantindle7115]

Make it so!

[@Tanuki0110]

To provide the other side's perspective, here're a few insights from the memoir of Gen Nguyen Huu An (Lt Col back then), commander of the North Vietnamese force in the battle: -Larger context: after the 1963 coup and the large scale deployment of US troop, to the Vietnamese, it's a forgone conclusion that the NVA would have to fight large scale battles with the American instead of just guerilla warfare. Therefore, the 304th Div was sent south as a test as to how to fight the American in large battle. -Ia Drang was not a pure coincidence: At this point, the Ho Chi Minh trail was literally a trail. With severe logistical constraint, the NVA chose Pleiku as the starting point because it's the nearest to NVA's supply line and the furthest away from the American supply line, with rugged terrain as a bonus (no armor support). The strategy was described as "poking a point and annihilating the reinforcement." The NVA would harass the ARVN to the point that the American was forced to fight. They started with harassing ARVN bases without much successes (the ARVN simply waited it out). With food running low, Lt Col An decided to step up a notch and launched attacks against ARVN forces in towns around Pleiku. So the fact that the American landed squarely on Lt Col An's HQ was a surprise, the "retreating" towards the Cambodian border at 3:00 was not. -The NVA was not fanatical, but practical: while it was easy to describe the NVA attacks as "fanatical human waves", the reality was more complex. The NVA knew that the American fire support was practically unlimited, attacking at range therefore was suicidal. Therefore they devised a tactics called "locking the combs", in which the NVA would quickly close the distance with the American using 3-people teams delivering suppresive fires from multiple angles. Ironically, rushing forward was to safety, retreating backwards meant dying from artillery and bombs. -Air cav was a neat concept, sometimes: the NVA got some nasty encounters with US airmobile, but they quickly discovered the flaw. It only worked if there was coordinated infantry to "close the pocket": the air cav would roll in, "shock" the NVA and make them retreat into awaiting infantry to mop up. However, in remote place like Ia Drang, it worked the opposite way. The NVA could hear helicopters coming from miles aways, giving them a headstart to surround the LZ. As soon as the American started taking casualties, more helicopters would fly in, and the NVA would position AAAs to bring down helicopters, then the American had to send more helicopters to rescue the helicopters, repeating the cycle. Furthermore, air cav was essentially light infantry. The NVA, while lacking non-organic firesupport, had superior organic firesupport: they carried DShKs and recoiless rifles on foot right behind the assault teams. Clearly, fighting with M16s and M60s against .50 and direct artillery fire was neither fun nor fair.

[@parrot849]

Very interesting, do you have an internet source to do further reading like this?

[@WilliamLaurenson]

Thank you, that helps explain some of their motivation. I just couldn't possibly fathom how the NVA could literally charge into their doom but if the alternative was getting killed by explosions behind them, it makes sense why they might have incentive to press forward. Still, how could a South East Asian country like Vietnam have so much discipline and organization to fight America? I'm surprised.

[@shauryabansal7104]

What is amazing is that this was a fiercely fought battle even with the clear technical superiority of the US. Gunships, Napalm, Fighters, better weapons, and helicopters!

[@OBJ317]

I would leave my usual paragraph but I don’t want you guys to think it’s not genuine. Thank you for this 18 minute video guys. Seriously, hands down my favorite channel.

[@abelramirez7320]

This really puts in perspective how important air power and artillery are in battle.

[@David-lu4th]

This is great man, my pops was in the Marine Corps Bravo 1/9 "The Walking Dead" so I'm always interested in the history of the Vietnam War looking forward to the second part (and other Vietnam battles!)

[@Beastowe]

Love these videos and the work you put into them. I’m college I had a management course and I had to give a presentation about Hal Moore and his leadership during this battle. I feel like I’m this one video you were able to convey so much information that I had in my presentation but what took you only 18 minutes took me over an hour. Well done keep up the great work

[@philiptodak1076]

Let’s all take a moment to thank sponsors like Raid Shadow Legends and Conflict Nations. If it means we get quality content like this, then it’s worth watching their advertising! Thanks again for the video!

