November Uniform of the Month - Battle of Ia Drang Valley 1965

Proudly wearing the OG-107s, the uniform that the U.S. Army went to Vietnam with in 1965.

The Battle of Ia Drang was the first major battle between regulars of the United States Army and regulars of the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN/NVA) of North Vietnam during the Vietnam War. The two-part battle took place between November 14 and November 18, 1965, at two landing zones (LZs) northwest of Plei Me in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam as part of the U.S. airmobile offensive codenamed Operation Silver Bayonet. The battle derives its name from the Drang River which runs through the valley northwest of Plei Me, in which the engagement took place. Ia means "river" in the local Montagnard language.

Representing the American forces were elements of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division: the 1st Battalion and 2nd Battalion of the 7th Cavalry Regiment, and the 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army, facing elements of the B3 Front of the PAVN (including the 304 Division) and Viet Cong. The battle involved close air support by U.S. aircraft and a strategic bombing strike by B-52s. The initial Vietnamese assault against the landing 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry at LZ X-Ray was repulsed after two days and nights of heavy fighting on November 14-16. However, the follow-up surprise attack on November 17 that overran the marching column of 7th Cavalry 2nd Battalion near the LZ Albany was the deadliest ambush of a U.S. unit during the course of the entire war. About half of some 300 American deaths in the 35-day Operation Silver Bayonet happened in just this one fight that lasted 16 hours. 

The battle was documented in the CBS special report Battle of Ia Drang Valley by Morley Safer and the critically acclaimed book We Were Soldiers Once... And Young by Harold G. Moore and Joseph L. Galloway. In 2002, Randall Wallace depicted the first part of the battle in the film We Were Soldiers starring Mel Gibson and as Col. Hal Moore.

This has been one of my all-time favorite uniforms for many years now.  It is a sharp looking uniform with a very smart military appearance.  Once I built my M-16A1 replica, I was finally able to put this impression together.  Thankfully, our friends' backyard served as a very nice substitute for the Central Highlands of Vietnam in mid-November.  It is an extreme honor to wear the same uniform that the 1st Air Cavalry went into combat with for the first time in Vietnam.  Garry Owen!

The MX-911/U angle-head flashlight is attached to the front of my suspenders.  This is a good view of the M1956 Universal Small Arms Pouch.

The distinctive patch of the 1st Cavalry Division is the largest patch in the U.S. Army.  Also seen here is an M18 Red Smoke Grenade - a replica that I made myself.

Back view showing the M1961 Combat Field Pack (Butt Pack) and a good view of the M1956 Suspenders.

A crouching trooper ready for combat.  Note the Mitchell Pattern camouflage helmet cover.

The OG-107 jacket features the gold-on-black US ARMY tape and the black-on-white name tape.  Headgear is the "baseball" utility cap.

Footwear for Airmobile units in 1965 was the 10" black leather Jump Boots.  These are Corcoran boots.

My full assortment of field gear for this impression.  The rifle features the original three-pronged "duck bill" flash supressor.

Another shot of me in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.  Note the chincup of the M1-C  Parachutist's Helmet.

The real Colonel Hal Moore (left) and Sergeant Major Basil Plumley (right) of the 7th Cavalry at the Battle of the Ia Drang Valley.