The Ia Drang Valley.
It is among the most famous battles in the storied history of the 1st Cavalry Division and the first major battle of the Vietnam War.
Veterans from the division gathered in Washington, D.C., Nov. 14, to commemorate the anniversary of the battle and pay tribute to their fallen comrades in an event hosted by the 1st Cavalry Division Association.
"It's hard to believe it's been 50 years," said Bill Beck, a former machine gunner with Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, who fought at LZ X-Ray. "We're lucky to have made it this far."
While the battle now has a legendary status, Beck said that at the time, the Soldiers on board the UH-1 Huey helicopters heading into the valley weren't aware that they were also riding into the history books.
"We knew nothing [about the battle's eventual historical significance]," he said. "It was just another day for us."
BENNING BEGINNINGS
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