MCoE to mark 50th anniversary of Ia Drang Battle with veterans

FORT BENNING, Ga., (Nov.4 2015) -- Ten Vietnam veterans who fought in the Battle of Ia Drang will come to Fort Benning Nov. 23-24 to commemorate its 50th anniversary.

The Battle of Ia Drang, which began on Nov. 14, 1965, was the first major battle between the United States and North Vietnamese forces.

"The popularity of the movie, "We Were Soldiers, which is based on the book "We Were Soldiers Once ... and Young" that was written by retired Lt. Gen. Hal Moore and Joe Galloway, made the events that occurred to 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, very well known, while the sequential events of 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry, on their movement to LZ Albany not as well known. The series of anniversary events will provide both units a platform to share their experiences and lessons learned," said Maj. Casey Galligan, Commander's Action Group, Maneuver Center of Excellence.

Galligan said in addition to being the first battle, the 1st and 2nd Battalions, 7th Cavalry are important because they introduced a new form of warfare ... the airmobile cavalry.

"Now, instead of being on horses, we moved to mechanized platforms that they were flying in. This was the first time this method was used in combat, but the concept remained the same. The rapid deployment of Infantry to the fight to close with and defeat the enemy," Galligan said.

A no host social at Jack's 19th Hole will kick off the event on Nov. 23, and it will culminate Nov. 24 with a dinner at the National Infantry Museum, featuring Joe Galloway as the guest speaker.

"The social events at Jack's 19th hole and the National Infantry Museum will facilitate a setting for conversation with many of the distinguished veterans who fought in the battle," Galligan said.

Other events include panel discussions in Marshall Auditorium led by the Ia Drang veterans, and a wreath-laying ceremony at the National Infantry Museum Vietnam memorial and a UH-1 Huey flyover.

Veterans from both the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment and 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment will attend the commemoration.

Those who will participate in the panel discussions include: retired Col. Ramon "Tony" Nadal; retired Command. Sgt. Maj. Southern "Buddy" Hewitt; retired Sgt. 1st Class Clyde "Ernie" Savage; retired Col. Joe Marm; retired Lt. Col. Bill Franklin; retired Maj. Joel Sugdinis; Bud Alley Jr.; Jim Lawrence; Larry Gwin; and Joe Galloway.

Galligan said the veterans who fought in Ia Drang bring an amazing perspective on combat that cannot be replicated in a classroom.

"This is a rare opportunity to have so many great warriors together to share their experiences and lessons learned to inform the next generation of Maneuver Soldiers and leaders," he said. "It is an account of what leaders must do and cannot do in preparing units for combat to ensure their Soldiers have the required training to shoot, move, communicate and survive."

Nadal, who earned a Silver Star for his actions during the battle, was the only commander with experience in Vietnam to be a part of the heavy infantry combat in the Ia Drang Valley. He had previously commanded Camp Nam Dong and led a force of 400 South Vietnamese and Nung soldiers as he conducted patrols along the Laotian border and engaged in ambushes. When he returned from Vietnam, he attended the Armor Officer Career Course and Pathfinder school before volunteering to return to battle. He joined the 1st Cavalry Division and departed from the U.S. in August of 1965 for his second tour in Vietnam, where he served as commanding officer of A Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, and the S-3 of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment.

Hewitt, who also received the Silver Star for his actions during the battle, was a staff sergeant and squad leader of 1st Platoon, A Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment. Under fire at Landing Zone X-Ray, he and his men departed their transport helicopters. Hewitt moved to the creek bed with the rest of his platoon and continued to fight for days after.

Savage received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions during the battle. He led a squad from the 2nd Platoon, B Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, but after the platoon leader, along with most of his platoon, was killed Savage was surrounded by the enemy and cut off from the rest of the battalion. Though outnumbered, his successful leadership of what would be known as the "Lost Platoon" resulted in a large number of enemy casualties after he called for supporting artillery fire within 50 meters of his location.

Marm was serving as a second lieutenant in A Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) and during the battle he single-handedly attacked an enemy position. Though he was wounded severely, he survived and was promoted to first lieutenant. Marm was awarded the Medal of Honor Dec. 19, 1966.

Franklin faced heavy fire and numerous attacks in securing the battalion line against the North Vietnamese as the platoon leader of the 3rd Platoon, C Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment. He was attacked and wounded while leading a reconnaissance party forward. He was triaged and deemed unlikely to live. Through the effort of a fellow Soldier, he was evacuated with his company commander and survived. He received a Bronze star with V device.

Sugdinis, a captain with A Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, led 2nd Battalion from Landing Zone X-Ray to Landing Zone Albany. They provided security for battalion command as the rest of the unit was cut off by the North Vietnamese.

Alley, the platoon leader for the communications platoon, led his men under fire from North Vietnamese troops at LZ Albany. After being separated from friendly lines, he guided his Soldiers, all wounded, to the artillery position at LZ Columbus. He received the Silver Star for his valor and recently authored a book about the battle, "The Ghosts of the Green Grass."

Lawrence served as the executive officer for D Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment. He was wounded during intense fighting at LZ Albany and awarded a Bronze Star. He is the author of "Reflections on LZ Albany: The Agony of Vietnam."

Gwin served as the executive officer of A Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment. After arriving at LZ Albany, he personally repelled a number of attacks to the A Company command group. He was awarded the Silver Star for his valor during the battle. He chronicled his experiences in "Baptism: A Vietnam Memoir."

Galloway served a 16-month tour as a war correspondent in Vietnam beginning in April 1965. He returned to Vietnam in 1971, 1973 and in 1975 when he covered the fall of Cambodia and South Vietnam. On May 1, 1998, the Army awarded Galloway a belated Bronze Star with V for rescuing a badly wounded Soldier under heavy fire in the Ia Drang Valley on Nov. 15, 1965. He is the only civilian to have received a medal of valor award by the Army during the Vietnam War. He is the co-author with retired Lt. Gen. Hal Moore of "We Were Soldiers Once ... and Young."