S8 Ep273: THE BATTLE OF IA DRANG AND NVA ADAPTATION Colleague Geoffrey Wawro. In 1965, the US introduced combat troops and air mobility tactics, showcased at the Battle of Ia Drang, where General West

THE BATTLE OF IA DRANG AND NVA ADAPTATION Colleague Geoffrey Wawro. In 1965, the US introduced combat troops and air mobility tactics, showcased at the Battle of Ia Drang, where General Westmoreland used infantry as "tethered goats" to draw the enemy out for destruction by artillery. However, the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) quickly adapted by "hugging" American lines to neutralize superior US firepower, proving they could inflict significant damage and control the terms of engagement. Despite high casualties, the NVA utilized human wave attacks and close-quarters combat, turning what the US hoped would be decisive victories into bloody massacres. NUMBER 10