Harold moore oral history interview, part 2 lieutenant general harold moore ret. Us army vietnam era 1 st cavalry color patch cut edge for sale online developed around the concept of air assault, the 1st cavalry division airmobile was the first to use this theory in combat. Feb, 2017 garry owen 7th cav tribute lt gen hal moore. Photo extracted from us army motion picture footage. The battle of ia drang was the first major battle between the united states army and the north vietnamese army as part of pleiku campaign conducted early in the vietnam war. Harold moore, heroic vietnam war commander moore, who died friday, was seen as a hero for his role in the first major land battle in vietnam. General hal moore and sergeant major plumley general hal moore and sergeant major plumley at westpoint on may 10, 2010. Garry owen 7th cav tribute lt gen hal moore youtube. After a north vietnamese strike against the special forces camp at plei me, american forces deployed in an effort to destroy the attackers. In a place soon to be known as the valley of death, in a football fieldsized clearing called landing zone xray, lieutenant colonel hal moore and four hundred young troopers from the newly formed 1 7th cavalry regiment of the u.
The first involved the 1st battalion, 7th cavalry regiment and supporting units under the command of lieutenant colonel hal moore, and took place november 1416, 1965 at lz xray, located at the eastern foot of the chu pong massif in the central highlands of vietnam. Eight of the 1st cavalry divisions recipients of the medal of honor are still living. He set the scene for the battles, described the adversity faced by the outnumbered american units and detailed the acts of heroism displayed by his men. The 7th cavalry regiment is a united states army cavalry regiment formed in 1866. Oct 29, 2014 this battle was famous enough for hollywood to make a movie about it with mel gibson portraying one of the main protagonists in the fray. Hal moore, portrayed by actor mel gibson in we were.
Moore was awarded the distinguished service cross for valor while in command of the 1st battalion, 7th cavalry regiment, 3rd brigade, 1st cavalry division, at the battle of ia drang on november 1416, 1965, in vietnam. He served with alpha 27 cav in nam dec 68 feb 69, and his photo and medals are shown below. November uniform of the month battle of ia drang valley 1965. Its official nickname is garryowen, after the irish air garryowen that was adopted as its march tune. Claymore mines, and bell uh1b helicopters were also used extensively. Tested at fort benning, georgia and proven in vietnam, the 1st cavalry division airmobile quickly became a highly effective unit. A 50th anniversary remembrance patch of the battle of ia drang. Army fought a battle in the central highlands of vietnam that fundamentally changed the character of the war.
Hal moore 19222017, commander of 1st battalion, 7th cavalry regiment during the battle of ia drang, at the united states military academy in may 10, 2010. The book was adapted into the 2002 film we were soldiers, which was filmed at forts benning and hunter liggett, depicting moore s command of 1st battalion, 7th cavalry, at fort benning and in the battle of ia drang. It has been nearly 50 years since the men of the 7 th cavalry leaped out of their helicopters and onto the soil of the ia drang valley in vietnam, but one thing remains clear. All the sharkmouth designs used by cobra units in vietnam had specific patterns, that one is d110s design. Rip hal moore, allamerican badass whose bravery on the. Lt general hal moore, who was lieutenant colonel in command of. Twentynine of the medals were awarded posthumously. The most significant individual battle of the vietnam war was fought on november 14, 1965 in the ia drang valley in the.
Another veteran put it, the survivors of landing zone xray have always had an aura of fame about them. Cavalry, in the famous battle at ia drang, along with sergeant major basil plumley. During the vietnam war, moore commanded 1st battalion, 7th cavalry regiment. His position at ia trang in november 1965 has been likened by many military historians to general custers at little bighorn in 1876 and many of the soldiers who served under moore nicknamed him yellow hair, which was custers nickname, seeing as both men commanded the 7th cavalry regiment. This item is not real, it is designed for 16 scale 12in figures and in no way can it fire a projectile this 16 us army 7th cavalry we were soldier colonel hal moore vietnam patch set lot are of fantastic quality and detail. Nov 11, 20 november uniform of the month battle of ia drang valley 1965 proudly wearing the og107s, the uniform that the u. What is fascinating about it is the trench art that is featured on the stock.
