<P> The Battle of Ia Drang was the first major battle between the United States Army and the North Vietnamese Army - NVA ( People 's Army of Vietnam - PAVN ) , part of the Pleiku Campaign conducted early in the Vietnam War . It comprised two main engagements . The first involved the 1st Battalion , 7th Cavalry Regiment and supporting units , and took place November 14 -- 16 , 1965 at LZ X-Ray , located at the eastern foot of the Chu Pong massif in the central highlands of Vietnam . The second engagement involved the 2nd Battalion , 7th Cavalry Regiment plus supporting units , and took place on November 17 at LZ Albany , farther north in the Ia Drang Valley . It is notable for being the first large scale helicopter air assault and also the first use of B - 52 strategic bombers in a tactical support role . </P>
<P> The Battle of Ia Drang was the first major battle between the United States Army and the North Vietnamese Army - NVA ( People 's Army of Vietnam - PAVN ) , part of the Pleiku Campaign conducted early in the Vietnam War . It comprised two main engagements . The first involved the 1st Battalion , 7th Cavalry Regiment and supporting units , and took place November 14 -- 16 , 1965 at LZ X-Ray , located at the eastern foot of the Chu Pong massif in the central highlands of Vietnam . The second engagement involved the 2nd Battalion , 7th Cavalry Regiment plus supporting units , and took place on November 17 at LZ Albany , farther north in the Ia Drang Valley . It is notable for being the first large scale helicopter air assault and also the first use of B - 52 strategic bombers in a tactical support role . </P>
what was the first battle in the vietnam war
what was the first battle in the vietnam war
Battle of Ia Drang
Battle of Ia Drang