IA Drang Valley, 1965

"A Band of Brothers"

SP/4 James Kuschel
A Co. 2/12th Cav.
1st Cavalry Division
Vietnam, 1965
1st Shift





In 1964 I was sent to Ft. Benning, Georgia and landed a job as a driver for 3rd Brigade, S3, 2nd Infantry Division. This being the best job that I had in the Army, I settled in for what I thought was going to be an easy two years in the Army. In the spring of 1965 we were told that we were to change colors with the 1st Cavalry Division, which was stationed in Korea at the time. Once we changed all our patches on our uniforms my easy job as a S3 driver ended. My MOS being Infantry, I received orders to report to an Infantry Company down the street called A Company 2 /12th Cavalry. It was back to humping and no more sitting.

On July 28th President Lyndon Johnson announced that he was sending the members of the 1st Cavalry to Vietnam. My Company was put on a troop train and sent to Charleston, SC. Once there we were loaded onto a ship called the US Buckner. We sailed from there down the Atlantic and through the Canal up to San Diego. Once there we refueled, and were on our way to Nam.

We arrived off a port called Qui Nhon. From there, choppers flew us to a field of grass and brush called An Khe. We immediately became grass cutters. Most of it was done by hand using sickles, machetes and entrenching tools. We would guard the perimeter at night and work clearing during the day. Sleep? What sleep?

Our first casualties occurred as a result of friendly mortar fire. Capt. Eugene Fox arrives to take command of our company. Firefights at night became the norm. Our second casualty happens when our Lieutenant somehow get in front of us at night while the VC were moving mortars. Nothing serious mostly probes by the Viet Cong. After a few weeks they decided that we all needed a shower. So off we were to Pleiku. This air base had showers we were told. They let us shower and back to the perimeter of the airstrip. The next day we arrived back in An Khe. One of the incidents that I remember was that an unit was trapped on Highway 19 and that the Cav was going to rescue them. One of the few times we loaded onto 2 ˝ ton trucks and headed up highway 19. We were told to watch for the muzzle flash if fired upon. I was more concerned because of the troops in that truck rather than what may have been in the bushes and I was right.

IA DRANG BEGINS

Operations Long Beach, Silver Bayonet and Green House would begin what was later called “The Battle of IA DRANG”, on 27 October 1965. Members of the 9th Cav Scouts located a VC hospital. It was decided that A Company 2/12th would back them up. Once loaded into our hueys we headed towards Plei Me. My squad was in the last chopper. Once airborne we somehow got into a cloud and lost sight of the rest of the company. We immediately dove straight down and that got everyone’s attention. As we caught up to the formation we came to the LZ. With everyone on the ground but us, the VC opened fire. At 30 feet the co-pilot screams to get out of the chopper. While he hovers we jump to the ground.

Special thanks to Lt. Paul Mobley for staying with me till I was evacuated. Also to the pilot of the Battalion Cmdr. for coming in under fire to get me out of there.

We Were Soldiers

from the movie 'We Were Soldiers'

WWS movie poster

In Memory



New York State Conspicuous Medal

Read about a Congressional Medal of Honor Buffalo Soldier who finally got a military headstone, 92 years after he died:

Corporal Clinton Greaves

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