Vietnam War battlefields: IA DRANG Valley LZ X Ray TODAY
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- čas přidán 7. 07. 2014
- At the base of Chu Prong Mountain on Highway 14C near Pleiku City, was one of the most famous battlegrounds of the Vietnam War. The movie We Were Soldiers recounts this moment in history. Thousands of soldiers died around this area. I didn't know very much when I came here. I wasn't too sure if I was in the exact location because I only had a picture of a map. But it turns out that it was indeed the right spot.
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About Me: I'm Kyle Le and I live, travel, and eat in Vietnam and many Asian countries. I'm passionate about making videos and sharing modern Asia to the world. I've traveled everywhere in Vietnam, from Hanoi to Saigon - Far North, Central Highlands, Islands, and Deep Mekong Delta - I've visited there. In addition to 10+ countries in Asia from Indonesia to Thailand to Singapore, you'll find all of my food, tourist attractions, and daily life experiences discovering my roots in the motherland on this amazing journey right on this channel. So be sure to subscribe- there's new videos all the time and connect with me below so you don't miss any adventures.
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i was there in early 67 on a recon mission with Project Omega, 5th special forces, soon to be part of MACV SOG. it was still an active area, people searching the area at night. there was a lot of post battle damage. the reason it looks so different now is that the area was heavily sprayed with agent orange after the battle killing most of the foliage. it looks like it never recovered. while the LZ was somewhat open it was not clear the way it is in the video. I remember there was a stream that ran along one side of the LZ
Wow I'd love to know more....im a Vietnam conflict enthusiasts. I'm 47 , my interest began when I was around 10 years old. I'm not even sure how it began but I somehow feel deeply connected. Love to hear about your experience! 🙏
Please feel free to reach out im on facebook ,same name.
Thank you brother and welcome home…wish I coulda been there with you boys…such admiration and the heart you fellers have is where the term heart of a lion came from…I always wish I was in company of such brave Americans
Dry stream bed featured prominently in book and movie.
@@prestoncassise4813 Theres nothing about Vietnam to be Enthusiastic for
I am vietnamese, i can tell you this is very haunting place. When the dark night come, you can hear death soldiers shouting and screaming, no one going to there in the night...
Do you live near this place? Also, do a lot of people sneak in to this place?
Chuc ban ngay mot turoi dep! Im learning Vietnamese. I wish I had a Vietnamese teacher though so I could pick it up faster. Anyway Have a nice day!
I hear the same said of Antietam here in the US. FWAFS brothers of both sides
@@scentlessapprentice88 Get the Duolingo app and learn Vietnamese like that.
What was once called the "Valley of Death" is now called the "Forrest of Screaming Souls"
I was there 11/14/65 / 11/17/65 as a door gunner in the 11th atc / 7th Cav. The NVA knocked my ship out of the air with an RPG hitting the tail rotor. We did an uncontrolled spin. I've rode that ride just about every nite for 55+ years.
I could only imagine. Hearing the stories from the vets of that era, hats off to all you guys man. I wish they would tell more of this in history to kids in school these days. I was talking to a younger family member (she’s 18) the other day. She had no idea about any of the Vietnam war, had never even heard of it. Then asking about WW2, she had no idea what a concentration camp was, who hitler was, or even about Pearl Harbor. I was honesty ashamed and shocked. No wonder the younger generation who doesn’t serve has no respect for the flag or the freedoms they have. It’s so sad that it’s all taken for granted. Anyways, I’m happy you guys are Able to speak about the experiences there as horrible as they were. They are a major part of our history.
I understand completely, I was a door gunner. For more than 50 years I never had a good nights sleep. I had to go back to Vietnam to quiet the ghosts in my head.
It gives me chills that my father was here in '65. He wasn't in the battle, he was a Marine who came in after the battle.