[@Giveme1goodreason]

La drang valley and long tan have to be the most amazing battles of Vietnam. In both cases the allies were never going to win, but did anyway. Just shows what equipment and tenacity can do. Credit to the Vietnamese too, it’s hard to keep turning up while your mates are being cut to pieces.

[@bubbles190]

That leg scene in the movie still gives me chills

[@Badvibesdude]

The interview Hal Moore gave after this just kills me every time I watch it. It's only about a minute long, but it's incredibly moving.

[@ym6294]

Is no going to talk about the balls and courage of the Based Vietnamese soldiers fought in this battle. I can't imagine the horrors of being in a Massive air strikes onto their position With Massive casualties and still able to fight. No wonder they won All the odds and war. RIP

[@kazmark_gl8652]

yeah, it's honestly impressive that the NVA troops kept fighting even faced with all that enemy air power. that's the kind of tenacity which ended up being the deciding factor in the war.

[@kayhan101]

The last lines in the last scene (PAVN General's) of the movie sums up pretty accurately the events about to be unfold.

[@ww3032]

@@kayhan101 What was it about? I can't quite remember.

[@kayhan101]

@@ww3032 something into that effect(not verbatim): "the Americans would think they have won and come back with more soldiers but the outcome would be the same(US military leaving the scene of a total carnage) only the number of casualties would be much higher".

[@luccixen1531]

They only won politically lol.

[@1992tallguy]

Thanks for covering this forgotten battle. Sadly the vast majority of Americans have forgotten or never heard of this battle. I will never forget Hal Moore, Joe Galloway, and all of the troopers that participated in this battle. I also want to recognize the bravery of the NVA troops who were killed or wounded in this battle. Does anyone know what happened to those F-100 super sabre pilots or Lieutenant Charlie Hastings? I would appreciate it. Thanks.

[@johnrollerbagel9833]

Howdy. Charlie W. Hastings was an amazing man. He was a great leader, a doting father, a loving husband, and a mentor to many. He retired from the USAF as a full COL and a wing commander flying F15s and T38s. After his final check ride he retired and moved his family to Arizona where he taught at UofA. He passed a few years back after being ill for some time. The understanding was that he suffered from exposure to agent orange. He was as humble as he was brave. I knew him closely in the few years before he retired and he was my hero. Mind you I didn't know anything about his roll at La Drang until the movie came out. He never spoke of Vietnam unless it was a funny story. I'm glad you asked. I always enjoy talking about the good Colonel.

[@1992tallguy]

@@johnrollerbagel9833 Thank you very much for telling me that story. I'm glad he survived Vietnam. It must have been something for you to have known him. What a great honor and privilege. I salute you good sir. God bless you. Thanks again.

[@evanthompson6]

Just wait til part 2 people. Shit is about to get a whole lot deadlier. Amazing work on this!

[@Joze1090]

Oh man. You picked a damn good subject for this one. And as usual, the narration is totally on point and makes it easy to understand what's going on. Can't praise these enough :)

[@johngalt3568]

Thanks so much for this analysis. I never realized how close to being surrounded Moore’s Battalion minus really was.

[@floydvaughn836]

They WERE surrounded. It's just that the NVA didn't over run them thanks to massive support. As Airmobile infantry, getting surrounded is in their job description. Airborne as well.

[@mattl309]

I’ve always wanted to see the distance and real area of where Vietnam battle, every talks about how close people were but it’s been hard to put into perspective, this is amazingly done.

[@tokyosmash]

Measured in double digit feet quite a few times

[@3lullabies]

I dont know where my uncle was exactly. He was in Pleiku, not on a slick, but a gunship, as he would say. He was a door gunner, dont know if he was gun chief/gunnermate or whatever the term. His group was the Bucaneers. His gunship was shot down and he recieved the Purple Heart. He survived the war and passed back in early 2010s. I was born in 67, and he used his leave to come see me for the first time❤Ronald Bruce Goolsby

[@Bootneck-RMC]

Superb part 1 and really looking forward to part 2, as you always give us more information than we actually thought existed, or that we thought we knew. 👍 I would also like to thank you for all the new subscribers that you have sent our way in the last few months. We are now over 300 subscribers and well on our way to start getting funds over to the Royal Marines Charity. Thank you again. 🙏

[@kellyhenderson1910]

The movie did a great job depicting this battle, and this is an excellent recreation of the overview for those wanting a high level view. This was exactly what I was looking for when I looked this up!

