The Battle of Ia Drang Valley (Day 3 and 4)

What do you know about the Battle of Ia Drang Valley? Try this U.S. History Made Easy: the Vietnam War Trivia quiz.

1. What time did the PAVN launched a fierce assault against Diduryk's Bravo/2nd Battalion/7th Cavalry men?

• 04:22
• 05:22
• 06:22

2. At the end of these attacks, with daybreak approaching, Diduryk's Bravo Company had only six lightly wounded among its ranks. How many were killed?

• 0 men
• 5 men
• 10 men

3. By the morning of November 16, the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry had been reinforced by the remaining elements of 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry and 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry. This would have put the U.S. forces on rough parity with the original PAVN forces, three battalions, or about one complete brigade each. That afternoon, 1st/7th Cav. withdrew from the battle zone while the 2nd/7th Cav. and 2nd/5th Cav. took up defensive positions for the night.

• True or False?

4. The battle was ostensibly over. U.S. forces had suffered 79 killed and 121 injured and had been reinforced to levels that would guarantee their safety. Who demanded that the 2nd/7th Cav. and 1st/5th Cav stay at X-Ray in order to avoid the appearance of a retreat.

• Col. Thomas Brown
• Lt. Col. Harold Moore
• General Westmoreland

5. The two remaining battalions abandoned LZ X-Ray and began a tactical march to new landing zones, 2nd/5th under Lt. Col. Bob Tully to LZ Columbus about 4 km to the northeast, and 2nd/7th under Lt. Col. Robert McDade to LZ Albany about 4 km to the north-northeast, close to the Ia Drang. What was the reason for the withdrawal?

• B-52 Bombing nearby Chu Pong
• Attack on Chu Pong tunnels
• Attacks coming down the Ho Chi Minh Trail

6. At , When did Bob Tully's men, the 2nd/5th Cav, log into their objective, LZ Columbus?

• 10:38
• 11:38
• 12:38

7. The 2nd/7th was halted in unprepared, open terrain, and strung out in 550-yard line of march. Most of the units had flank security posted, but the men were worn out from almost sixty hours without sleep and four hours of marching. The elephant grass was chest-high so visibility was limited. The column's radios for air or artillery support were with each company.

• True or False?

8. As the Americans rested in the tall grass, North Vietnamese soldiers were swarming towards them by the hundreds. It was 13:15 when the close quarters, intense battle began. The North Vietnamese forces first struck at the head of the 2nd Battalion column and rapidly spread down the right or east side of the column in what appears to be an L-shaped ambush. How long did the fight last?

• Six hours
• Twelve hours
• Sixteen hours

9. Bravo Company, 1st /5th Cav under Captain Buse Tully began marching from LZ Columbus to the rear of the 2nd /7th Cav column that was about two miles away. By 16:30, they came into contact with the Alpha Company perimeter under Captain George Forrest.

• True or False?

10. At around 16:00, Captain Myron Diduryk's Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry, veterans of the fight at LZ X-Ray, got the word that they would be deployed in the Battalion's relief. The first lift ships swept over the Albany clearing and the troopers deployed into the tall grass. When did Bravo come to the rescue?

• 16:45
• 17:45
• 18:45

11. The battle at LZ Albany cost the Americans 124 wounded. How many men were killed?

• 55 min
• 155 men
• 255 men

The Battle of Ia Drang (Day 3 & 4) Answers

1. 04:22
2. 0 men
3. True
4. General Westmoreland
5. B-52 Bombing nearby Chu Pong
6. 11:38
7. False. The radios for air or artillery support were in a meeting with 2nd/7th commander, Lt. Col. Robert McDade.
8. Sixteen hours
9. True
10. 18:45
11. 155 men