Good thing he wasn't with the worst leader in U.S Army history hal Moore the man that lead 200+ kids to there death because he was such a great leader
Where were you back then Kyle? You were supposed to fight alongside your masters, the Americans, against your countrymen, were you not? You’re a disgrace 😂
For those who lost there lives during the battle, may you rest in peace
there is no resting when you are dead. you are just dead.
Science class.
And to those that didn’t, congratulations and thank for your service
I saw Elvis
Amen
@Walter Dumbrowski sometimes at night you can hear Mel Gibson yelling broken arrow
All American soldiers who served and died in Vietnam deserve the highest honor
Thank You.
Nov 14th 2021. May we never forget there courage and sacrifice 56yrs later. Col. Hal Moore and Joe Galloway rest in peace with your brothers.
I compared the scenery in your video with many pictures of the area taken in the 60's and I am convinced you were in the right place, Thank you so much for sharing !
I’ve looked up this spot on google maps , google earth and Apple Maps.It doesn’t look like a remote part anymore.there is a huge “main road” and some sort of farms (tree farms?)
Johnny, yes there are farms on LZ Albany which is only about 5 clicks south of xray. This is definitely lz xray. The kid got it right.
@@scentlessapprentice88 i believe him ;) it’s just crazy how it went from nothing but jungle to a farm .there are even roads and everything , time changes
@@scentlessapprentice88 LZ Albany is north east of LZ Xray.
@Sick buffalo, yes my mistake. You're absolutely right. I think Americans are allowed to visit there now with permission no?
My father Norman Gill was an air assault pilot with B Company of the 229th and was there at X Ray and Albany. Thanks for the video!!!
William Gill_Esq. thank you WIlliam!
"I don't wanna risk going back there too much... actually I'll just do it."
I fuckin' love you, dude.
What a wonderful thing you did Kyle by going out there.Yes that is Landing Zone-Xray so don't anyone even try to dispute the fact.That is the only video of Ia Drang and LZ-Xray on the net!!!
Did you see the dry Creek bed? That was where a lot of the fighting took place!
That's not true Mike. Hal even went back to this area. There's films on it. Search a little better. You'll find em. Sometimes you have to watch others to get into it, also.
I'm not dening that this isnt Lz x ray but I would think that you would have to get permission and have a guide to go to a place like that. Very dangerous. Hal Moore and some of his men went back, and they had people with them . It's very restrictive.
@@mikewhite6288 i meeean... to me, this guy def seems to be there illegally, soooo... shhhh🤫🤫🤫. Thank him for his service and mums the word. But you didn't see NOTHIn, capeesh?!
It’s so sad to know such a beautiful land was at one time a complete living hell on earth. I bet a lot of spirits of soldiers are still out there on the battlefields
The Vietnamese call that place the "Forest of Screaming Souls." They believe at night ghosts haunt the battlefields.
Demonic spirits.
Respects the man who dies here. 🇻🇳🇺🇸 may you rest in peace
Great job with your video! Thanks so much for taking such a risk so that people around the world can view this hallowed ground. When I attended my Infantry Officer Basic Course, we had a course on LZ -X-ray, and one of my classmate's father was killed there. Far too many lives on both sides were lost there. I'm thankful it is peaceful once again.
Well said.
Thanks for taking the time to shoot and post this. A time and place that hopefully will never be forgotten.
I’m reading “We were soldiers once, and young”. I have so much respect for those who fought bled and died here. Thank you to those who met the call and sacrificed for me. So much respect.
Hey man great job and find! Also, to any vets watching this, thank you for your sacrifices made. Both, American and Vietnamese.
It really helps to get a sense of what the tactical situation might’ve been like, far better than any maps I’ve come across.
To all of my Brothers In Arms who fought and died here, I salute You.🇺🇸...
🚬👓...
Garry Owen!!!
That's the right place man! Sacred and hallowed ground!
@MysteryFan He's not worshipping dirt. He's paying respects to the men who layed they're lives down those days. Your comment is irrelevant.
