Recounts the first major land battle of the Vietnam War waged between U.S. troops and the NVA/PAVN (The People's Army of Vietnam); the Viet Cong appear later in the battle and the screenplay. Lt. Col. Hal Moore (Gibson) and his troops from the 1st Battalion, U.S. 7th "Air" Cavalry were dropped off by Huey helicopters into the Ia Drang Valley on November 14th, 1965. Their mission was simple: find and kill the enemy. Moore and his men got more than they bargained for. Almost immediately, the 7th Cavalry was surrounded by over 2000 North Vietnamese troops. The 7th Cavalry was trapped in a clearing dubbed Landing Zone X-Ray while their foes continued to try to overrun their position. Moore's men would sustain heavy casualties.