As a student in school, I didn’t truly understand the possibility of going to war. I believe I occasionally thought about but was naive to the fact that I could be sent to Vietnam after I graduated. The horror just didn’t sink in!
However, prior to my graduation the war was coming to an end for America and the draft had been stopped.
I just completed reading the book shown above about the Ia Drang conflict with the North Vietnamese. I quickly learned my knowledge of that war and especially this battle was far from being complete. The American forces were greatly outnumbered. The blood, death, carnage and the wounded were great. The bravery of the young men really impressed me. The battle details were unbelievable, and one can’t help wondering how anybody survived. Mel Gibson starred as Lt. General Harold (Hal) Moore in the movie titled, “WE WERE SOLDIERS.” I have seen the movie but look forward to seeing the film again now that I have some knowledge as to what had happened.
I have questions! What would I have been like in the war scene? Could I have been a brave American soldier? I want to think I would have been a brave young man and fought bravely. Lucky for me I will never know.
Larry A. Smail's Blog 
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