[@topiasr628]

Incredible work as always! Holy daze! This animation is incredible!

[@TheOperationsRoom]

Thanks a ton!

[@anthonyrivers454]

@@TheOperationsRoom Any word on Part 2?

[@pekolucky]

I remember reading the book when it first came out many years ago. The film only covered the first half of the book. The second half was about the US soldiers who weren't choppered out, but who marched back and were ambushed by the NVA. Tragic ending.

[@Sirius1914]

Merry Christmas Operations Room.

[@TheOperationsRoom]

Same to you!

[@sordidsentinel]

I can't wait for part 2. As much as videos like yours help me visualize battles, I feel like they'd be particularly useful when it comes to a war like Vietnam, where room for confusion and error is that much greater.

[@trinhhoangphi7283]

you guy really should do a whole series about the tactical aspects of various Vietnam War battle like this, it will be a great complementary to the existing series Battlefield Vietnam done by PBS.

[@moralreality7328]

Hal moore is one of the greatest American military men, possibly greatest americans of all time for his leadership in this battle. Legendary.

[@jayo3074]

He's a disgrace who cause the countless deaths of many American soldiers

[@leeoliver424]

Cut the bull….Moore needlessly took a significant and illogical risk and put his troops in grave danger….a move which cost many lives…not a hero, a fool

[@moralreality7328]

@@jayo3074have you ever been in an ambush using a new unproven military tactic all while having a 1:10 loss ratio to your enemy? Dude was a legend

[@moralreality7328]

@@leeoliver424 how did he risk his men?

[@jayo3074]

@@moralreality7328 he only survived because of the overwhelming air support. It had nothing to do with him or his tactics. You clearly know nothing about war and think it's some sort of game. Soldiers died unnecessarily and you have the nerve to call this man a 'Legend'? You should be ashamed of yourself sir

[@britaom3299]

Great video! When I was at Basic and AIT at Ft. Benning in 1986, Lt. Col. Walter J. Marm was my battalion commander. Seeing him in his dress greens with his CMOH from this battle, and hearing about his selfless heroism there, was awe-inspiring to say the least.

[@p0xus]

La Drang? And a two parter at that? This is gonna be amazing.

[@willo7734]

My mind reels at what the experience must have been like at this battle. This channel is amazing because they are experts at showing the big picture while also describing what it’s like for individual soldiers on the ground.

[@jeffcarroll1990shock]

A mix of fear and paranoia. You know they're out there, but you're not entirely sure where. Bullets and Napalm quickly replace oxygen as the most common thing in your lungs.

[@DAB00GIEMONSTA]

These videos remind me of the old "history channel' on tv before it was taken over by reality shows and bigfoot hunting shows. Thanks for the nice descriptive videos!

[@maxkennedy8075]

Your videos are the perfect format to explore close in, squad based fighting over large distances seen in Vietnam. A video on the legendary battle of Long Tan would be fantastic

[@briantindle7115]

The 1/9 Cav actually got into a nasty battle just before the 1/7 landed at LZ X-Ray. The "Blue" platoons , called in by the Scouts (White Platoon) attacked an NVA hospital complex and were counter-attacked by an estimated upwards of battalion strength NVA unit. Men of the 1/9 call it the "Hospital Battle"

[@zemog1025]

Yup, that a few other things were missed in this documentary.

[@mindbomb9341]

I remember when this book came out in the 1990s ("We Were Soldiers Once... And Young"). It was probably the most riveting military history book I had ever read. And I had read a lot. Somehow I located and called one of the US machine gunners (primarily active at XRay)(I believe he was living in Iowa at the time, as I was). He was happy to talk to me for about an hour and answer all of my questions. I was in my mid-20s. He was 50 that year I believe. It's been almost 30 years. Now I am 55. It was an extraordinary experience talking to him. If you are out there, I hope you are well sir. Thank you.

