How many U.S. soldiers died at la Drang Valley?
In the 43-day Ia Drang campaign, 545 Americans were killed. Enemy deaths have been estimated at 3,561. It was the greatest loss of American life in the Vietnam War at that point, and a premonition of how determined the enemy was.
Can you visit La Drang Valley?
The Ia Drang valley area is closed off for visitors and although it is located only around 50 kilometer south west of Pleiku, we do not recommend anyone to try to go there without a proper permit, this should be pursued by contacting the authorities in Pleiku.
Is We Were Soldiers Based on true story?
The 2002 film We Were Soldiers was based on the true story of the 1965 Battle of Ia Drang in Vietnam. The Americans were new to the country, and a US battalion, led by Lieutenant Colonel Hal Moore (played by Mel Gibson) is drawn into a trap that leads to an extended bloody battle.
Where was the battle in We Were Soldiers?
LZ X-Ray
Randall Wallace depicted the battle at LZ X-Ray in the 2002 movie We Were Soldiers starring Mel Gibson and Barry Pepper as Moore and Galloway, respectively….Battle of Ia Drang.
| Date | November 14–19, 1965 (5 days) |
|---|---|
| Location | 13°35′N 107°43′E Chu Pong-Ia Drang complex, Central Highlands, South Vietnam |
| Result | Both sides claimed victory |
How many Vietnamese died in the Battle of Ia Drang?
By the third day of the battle, the Americans had gained the upper hand. The three-day battle resulted in 834 North Vietnamese soldiers confirmed killed, and another 1,000 communist casualties were assumed.
How many U.S. soldiers died in Vietnam?
58,220 U.S.
The Vietnam Conflict Extract Data File of the Defense Casualty Analysis System (DCAS) Extract Files contains records of 58,220 U.S. military fatal casualties of the Vietnam War. These records were transferred into the custody of the National Archives and Records Administration in 2008.
Was Hal Moore a real person?
Harold Gregory Moore Jr. (February 13, 1922 – February 10, 2017) was a United States Army lieutenant general and author.
What was the hill in We Were Soldiers?
The day this began was November 14, 1965, in the Ia Drang Valley of the Central Highlands of Vietnam. American troops were transported by helicopter to clear landing zones and set up the command center of the operation at a large termite mound in Landing Zone X-Ray (LZ X-Ray).