Ia Drang Valley

Henceforth the Ia Drang produced numerous history and military lessons. After being briefed of the campaign McNamara concluded that the war would be a long haul costing thousand of American lives. After loosing 'the lost platoon', Moore continually led assaults with air strikes first, troops second. With the enemy constantly leading "uncoordinated attacks" Moore's men had tremendous trouble flanking (91). when they had the border of Cambodia to seek refuge? As Moore articulated "I saw the Ia Drang as a definite pursuit situation and I wanted to keep after then. General Giap learned that his Army could stand up against an American Calvary unit. Instead through the use of helicopters the solder would spend more time fighting. A North Vietnamese officer put it rather simply when he said "we wanted to lure the tiger out of the mountain" (16). from the shock of President Kennedy's assassination" (11). Like an old ex-wife, Westmoreland began asking Johnson for more troops and then more and more and more, never to be satisfied. Both tactics were surprisingly countered by the NVA and left Washington scratching their heads. , American First Battles, 1776-1965 (1986), 300-26. Ant hills, caves and large Campoon trees were also included into the American solders terrain variables.