@@scentlessapprentice88 Your comment is irrelevant. That ground is soaked with the blood of hundreds of brave men from both sides.
That place is probably restricted because of munition stashes, mines, unexplored ordinance... grenades.. munitions of all kinds. Anything could be laying under just a few layers of dirt or even above ground in the tall fields. You probably took a chance walking out there, man.
EDIT: I looked into it. It looks like the restriction is mainly because The Vietnamese believe ghosts pass through the area at night. Makes since. I remember the psychological ops we did exploiting their belief that your soul wanders the battlefield in agony and pain if killed away from home. Looks like their culture and beliefs are still as strong as ever today. Remarkable.
David Pfost
You're right in referencing "ghosts", the Vietnamese fear/respect "The Dead American Spirits". Both of my older cousins fought in Vietnam, but not at La Drang Valley.
They (Vietnam) are our ally in Southeast Asia, and that's hard for me and maybe others to accept.
David Pfost That is correct. Also Khamer Rouge still do raids across the border and there are bandits. General Moore almost got ambushed when he went back with ABC news and the NVA officers who fought against them.
joe Schlotthauer. it is ia drang
its more likely the hill/ mountain is still a military outpost, and they dont want peeps snooping around.
Thanks for posting
Thanks for bringing us along
I was there in 1969 and the area was BLACK dead trees, bomb creaters , we reconed the area found a fire fight with V.C where 14 hwy turns left. 4th div. 69 armor.
Thank you for Sharing
LZ X-Ray still on my bucket list last time in Vietnam i see alot of Place also Hill 937 (Hamburger Hill ) im sad for not visit La Drang Valley bec. no more Time !
Reg.. From Switzerland
Outstanding work brother. That is the place - zero doubt. You are walking
Go to 3:46 in this video and then go to 8:31 in the Ia Drang 28 years after the battle video and you will see the hills match up identical.
michael dineen YUP, it matches.
yes. How did you figure that out.
@@mikehartwig5319 I knew what X-Ray looked like. They did a lot of logging in the area so much of the jungle surrounding it is gone. Going to be getting fresh pictures of the Albany area soon.
Wow. Thank you! Read Lt. GEN. Harold G Moores book on the battle. It's very sad. Many men; American & NVA were killed here. May they rest in peace.
They're no more. May WE rest in peace.
Yes read the book "We Were Soldiers Once and Young" the movie doesn't make it.
@@davisworth5114 Yeah, the book was much better.
Awesome thanks.. Hallowed ground..
Wow, really cool vid, thank you for showing us.
It looks so peaceful and serene. It's hard to believe a bloody battle was fought there. I'm sure both sides of the war consider this place hallowed ground. I think both sides taught each other a lesson.
@MysteryFan That is dirt where three guys in my squad died. It will always be sacred “dirt” to me!
@MysteryFan agree to disagree. I thi k your the asshole for shitting on other people's opinion of the sacrifices that were made here and on other battlefields by all who gave their lives.
The quiet space has no problems with stupid games humans play. It was this still and quiet watching all the through the battle
Very well said.
No need to apologize for being there.
Your heart was in the right place.
Thanks for sharing.
There's still active mines laying in Vietnam today.
From both sides.
I don't understand why the military's haven't went looking for them to, clear. It's just a bad deal all the way around, isn't it.
King Snowman they have. Couldnt get them all. Too many. They need to do a bigger effort
The amount of jungle it's nearly impossible
@@snowman374th Because I want them for breakfast.
There was a large, dry creek bed that figured prominently in the fighting! Find that and you can orient yourself to the geography.
My Great Uncle fought & died in The Vietnam War, I never got to meet him.
ok
That is a profound statement, whether you care about it or not.
Thank you for your comment, every death in war is tragic, especially so in a war that we never should have been involved in, your great uncle is smiling down from Heaven because you remember him.
