One issue with that war was the Army was teaching the previous war’s strategies. A lot of 2nd Lieuts were more interested in getting promotions.cradleandshoot wrote: ↑Sun Nov 19, 2023 9:12 amMy platoon Sargent was a veteran of " happy valley" the Battle of Ia Drang Valley was the armies introduction to a brand of warfare the French learned the hard way at Dien Bien Phu. The US Army learned the same lesson the French did. Underestimate the Charlie at your own risk. Anybody that has read the history of The Lost Platoon at Ia Drang Valley will understand the ineptitude of a West Point Infantry officer not respecting his enemy.Kismet wrote: ↑Sun Nov 19, 2023 5:19 amThink its Ia Drang not La Drang. . Army units involved were 1st/2nd battalions of 7th Air Cavalry Regiment (part of Army's 1st Cavalry Division) and don't believe they were paratroopers. You are correct though - 3 MoH including two Huey pilots, countless other awards and a Presidential Unit Citation. Also significant that UPI war correspondent Journalist Joseph Galloway is the only civilian awarded the Bronze Star Medal for heroism during the Vietnam War. On Nov. 15, 1965, he disregarded his own safety to help rescue two wounded soldiers while under fire.6x6 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 18, 2023 11:51 pmWe Were Soldiers Once...And Young La Drang - The Battle that Changed the War In Vietnam, was a great book written by Gen. Moore and Joe Galloway. If I remember correctly the Medal of Honor was awarded to three heroes for their actions. I do recall Crandall and Freeman, Huey pilots, received them. The movie that came out later was done pretty well.cradleandshoot wrote: ↑Thu Nov 09, 2023 9:36 amSo Fort Ike it is. A nice tribute to the general who led the allies to victory in WW2. Too bad they couldn't find an appropriate new name for Ft Bragg. There were some outstanding options available. Some dumb cluck decided on a new name I will never use. I spent 3 years of my life and a lot of blood, sweat and tears training at Ft Bragg. IMO, for the most part the renaming went very well. Then they arrived at Ft Bragg and dropped the ball big-time. Ft Ridgeway would have meant the world to all of the paratroopers at Ft Bragg. The 82nd was organized, trained and led by Gen. Matthew Ridgeway for a good part of WW2. It will always be Ft Bragg to this old paratrooper. FTR the name change at Ft Benning was spot on...Ft Moore is a fitting tribute to a magnificent combat leader. Also his wife did amazing work when it came to notifying families whose soldiers were killed or wounded in combat. The crassness of a taxi driver pulling up in front of the house to deliver a telegram was absurd.Kismet wrote: ↑Mon Oct 30, 2023 9:26 am Now Fort Eisenhower in Augusta GA (formerly Fort Gordon) - HQ for US Army Signal Corps
Completes the renaming regimen for the Army
https://www.jbsa.mil/News/News/Article/ ... s-by-2024/
Broken Arrow was the bone chilling phrase no officer wanted to give.
A good friend enlisted wend to Ft Hood for armored, shipped to Germany then made Air Cav and shipped to Nam. His lieut fit that profile so he moved to LURPS.
His men were mostly from Harlan County KY. Eventually they were ambushed. He was stitched by an AK. He was immediately treated by a corpsman. Stopped the bleeding. Went to help another wounded and was KIA as he moved. Two of his troops carried his to be evaced. As the helo took off it crashed killing both. Three men gave their lives for him. If you have seen Pvt Ryan and the last scene you know how he has lived his life since. He could have joined the Navy and spent his 5 years in the States. His uncle was a
Supt at the USNA but he didn’t. Instead he was in the Parrot’s Beak.
The two of us played in a flag football game at the Academy. It was brutal. He was 230 i was 200. We were essentially one big bruise by the end
