We Were Soldiers Once.... - Divided Ground - Vietnam

Ia Drang Valley, 15 November 1965: (Best played as the US or versus another human) Following the failed siege of the Plei Me Special Forces Camp, the battered elements of the 33rd and 32nd NVA Regiments retreated back towards the traditional Communist Sanctuary in the Ia Drang Valley. There, astride Cambodian border, General Chu Huy Man could regroup his forces and make ready to renew his offensive into the Central Highlands. Concurrent to Chu's withdrawal, the 3rd Bde (Gary Owen), 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) received the mission to pursue and harass the beaten NVA forces. Acting on his detailed research and excellent instincts, Colonel Brown, the 3rd Bde commander, selected the Ia Drang Valley as the most likely site from which to begin his operation. He ordered LTC Moore's 1-7th Cavalry Battalion to air assault into the valley and begin search and destroy operations against what was suspected to be a major staging area for the NVA. Moore's force was air lifted into LZ XRAY and began deploying for its mission. But what was unknown to the untested cavalry troopers, was that they'd landed on the front step of an entire NVA Division. And what had started out being a simple anti-guerilla sweep would quickly turn into a major prestige battle as both sides sought to destroy one another in the first major confrontation between the US Air Cavalry and the Communist Regular forces. And like most other battles in the RVN, casualties meant more than possession of terrain features.