[@iconoclastic12007]

You might want to read “The Last Stand of Fox Company” by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin or just about anything non-fiction written by guys from the MACV-SOG.

[@smittywerbenjaegermanjense2350]

Once again you do not disappoint man, what a great video, can't wait for part 2! Also I have one neat suggestion, maybe in the future you can make an Operations Room video about "The Battle of Chosin Reservoir" from the Korean War. That one would definitely be cool.

[@wilhelmw9149]

The thing that always gets me is when charlie calls in an air strike on the cp and hal just says "you forget about that one youre keeping us alive here and youre doing well son". That quick thinking by hal kept charlie doing his job and saving the other men. Im sure he never forgot that one but he stayed in the fight and kept his men alive.

[@Khasidon]

What a perfect presention. I loved every second of it. What a nailbiter. Looking forward to part deux.

[@SatchPersaud-sm1gc]

The attention to detail, the time this guy takes for each video is mind blowing, love this channel, no spin, just the facts of each battle, much appreciated

[@adamr6794]

As long as you're ok with muddled facts...

[@goldenhide]

You're going to tell the story of LZ Albany, good on you, I think it's sad that 1/7's sister battalion gets into a very horrid fight and more amazing battlefield heroics goes down and is ignored.

[@masaharumorimoto4761]

Drying for part 2, I rewatched a bunch of Vietnam movies, Hamburger Hill is still my fav!

[@TheOperationsRoom]

Today :)

[@mienluuhien9563]

Great great video! As a Vietnamese myself, I can't make my voice louder: more videos about Vietnam War please!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours.

[@josheaton4618]

This is my favorite one of yours so far. Not to diminish anything you’ve done previously. It’s all been brilliant!! I just especially loved this one. The top down animation was fantastic!

[@caldesigner8679]

The NVA took disproportional casualties even before the air strikes kicked in. Did they employ any fire-and-manoeuvre tactics beside blunt human wave assaults? That being said, they were willing to endure such horrendous casualties. It's nothing short of steel courage and discipline. And to think the two countries who traded such enormous devastation to each other...are now friends. It makes you wonder what miracles people are capable of.

[@ElBandito]

They tried envelopment due to superior numbers, but American air power cut them down. Without airpower, the LZ would have most likely be overrun--thus validating the tactic.

[@ThangTran-bj4we]

@@ElBandito Thats why they call the code "Broken Arrows"

[@jettdeugenio9196]

6 months later and I still cannot wait for a published part 2. thank you for all the great content!

[@Capt_OscarMike]