Thanks for sharing this!
Thank you for posting
Excellent video and thanks for thinking about us...
Bro this is the dopest thing I've seen today. I've always wanted to visit xray
Excellent film footage and commentary.
Thanks for posting... Timing of when this was recorded is interesting in relation to other videos on CZcams. This video appears to be after some of the logging in the area had taken place, but before the landscape north (walking away from the mountain - the southwestern edge of the massif) had been converted to farmland. Signs of activity in the area as he walks away from the mountain are everywhere. Comparing this to a more recent video depicting the farmland where Albany once was, or to older videos like the actual combat footage with some snippets showing the mountain, or to the documentary from ‘93 when Gen. Moore returned there with Forrest Sawyer, is exceedingly interesting. BTW, That documentary from ‘93, which is on CZcams, is probably the best on the subject as it covers Albany as well and I rate it as one of the best documentaries of all time. Something very rare and awe inspiring to be there with the men who were there from both sides; to see them bond/heal together in the actual spot where everything happened.
Well you got a set of brass balls very cool thanks for posting!!!
Thanks. A lot of history there. I saw their plaque at the Vietnam Memorial a few weeks ago. That was a vicious battle along with LZ Albany that their sister battalion walked into a few days later.
Lt. Gen. Harold G. Moore was the battalion commander at the time, not sure if that is correct, though!
It’s crazy how peaceful that area looks now compared to the battle that took place there
Kyle Le thank you brother for going there for me. You are a true friend and a great guy.
Thanks for sharing
Great video, I’d love to go visit Vietnam one day. I met a Masonic brother who was there. I can’t imagine the hell they were in... my dad was in Hue in 68... I wish he would talk about his experiences there but it’s the wounds you don’t see that last the longest.
Thank you to all the brave men & women who fought against communism. To all those who tried to bring freedom to South Vietnam. American turned the country back to the south in 1975.
The biggest mistake we made was leaving Vietnam. America should’ve stayed & built the south Vietnamese up just like in South Korea.
when the experiences are unspeakable you may find the words.
Sacred ground , rest in peace brave one's!
My wife lives in Saigon for one. I like Vietnam now, the people are very friendly and there are many beautiful places to visit. I landed in Saigon 2 days ago. This is my 4th trip since the war
Historic footage. Respect
Imagine how much you would find in one day with a metal detector...
I've always thought that there must be loads of bombs, bullets & guns buried all around Vietnam
Thank you for this video
Galaxy s4 You're very welcomed
One reason it's restricted isn't due to sacred ground to war soldiers families and the death both sides but live artillery buried in ground still that was never discharged. A lot to date get killed or injured wandering around the Vietnam jungles and desert where battles occurred. There are also nva traps found to date out there that work.
Nice vid, would've liked to see LZ Albany too. LZ Albany seems to be the more tragic story of the Ia Drang battles.
Yes for sure. So many perished in Albany. Hell of a story
@@prestoncassise4813 yeah. We were soldiers once and young - the book, covers the March to albany. Brutal.
You might be in LZ Albany, which was a battle folks rarely heard about until a few years ago that was the aftermath of The LZ X-ray battle. Either way, great footage!
This is so awesome!! It would be a dream come true to visit Vietnam for the same reason; the battlefields. I love history and love to read books about the War and at the same time paying respect and honoring those who died serving their country friends and foes alike. Been to the memorial wall in DC as well as Arlington cemetery. There are no words to describe my experiences walking past those white crosses in dead silence, hundreds of them...remembering the words of Patrick henry "Liberty or Death". I love your passion. One day...someday i may be able to visit Cu chi (25th inf div TAO, Saigon now Hi chi minh city, Nha trang (Special forces Basecamp) camn ranh bay, mekong delta, Da nang where the Marines first landed in 65, Hue city, Dak to hills, hill 875, A shau valley battle sites (101st airborne) ..Operation Medina sites right along the DMZ, Hastings, Mutters ridge, and Operation Buffalo in Con Thien, and so many others. Thank you for sharing. Do you travel with a group?
