Osprey Book on Ia Drang

Honza

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Michael Dorosh

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Ia Drang is starting to be as well-represented as Stalingrad or D-Day in the popular culture. Amazing what Mel Gibson can do for someone's historical notability.
 

Honza

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Mel Gibson did a film on the subject?
 

Yuri0352

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"We were Soldiers" You should try to find it, it was a great movie. ( And book)
Yes, I highly recommend the movie. However as is nearly always the case with film adaptations, the book ("We Were Soldiers Once...And Young" by Harold Moore and Joseph Galloway) provides a very compelling account of the other half of the story. The story of the savage fighting at nearby LZ Albany is not mentioned in the film, however for me, it was perhaps the most heartbreaking portion of the book. Regarding the authors, Harold 'Hal' Moore is the Mel Gibson character in the film and Joseph Galloway is the news reporter (portrayed by Barry Pepper) who accompanied the Air Cav. into the Ia Drang during the battle.
An excellent book with many illustrations and copious maps as well.
 

Michael Dorosh

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The movie is mostly okay, but it descends into what one Vietnam veteran I used to correspond with called a "pornography of violence" - specifically the slow-motion bayonet charge at the film's climax, which did not happen in real life, complete with North Vietnamese soldiers being mowed down, with blood spattering the camera. The true story was compelling enough without the need for that embellishment. Far better were the two deleted scenes which can be found on the DVD - one showing the survivors returning to base and marching through the base camp, and the other with Moore meeting Westmoreland and McNamara to discuss the battle.
 

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Since CH have released a mini module on this battle (in one of the Annuals) I thought people may be interested in this new release.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ia-Drang-1965-Struggle-Vietnams-ebook/dp/B07RD7171J/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3P9LEC8AWULBF&keywords=ia+drang+1965&qid=1585475305&s=books&sprefix=ia+,aps,156&sr=1-1
I own the comp for this. Comes from CH Annual Issue 1

It has the official CH helicopter rules [That's good]
The M72 Law is hard to figure out [That's bad]
The Counters are Historically Accurate [That's good]
The rules don't describe the map or if its PTO rules [That's bad]
Me Anytime I purchase a ASL thing
I'm going to play it with a friend. I'll give you and after action report of sorts if you like.
 
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