This battle was famous enough for hollywood to make a movie about it with mel gibson portraying one of the main protagonists in the fray. Three years later, he transferred to the 82nd airborne division. Lieutenant colonel hal moore the commander of the 1st battalion, 7th cavalry regiment. For those history folks out there, you might recognize this of the we were soldiers fame, with colonel hal moore at the battle of ia drang in 1965. Hal moore and 17th air cavalry battalions real mission at. Upon completion of the course of study at the naval war college, hal took command of the 2nd battalion, 23rd infantry at fort benning, ga. In november 1965, some 450 men of the 1st battalion, 7th cavalry, under the command of lt. Encouraged by westmoreland to press towards the cambodian border, brown soon learned of an enemy concentration near chu pong mountain. Hal moore and 17th air cavalry battalions real mission. Knowles, 1st air cavalry division forward command post commander, met with lieutenant colonel hal moore the commander of the 1st battalion, 7th cavalry. The battle of ia drang was the first major battle between the united states army and the peoples army of vietnam pavn, also referred to as the north vietnamese army nva, and was part of the pleiku campaign conducted early in the vietnam war. General hal moore died at 94 late friday at his home in auburn, alabama. Veterans recall battle of ia drang at 50th anniversary.
Hal moore, known for saving most of his men in the first major battle between the u. Acting on this intelligence, he directed the 1st battalion 7th cavalry, led by lieutenant colonel hal moore, to conduct a reconnaissance in force in the area of chu pong. On january 31, 1966, the new york times profiled moore as the man who can find the viet cong. Battle of ia drang valley symposium recalls intense vietnam war fight molly hamilton apr 27, 2015. He is known to have been the innovator of the stetson cavalry hat and took the first air cavalry unit to vietnam 1st squadron, 9th cavalry regiment, he authored of the book the cavalry trade and was instrumental in creating doctrine and tactics for air cavalry units in vietnam. Joe galloways awardwinning account of a bloody vietnam battle became a book and movie. Army investigating we were soldiers legend for inflating awards.
General hal moore february, 1922 february 10, 2017. The 1st battalion, 7th cavalry regiment, under the command of lt. Lt gen moore honored in ceremony at fort benning news. Hal moore funeral details and obituary we were soldiers. He was famous for leading his battalion to victory at the battle of ia drang in november 1965. In november 1965, some 450 men of the 1st battalion, 7th cavalry, under the. Usinfanteriedivision person im koreakrieg vereinigte staaten person im vietnamkrieg vereinigte staaten trager des. Company a, 2d battalion, 7th cavalry, 1st cavalry division airmobile, near the insurgentheld village of than binh when they became engaged with a force of. They were immediately surrounded by 2,000 north vietnamese soldiers. The brothers shared stories about moore, who is best known for his actions in the battle of ia drang in 1965 during the vietnam war. Ltgr hal moore at west point 10 may 2010 korean war vietnam war.
Vietnam helicopter insignia and artifacts d troop, 1st. This site contains photographs from vietnam of company b, 1st battalion, 7th cavalry regiment, 1st cavalry division. Galloway wrote another book together, a followup to their first collaboration. This 16th scale item is an exact replica of the real life item from that era which are printed onto fabric canvas. The 7th infantry division is an active duty infantry division of the united states army based at joint base lewismcchord charged with sustaining the combat readiness of two stryker brigade combat teams, a combat aviation brigade, a division artillery headquarters, and a national guard stryker brigade combat team, as well as participating in several yearly partnered exercises and operations in. He served his country with distinction and valor for over 32 years during the wars in korea and. Now here in the states, some men in this unit may experience discrimination because of race or creed. Hal moore and 17th air cavalry battalions real mission at lz xray. During the movie i was remembering small details of my time in vietnam one of which was flying on helicopters as was the normal method for movement by the 1st cavalry division. Hal moore and 1 7th air cavalry battalions real mission at lz xray.
Fourteen months later, the unit was designated the 1st battalion, 7th cavalry custers old unit and deployed to vietnam with the 1st cavalry division in 1965. Fortythree troopers of the 1st cavalry division have been awarded the medal of honor for gallantry in three different wars. This 1 6 us army 7th cavalry we were soldier colonel hal moore vietnam patch set lot are of fantastic quality and detail. It is the same patch used by the united states armed forces and is of the highest quality. Hal moore regarded the battle as a draw, and i agree with that assessment.
Medal of honor recipients 1st cavalry division association. Ltc hal moore and the battle of the ia drang valley 1416. Hal moore, reported finding a dead american with his hands at the. Moore is remembered as the lieutenant colonel in command of the 1st battalion, 7th cavalry regiment, at the battle of ia drang in 1965, during the vietnam war. Ia drang valley in the vietnam war and the heroic fight that 450 soldiers of the 1st battalion, 7th cavalry. Joe galloway contributed to a book written about the battle by moore titled. Plumley january 1, 1920 october 10, 2012 was a career soldier and airborne combat infantryman in the united states army who rose to the rank of command. Military academy at west point in 1945 and was assigned to the 187th glider infantry regiment. Author hal moore was the commander of a 7th division air cavalry battalion in 1965.
