We Were Soldiers Once . . . and Young: Ia Drang—The Battle That Changed the War in Vietnam, by Hal Moore, tells the story of the first large scale battle of the Vietnam War. The Battle of Ia Drang was the first to use helicopters to ferry infantry (in this case, air cavalry) deep into the Vietnam central highlands. The battle became a paradigm of the “search and destroy” missions that would characterize most of the conflict.
After reading this account, which includes the battle at LZ XRAY, and then the terrible ambush at LZ Albany, it is difficult to believe that any military planners thought this war could be won; America did not have the stomach for a war of attrition with the North Vietnamese, and one of the signs was the heavy casualties taken by American troops in the Ia Drang Valley. We won both engagements, but this paradigm was not sustainable.
This book is strongly written, detailed, and packs a powerful punch. If you want to see the pivot point of the war in Vietnam unfold before you, read this book.
After reading this account, which includes the battle at LZ XRAY, and then the terrible ambush at LZ Albany, it is difficult to believe that any military planners thought this war could be won; America did not have the stomach for a war of attrition with the North Vietnamese, and one of the signs was the heavy casualties taken by American troops in the Ia Drang Valley. We won both engagements, but this paradigm was not sustainable.
This book is strongly written, detailed, and packs a powerful punch. If you want to see the pivot point of the war in Vietnam unfold before you, read this book.
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