A Battle in the Ia Drang, 4 November 1965

Transcribed from the "Trooper's Tale" column of The Saber (1st Cavalry Division Association), March/April 2023. The account is a member's recollection submitted decades after the events it describes.

I recently read in the Saber where James S. "Jim" Reid of Salt Lake City, Florida passed away. The article mentioned that he was a Huey pilot who flew into a hot LZ on Nov 3 & 4, 1965.

I was in a battle in the Ia Drang Valley with a Recon platoon from Delta Co, 2/8 Cav that eventually involved several more companies from the battalion as the battle progressed during the day of 4 November 1965. We evacuated many WIAs and had multiple KIAs that day and into the evening. As a matter of fact, I being a senior medic, was the last to be wounded and carried back to LZ Cavalier by stretcher, only to be med evacuated out that evening to a field hospital. Latter was sent to the hospital in Fort Gordon, Georgia via the Philippines, California, Walter Reed and finally to Fort Gordon Army Hospital for a 15-month stay. I was the first Vietnam wounded to reach that particular hospital.

I am curious if Jim may have been one of the several Hueys that helped evacuate the critically wounded for that battle. We originally flew into Plei Me after the Special Forces camp was nearly overrun by the 33rd NVA Regiment that subsequently moved on from there deeper into the Ia Drang where COL Moore came upon them on November 14, 1965, in the Battle of X-Ray.

I came into Nam on the USNS Geiger all the way from Savannah, Georgia, what a trip! I am 77 years old and still dealing with a bad leg and other ailments. However, I am doing better than many of your heroes from the Cav and am thankful for my existence. Incidentally, my platoon sergeant at that time, SGT Robert Wilson survived a nasty wound to his hip that I attended to prior to air evacuation. He recovered and went on with his career and became the Command Sergeant Major of the 1st Cav Division! I think he also spent over 30 years in the Army and went with the troops to Desert Storm. It is my understanding that CSM Wilson passed away last year.

It is odd that Jim Reid lived in Lake City, Florida and I have lived only about 50 miles from him all this time in a small rural town called Williston. So close but so far away. I also noted that Rick O'Brien has passed. I met Rick several times and he was the real deal. I always had great respect for him and send my best wishes and prayers to his family.

— SP4 David "Doc" Wilson, D Co, 2/8 Cav, 1st Cavalry Division