Trailer script
The Battle of Ia Drang Valley was the first offensive of the Vietnamese war that lasted 4 days. Lyndon B. Johnson ordered the 3rd Brigade 1st Calvary Division: the 1st Battalion and 2nd Battalion of the 7th Calvary Regiment, and the 2nd Battalion, 5th Calvary Regiment of the United States Army to attack a Vietnamese base. These men were being trained at Ft. Benning and were shipped to the Ia Drang Valley. The main landing zones were LZ X-ray and LZ Albany. Some regiments were dropped at LZ X-Ray and successfully fought off the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese regulars. The men that were dropped at LZ Albany were over run and killed by the Vietnamese soldiers. The men were dropped in by helicopters at LZ X-Ray and LZ Albany and were quickly attacked by the Vietnamese forces. The battle used close air support and strategic bombing strikes. The battle was considered inconclusive because both sides claimed this as a victory. The overall casualties for the United States were 1,500 to 1,700 men while the Vietnamese casualties were about 4,500 men. The movie, “we were soldiers” followed the actions of Colonial Hal Moore and the 1st battalion of the 7th cavalry through the first part of the battle.