Geoffrey Wawro, guest author, explains that General Westmoreland introduced the "search and destroy" concept, aiming to use superior US mobility and technology to annihilate North Vietnamese Army (NVA) forces. The Battle of Ia Drang in November 1965 becam

Geoffrey Wawro, guest author, explains that General Westmoreland introduced the "search and destroy" concept, aiming to use superior US mobility and technology to annihilate North Vietnamese Army (NVA) forces. The Battle of Ia Drang in November 1965 became a pivotal test for this strategy, featuring Hal Moore's 7th Cavalry. As US troops deployed, the NVA responded by escalating to regular regimental and divisional warfare rather than mere infiltration. In this engagement, the NVA developed a tactical counter-measure: "clinging to the belt" of American units to prevent the effective use of US artillery and air support due to proximity. This battle demonstrated the high passion of the NVA and their ability to maximize American casualties. While Westmoreland viewed these high-tech "vertical envelopment" operations as the key to victory, the difficulty of locating a vanishing enemy remained a central problem. The Vietnam War: A Military History (2)