In the early days of the US military involvement in Vietnam, the most powerful military in the world was confident it would soon overwhelm the People’s Army of Vietnam thanks to its decisive air superiority and comprehensive military strategy. And for a while, it seemed like they would.

When several PAVN regiments launched a massive surprise attack on the US military camp at Plei Me, the largescale battle devolved into a brutal siege. The South Vietnamese troops soon arrived to help, and they soon managed to break the siege. The victors were ecstatic and ready to make the PAVN pay.

Eager to test their new air mobility doctrine in which they would use fastmoving helicopters to deliver troops where they were needed the most, the US military soon gave chase to the retreating PAVN regiments.

In a spectacular show of might and technical dominion, hundreds of US helicopters darted above the jungle to deliver hundreds of men to designated landing zones, ready to deliver a swift and crushing blow to the enemy.

But the Americans underestimated their opponent, and the ensuing Battle of Ia Drang would soon turn into a feverish nightmare that would bring the US 1st cavalry division to its knees.
Even worse, it would show the North Vietnamese how to defeat the Americans…



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