I am certain others noticed @ 4:27 the taller, baby-faced soldier standing next to General Westmoreland who would become a General, Commander of Central Command, and Overall Commander of Coalition Forces during the Persian Gulf War aka 1st Gulf War or simply Gulf War...none other than General Norman Schwartzkopf... By the way, Hal Moore lived nearly 30years until his death in the same small college town in SE Alabama, Auburn, AL...location of Auburn University...where I graduated many years ago (1989)...Auburn was and still remains a small college town...yet for whatever reason, I didn't learn Hal Moore had lived there until after he passed away... I have so many regrets not seeking out and speaking to these truly great men... Hal Moore was an exceptional man, leader, American, soldier... For those who enjoyed Speilberg and Hank's series, The Pacific: Focusing primarily on Eugene Sledge, a real man, not fictional...the scene where he is depicted attempting to enroll into college after the war...that college was also Auburn University... Last one (although I could list a page full... Tragically, within 2 months after the 9/11 attacks, we now know the CIA helped organize a group of men who were dropped deep within Afghanistan and became known as the Horse Soldiers...simultaneously, the CIA was also organizing sweeps that resulted in literally hundreds of Al-Queda being detained and housed in a centuries-old fortress...in addition to the detainee's or prisoners for some idiotic reason the US had only 2 CIA operatives placed on-site, within the walled massive fortress...ultimately leading to what is now known as The Battle of Qala-i-Jangi...the young American CIA Officer and former Army Captain, Michael Spann, was an Auburn alumnus as well...I will never forget the following year, 2002, at one of Auburn's home Football games, Spann's parents, wife/widow, and children were acknowledged at mid-field while a tear-jerking, gut-wrenching tribute was played over AU's massive Stadium video screen...in a stadium with close to 90K people inside...silence engulfed the stadium, the silence was deafening as the tribute played and I looked at his young kids, his beautiful wife and our massive American flag waving in the wind...there wasn't a dry eye, there was no opposition between the AU faithful and the visiting team and their fans...it was such a moving experience...but also heartbreaking... especially knowing and seeing what we saw occurring at as Johny "Michael" Spann was literally fighting for his life ...one man vs an estimated 300-500 prisoners...He didn't go down without taking as many as possible with him...when forces were able to regain control and retrieve his body, he had spent/shot every bullet from every mag he had on him that included his rifle and his handgun...but it was simply too many and as they kept coming at him, firing at him, throwing grenades at him...and as his CIA partner (who I will refrain from making any comments about what he did--disgusting is all I will say)...Spann was witnessed resorting to hand to hand-to-hand combat after unloading all of his ammo and being shot himself...it still took a wave of Taliban to get close enough to finally knock him to the ground...he was beat to death...the gunshot wounds, at least at the time were not fatal but having your head crushed in, ur ribs crushed, etc...totally horrifying...all the while his CIA partner who had run away vs assisting, laying down cover fire to give him at least a chance to make it to where his partner did...where a couple of Australian or British reporters were also trapped and filmed the whole thing...as far as Spann's partner... Totally shocking he was placed in that situation...it was a suicide mission once they got inside and realized 2 vs an ever-growing mass of Taliban...many with grenades and weapons as shocking as that is to believe...Anyway, didn't intend to rant yet again...He sacrificed his life, his wife lost a husband, his kids lost their father, his parent's lost their son...well...most Americans know what I am thinking...any case, proud to be an Auburn Alumnus due to people like these guys... PS. OPERATIONS ROOM--ANOTHER REMARKABLE PRODUCTION...THANK YOU FOR THIS ONE...

[@alexgramm5170]

Great rant !! So many stories of sacrifice. The heroes who go down swinging. The Americans who don't really get it. I just shake my head. There are Americans who do get it and know of the sacrifice and live with the appreciation of it..the cost ...the loss . I remember meeting a man who had been in the battle of the Bulge. This was more than 20 yrs ago. I was excited to meet him, shake his hand , say thank you wow !! You were in that! He was happy and appreciative that someone he didn't know cared. Well, I'm glad I can say I'm a veteran if only to share that with greater men than me who went before. I did my part got my honorable. Nobody was shooting at me. Work on the engines and send the officers to the front..:) The old BUFF still flying! I love these O.R. videos. I agree would have been great to meet Gen Moore. I'll have to watch the Pacific. Again rant on Mr. Mike I enjoyed reading it.

[@Capt_OscarMike]