That's it man,,,thanx for sharing.
Im reading a memoir of the battle right now this will help me build imagery and get a better understanding of what happened there
Crazy to know that a battle went on there where you're standing...
...Why don't you cruuuush him godzilla?
+Frank Kelly Pfffft hahahha Good One!
Such a sad place to be. So many men died there.
its a shame the world still has not learned from its lessons
It never will.
@@Boris_Chang Sad but True
Amazing! Watching we were soldiers right now. Lot of lives lost!
We were soldiers brought me here
me too
We were soldiers brings everyone to Vietnam, me thinks.
Same
@TJ Wap I think movies are a great way of spreading significant and interesting events of history to the public.
So you're a fuckin movie critic now? :D
Amazing footage
Nice video, battlegrounds and sadly resting place of some of the best generations of soldiers🍻 "we're fighting for no one or anything but each other out here, for your brothers to the left and right of you..."
-CPT W.H. Warren III
just watched ep 3 of the ken burns vietnam war doc. Holy crap. I''m pumped to visit vietnam now.
As a Brit, I'm not really up on the history and battles in Vietnam.. I assume LZ means Landing Zone?
It's not difficult to imagine fire coming from all directions there.. RIP to all who died.
waynester71
Yea LZ means Landing Zone.
Yup. It was a deadly battle. I read the book We Were Soldiers Once and Young
how did Australians get sent but not British?
In the Vietnam war I should add
@@AspieTrips To briefly answer your question: After the Second World War, Britain agreed to administer some French colonies until such time as France was able to take them over again. One such colony was French Indochina (Vietnam). However, when the Brits arrived, they soon discovered the colony was in a chaotic state with a near total breakdown of law and order after the Japanese had surrendered. Therefore, with so few administrators and only a handful of troops available, the British were compelled to not only release large numbers of Japanese POWs and use them as a police force, but also arm them in an effort to re-establish some semblance of civil order. Obviously, this did not go down too well with the locals who the Japanese had ruled over with an iron fist during the occupation of their land. Indeed, they weren't too impressed with the Brits either when it was realised they were preparing the country to be re-possessed by the French. This resulted in the Vietnamese launching a bloody guerilla campaign against the British. Eventually, when the French took over again, the Brits were naturally very anxious to leave. Not only that, they strongly advised the French to do the same which, of course, was promptly and completely ignored with customary Gallic arrogance.
Therefore, the Brits knew perfectly well what would await them when, in early 1965, Prime Minister Harold Wilson politely but firmly rejected US President Lyndon B. Johnson's request for British troops to be sent to Vietnam. Additionally, it should be noted that although the UK was in the middle of winding down the British Empire at the time, it still retained enough international influence to independantly determine its own foreign policy. Moreover, given the United States's high-handed treatment of the UK over the Suez Crisis in 1956 and lack of US support during the Malayan Emergency (1948-60), it should have come as no surprise to anyone that the British government was loathe to commit itself to what was perceived to be -- rightly as it turned out -- America's reckless adventure in Vietnam.
Great video
Imagine the network of caves in that mountain.
The NVA had no tunnels on the Mountain. Col. An laughed at the idea. After the battle at X-Ray he stood watching B-52 runs because there was nowhere to hide. Lost his hearing for a few days.
This is exactly the type of thing I would have done at your age. Well done.
Just about ready to watch We Were Soldiers again and I figured I check to see if I could find a video of what X-Ray looked like today. This little video is something else, I would love to just go out there and imagine what it was like. I have had the opportunity of going to Gettysburg and Pearl harbor, but X-Ray would be a heck of a trip.
Col. Moore made several trips back to Vietnam and it took him years to get permission to get back to LZ Xray.