Hal moore, the legendary commander of 1st battalion, 7th cavalry regiment in vietnam, whose bravery on the battlefield inspired the movie we were soldiers has passed away. Hal moore, were dropped by helicopter into a small clearing in the ia drang valley. He served as the commander of 1st battalion, 7th cavalry. Combat leaders recount vietnam battles fort carson. Weve got japanese, chinese, blacks, hispanics, cherokee indians, jews and gentiles all americans. Harold moore, whose vietnam heroism was depicted in. This 16 us army 7th cavalry we were soldier colonel hal moore vietnam patch set lot are of fantastic quality and detail. Ltc hal moore and the battle of the ia drang valley 1416 november 1965 during november 1416, 1965, the 1st battalion, 7th cavalry regiment, 1st cavalry division of the u. The battle of leyte began when the first waves of the 7th cavalry regiment stormed ashore at white beach at, hhour, and were met with small arms and machine gun fire. Seven men earned the medal of honor while serving with the 7th cavalry in vietnam.
Battle of ia drang valley symposium recalls intense. Attendees of the services included moore s family and close friends, several vietnam veterans who fought under moore s command more than 50 years ago and soldiers currently stationed at fort hood in the 1st battalion, 7th cavalry regiment. Hal moore landed in the ia pronounced eye drang valley, south vietnam. The division is unique in that throughout its existence, the division has served as a cavalry. It was the actions of that unit during the battle of ia drang in 1965 that became the basis of his book we were soldiers once, and young. The battle was detailed in the 1992 bestseller we were soldiers once and young coauthored by moore and made into the film we were soldiers in 2002. The book became a movie in 2002, with mel gibson portraying moore. For those who asked for a copy of the text of my eulogy to gen. Hal, now seventy, commanded the 1st battalion, 7th cavalry in the ia drang and served six more months in vietnam, commanding the 3rd brigade. The commandants choice for 1993 is we were soldiers once. Hal moore, who commanded the 1st battalion, 7th cavalry, recounted the details of the battles to 4th infantry division leaders gathered at mcmahon theater last week. I believe the number of the cobra was 6615273 and crew chief on it in mid 1969 and early 1970 was richard workman. In january of 2003 i rented the movie we were soldiers with mel gibson portraying lt.
In august, 1965, the 1st cavalry division, including the 1st and 2d battalions, 7th cavalry, deployed to vietnam. Hal moore, the legendary commander of 1st battalion, 7th cavalry regiment in vietnam, whose bravery on the battlefield inspired the movie we were soldiers. The first part of the operation pitted lieutenant colonel hal moore s 1st battalion, 7th cavalry of the 1st cavalry division airmobile against three regiments of the peoples army of vietnam pavn in a deadly struggle for landing zone lz xray. The battle of ia drang was fought november 1418, 1965, during the vietnam war 19551975 and was the first major engagement between the us army and the peoples army of vietnam pavn. Moore is best known as the lieutenant colonel in command of the battalion, cavalry regiment, at the battle of ia drang, in 1965 during the vietnam war. Lt general hal moore december 4, 2019 in a letter to mom from vietnam on apr 26, 1966, dad wrote he was returning his purple heart i cannot keep it as i feel that a. In the 7th cavalry, we got a captain from the ukraine. Moore was best known for his actions at the 1965 battle of ia drang, where he was a lieutenant colonel in command of the 1st battalion, 7th cavalry regiment, and whose efforts were chronicled in. Hal moore, commander of the 1st battalion, 7th cavalry, on the radio during the fight for lz xray in the ia drang valley of vietnam.
Moore commanded the 7 th cavalry which took part in one of the bloodiest battles of vietnam, ia drang valley, known as the valley of death, which started on november fourteenth 1965. Also, the eye with fire coming out of it was a d110 exclusive. Pictured are ltg hal moore and csm basil plumley, honorary commander and command sergeant major of the 7th cavalry regiment, respectively. Ltc hal moore, commander of the 1st battalion, 7th cavalry, on the radio during the fight for lz xray in the ia drang valley of vietnam. It was after the basic course that jack learned he would be assigned to the 1st battalion, 7th cavalry, under lt. Moore commanded the 7th cavalry which took part in one of the bloodiest battles of vietnam, ia drang valley, known as the valley of. Following its activation the seventh cavalry regiment patrolled the western plains for raiding native americans and to protect the westward movement of pioneers. Moore, a man he instantly admired and looked upon as a role model. Gibson played the part of lieutenant colonel hal moore commander of the 1st battalion, 7th cavalry. The battle of ia drang was the first major battle between regulars of the united states army and regulars of the peoples army of vietnam pavnnva of north vietnam during the vietnam war. It is dedicated to all who served and, especially, to those who gave their lives. Army investigating we were soldiers legend for inflating. Moore gained fame for his performance as the 1st of the 7th cavalry battalion commander during the battle of the ia drang valley in 1965, the first major battle of the vietnam war.
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