@@alexgramm5170 Well said...By the way, like you, I had the honor of serving as well...I followed that by doing contract work...However, our team focused primarily on Central and South America. Anyway, even today, seemingly the majority of the younger generation have no idea that our Freedom isn't free...that this bubble they exist in and complain about, are offended over and or feel oppressed by provides them opportunities they would not be able to consider in many other countries...America, our freedoms have been and are continually being paid for with blood and with sacrifices far beyond what most can imagine. People, IMO, have no concept of the threats we face daily that could and would impact every person in this country... the last place we want to engage in battle is on our own soil... even when America is not actively engaged in a conflict or a war that the reality is we always are...due to that fact one should be able to deduct that sacrifices are being made and battles are taking place... Those who have convinced themselves that America is immune from being conquered, overrun with the populace placed under a different form of governance... for those who believe that could never happen or say they don't care if it did... they really should study history...history based on facts, not feelings... America is a baby, not even 250yrs old compared to most of the European, Asian, Middle Eastern Countries that are 1000s of years old...Yet, during those many years, empires rarely have reigned beyond a dot on history's timeline...I do worry whether America will make it to her 250th or at the most her 275th Birthday... Erosion of our foundation is occurring more rapidly and will have more of a catastrophic impact than any "global warming" theorized consequence I also worry about factual history being diluted to the point where history is nothing more than propaganda...we are not far from that today...I worry about my kids and if I am allowed to live to be a grandfather I certainly am concerned about the world they will face...with the politicizing of every step we take and the erosion of individual rights, that so many died to protect yet their sacrifices are being ignored by current policies and appeasements not only within America but also Europe...It shocks me how quickly they have discarded the sacrifices of those who sacrificed and suffered so much to protect each country's borders, way of life and not be shamed or chastised for being proud of who and where you come from...I often contemplate what will future generations be taught, be exposed to, and think about of all of the people, from the youngest boy to the oldest lady who all gave part of themselves as part of The Greatest Generation... similarly to how the dismissal and discarding of the importance of the 1st Gulf War or even what our initial objective was for entering Afghanistan...I pray they never know or are faced with what these young men were faced with in the Ia Drang Valley... I appreciate your kind words and thank you for serving with honor...doing what had to be done...Seems we are aligned from this exchange. Happy Holidays...God Bless, God Bless the USA and take care

[@alexgramm5170]

@@Capt_OscarMike Thank- you , sir. I call that a Letter to America ! God Bless this Constitutional Republic. Living in Eastern Massachusetts its too bad to see so many submitting to the arbitrary government that people of this area fought so hard against 250 yrs ago. I'd better go down to Braintree and wake President John Adams I'm sure he would have a thing or two to say about it...ha!

[@timg2088]

I lost internet for 2+ weeks! Finally back on and 'Operations Room' has a new release! Life is good!

[@AinsleyHarriott1]

This whole KZbin channel is such class. I'm going to jump on that Patreon right now. As some Viewer Feedback, I think the absolute sprinkles on the cake would be if you could mix in a fair few more real life photos or video footage interspersed with the battle, maybe some of the battle or the commanders/soldiers involved, some headlines. It would be real interesting to see what the NKVD looked like, or even what the foliage looked like on the battlefield. My 2 cents. Love your work. Always excited to see this channel in my notifications.

[@thomas5240]

I second this opinion. The animation is great and the 2D bird view is incredibly interesting and surprisingly fresh. But seeing more real photos would definitely help with picturing the events fully.

[@AinsleyHarriott1]

@@thomas5240 I edited my comment when I saw the footage at the end, but would be good to see it interspersed, especially if you can tie photos/videos to certain parts on the timeline of the battle. Let our imaginations run riot.

[@blackorizuru934]

HOW DID YOU KNOW THAT I'VE BEEN OBSESSED WITH WE WERE SOLDIERS NOW YOU COME UP WITH THESE I LOVE IT

[@paddydunne774]

Chickenhawk by Bob Mason is an outstanding read. Flying Hueys at that time in the Ia Drang Valley. And the 13th Valley another great read

[@resevoirdog]

Great channel. We appreciate the amazing way you describe the details of who happened what when and where. Fielding context for us is just a plain joy. Thanks OP ROOM. You're the bomb!

[@ColdWarShot]

“Broken Arrow” existed as both, and it’s context based to determine what is being meant. As of 2014 my friend, an FO for E/506 (yes, the famous “Easy Company”) heard “Broken Arrow” called once through his FO Net. I don’t know if it currently exists or not.

[@olmade1]

Part 2 is worth waiting for

[@estellemelodimitchell8259]

Another outstanding depiction of the Battle of Ia Drang. The situation awareness explained here is so much clearer than what was shown in the chaos of war in the movie We Were Soldiers. I hope you would make a sequel on the 2nd battle at LZ Albany. Keep ‘em coming man!

[@brad4266]

Thanks for doing this one. Another great video… as expected. Years later I was in 2/5 Cav, so this battle always captured my attention.

[@TheOperationsRoom]

Very cool!

[@spcpitts]

I paused the movie we were soldiers to come back and say thanks for the movie recommendation.