Such a sad thing to see... but yet it’s so fascinating
I think you found the dry creek bed. It was a good way to get toward X ray since it provided some cover partially underground.
It was the bloodiest battle of the war yet occurred it long before the main troop buildup. My platoon got near there in 1968 but the war was about killing the enemy not seizing any given location.
Imagine camping there at night. I wouldn't even say anything. I'd just listen and remember the history.
And the same thing with LZ Albany, when comparing to maps of the time, it seems to be situated in the middle of a huge irrigated area. Both LZ:s seem to be, on Google Earth. Is that they way it is, or are the maps on GE maybe edited in any way?
Why is it restricted ? doesn't look like anythings there unless there are tunnels on the hill ?
Looks just like We Were Soldiers
It seriously does man... And the sure as hell didn't film that movie there whoever was in charge of location scouting and set dressing for that movie did a fucking HELL of a job!! It looks just like the actual area!
@@tankmaster1018 Close enough anyway....Fort Hunter Liggett in CA
For the battle fields lay silent.a peaceful place now almost surreal a grim reminder of the horrible carnage that happened so long ago to many But for the few that fought thr.It will always feel like yesterday.
The ditch in the video looks like the dry creek bed where the Americans lined up in there for the defence of X-ray.. Awesome vid I really appreciate seeing this.. How privileged thank you
no dude thats an irrigation ditch lol.
Anyway you could do another from same place?
Is the Hill restricted ?
Vietnam war's Gettysburg. Watched this a few more times. Dude this gives me chills already. How sure are you about the exact spot? I would much rather travel with a group or Nam vets. Dont know if thats possible. Thanks again for posting this. It's been over 50 years now. Have read two books about this first ever major engagement with the NVA. My respect to these men who were there and specially those who never made it home. How far do you think LZ albany from where youre at? Remember there were actually two phases of the battle..one LZ Xray then LZ Albany, the designated pick up zone...sadly they never made it..they were ambushed!!
Awesome, brother.
I was an armored cavalry platoon leader in Vietnam in 1966 with the 4th Division's 10th armored cavalry. One of my first missions was to reconn the Ia Drang Valley. We were basically bait. They wanted to see if the NVA were still operating there. Looking at the video I don't see the trees that were there and the mountain looks much smaller. I guess it's like going back to grade school looking at this video. It's always smaller than you remember. We didn't make contact with the NVA but lost an APC to a land mine or one of the many bombs laying around in the area. Had three wounded but no KIAs in the operation. Many of the trees looked like they had been cut down with large drills. I surmised that was either 50 cal machine guns or the USAF 20 MM that did that.
are people not allowed to visit these battlefield area's? good video
Respect to Colonial Howard G Moore and his men
Colonel, not Colonial!
You are correct!
Howard?
Thats pretty impressive
Find any shell casings?
Do you have a permit to be there.
Chu Prong standing there like a pyramid to heroes, cant miss it.
Why is it restricted is there traps, ammunition still there?
why is access so limited there?
Pleiku? Heck, I've used a navigation beacon there "PAPA KILO," while passing over the area.
I was not aware that the Ia Drang fight was there.
such a peacefull vally
LZ X-Ray is quite some distance from Mang Yang Pass. If you go NE to Pleiku, east to Camp Holloway (where I was stationed with the 52nd [it does not look anything like the movie shot]) then a number of miles to the East you will get to the Pass. The French buried the fallen (Street Without Joy), and a B-52 strike destroyed the graves (Tim Page).
In addition to being a very sacrad location, it's also a place that needs & deserves the utmost respect. You Sir appeared to me to do just that🙏
Well said
For those that went when called I have the utmost respect. Twenty six years later I too would get the call and would go into Iraq (1991) but it pales in comparison to what these warriors did at that battle in November of 1965.
Why is it highly restricted?
Why the place is restricted?
would like to see inside the mountain
Im in vietnam now how do you get in there, please help me to try and get to this battlefield