November 2, 2025
November 14, 1965, marked the start of the Battle of Ia Drang, the first major engagement between U.S. forces and the North Vietnamese Army during the Vietnam War. Fought in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam, the battle lasted three intense days and resulted in heavy casualties on both sides. It also gave Americans their first real glimpse of how different and difficult the Vietnam War would be.
Ia Drang has become one of the most studied and talked-about battles in American military history, in part because of its significance, but also because of the brutal reality of war it revealed. The soldiers on the ground faced fierce resistance, overwhelming odds, and unrelenting combat in close quarters.
- Approximately 2.7 million American men and women served in Vietnam.
- During the war, more than 58,000 U.S. military members lost their lives, and 153,000 were wounded.
- There were 766 prisoners of war, of whom 114 died in captivity.
- The war was officially ended by Presidential Proclamation on May 7, 1975.
- Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Vietnam Veterans
Veterans of the Vietnam War still carry the weight of their experience. Some of them went decades before talking about what happened. Others were finally able to open up, to be heard, and to receive the thanks they never got when they came home.
We talk a lot about transition, what it’s like for veterans to come home, to shift from a combat environment back into civilian life. Ia Drang was one of the first battles where we saw how difficult that could be. The soldiers who fought there were often young, far from home, and thrown into one of the most intense environments imaginable. When they came back, many didn’t talk about it. Some couldn’t. Others weren’t ready. And society, at that time, wasn’t always prepared for or even wanting to listen.
Today, we try to do much better to support veterans. We understand more about post-traumatic stress. We offer more resources. And most importantly, we encourage veterans to speak, and we train others to listen. Ia Drang reminds us why that’s necessary.
The story of Ia Drang was captured in the book We Were Soldiers Once… and Young, later adapted into a film. But long before Hollywood got involved, real people were living that story- people like Lt. Col. Hal Moore and journalist Joe Galloway, whose leadership and courage helped bring the truth of that battle into the public eye.
For younger generations, Ia Drang is a powerful entry point into understanding the Vietnam War. It’s a reminder that bravery doesn’t guarantee victory, and that survival often comes at great cost. But it’s also a story of grit, camaraderie, and leadership under pressure.
To all who fought at Ia Drang and in the Vietnam War, we want you to know we are grateful for your service, and we thank you for what you sacrificed. Although at a very substantial cost, your service has helped shape reforms and improvements. While no system is ever perfect, the lessons we learned through your experience have taught us to be better at how we care for those who serve, how we support their families when the service members are away, how we welcome home our warfighters, and how we must do everything we can to care for and support veterans throughout their lifetime. You deserve nothing less than our fervent support and care for your selfless dedication to our nation.
