Ia Drang Scholarship Program

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

   The Ia Drang Scholarship Fund was founded in 1994 by LTG (Ret) Harold G. Moore and Joseph L. Galloway from earnings on their book "We Were Soldiers Once--And Young".  Other donors to the fund are readers of the book from across America.

   In early 1994 the Board of Governors of the 1st Cavalry Division Association agreed to expand the activities of the Foundation of the 1st Cavalry Division Association to include the Ia Drang Scholarship Program by including a new eligibility sub-paragraph in its instructions to the Trustees as follows:  "to provide financial assistance in the form of scholarship grants toward the pursuit of an advanced education for descendants of soldiers who served in designated qualifying units which were involved in the battles of the Ia Drang valley during the period 3 through 19 November, 1965.  The source of funding for these scholarship grants is to be derived solely from contributions specifically designated for this element of the trust program by the donor and not in competition with other elements of the program".  The fund has now grown to the point where scholarship grants can be awarded.  

 ELIGIBILITY  

   Children (including legally adopted) and grandchildren of Ia Drang valley battlefield combat veterans of designated qualifying units (ground and air) which were involved in the battles of the Ia Drang valley during the period 3 through 19 November, 1965.  Children and grandchildren/great-grandchildren of men who were assigned to a unit that fought in the Ia Drang battles but were themselves at An Khe base camp, at Pleiku/Camp Holloway, at Catecka, in a hospital, etc. and not in the Ia Drang battles are not eligible for award of scholarship grants.  Great-grandchildren will be funded on a funds available basis.

   It is the responsibility of the applicant to determine whether his/her father/grandfather served in battle in at least one of the qualifying units and in at least one of the specific battle locations and provide proof thereof.  Proof must include at least birth certificate(s) or legal adoption certificate(s) showing father or grandfather’s chain of relationship to the applicant, a copy of the Ia Drang Battle survivor’s DD Form 214 and positive evidence of the battle survivor’s assignment to a qualifying unit during a specified battle.  Such evidence may include citations for awards earned in the battles, signed statements from battlefield leader(s), extracts of official personnel records, copies of morning reports, copies of articles about the specific battles naming sponsor, extracts from books which name sponsor as a battle participant and/or copies of letters to family/friends about the specific battles.  

 QUALIFYING UNITS AND SPECIFIC BATTLE LOCATIONS:  (Includes)

   1-7th Cavalry, LZ X-Ray, 14-16 November. 

   2-7th Cavalry (-), LZ X-Ray 16-17 November, LZ Albany 17-19 November.

   3rd Platoon, C Company, 2-7th Cavalry, LZ X-Ray 15-16 November.

   1-5th Cavalry(-), LZ Columbus 18 November (Note:  LZ Columbus and LZ Cavalair are the same location)

   A Company, 1-5th Cavalry, LZ Columbus 18 Nov, LZ X-Ray 16-17 November, LZ Albany 17-18 November.

   B Company, 1-5th Cavalry, LZ Columbus 18 November, LZ Albany 17-18 November.

   2-5th Cavalry, LZ X-Ray 15-17 November.

   Elements of 1-7th Cavalry, 2-7th Cavalry, 1-5th Cavalry and 2-5th Cavalry, LZ Falcon 14-18 November.

   A Company, 1-8th Cavalry, LZ Mary 3-4 November, (1-9th Cavalry ambush).

   Elements of A, C, D Companies,  Mortar Section and Battalion Command Group of 2-8th Cavalry, vicinity of ZA965055 2-1/2 Km Northwest of LZ Cavalair 4 November.

   Elements of 1-9th Cavalry in ambush vicinity LZ Mary,  3-4 November.

   Elements of 1-9th Cavalry which supported at LZ X-Ray, LZ Albany, LZ Mary, LZ Columbus, LZ Falcon or in the 4 November action of 2-8th Cavalry Northwest of LZ Cavalair.

   Artillery Forward Observers and Fire Support Coordinators, Army Aviation Pathfinder Teams, Battalion Surgeons, Platoon Aidmen, Litter Bearers, Battalion Aid Station Personnel, Chaplains and Chaplains Assistants who were on the ground during the 14-18 November fighting at LZ X-Ray, LZ Albany, LZ Columbus, LZ Falcon, the 3-4 November fighting at LZ Mary or in the 4 November action of 2-8th Cav 2-1/2 km NW of LZ Cavalair.

   C Battery, 2-17th Field Artillery at LZ Columbus 15-17 November.

   A Battery, 2-19th Field Artillery in 2-8th Cavalry action 2-1/2 km NW of LZ Cavalair 4 November.

   C Battery, 2-20 Field Artillery in actions at LZ X-Ray, LZ Albany and LZ Columbus 14-18 November.

   Elements of A Battery, 2-20 Field Artillery in the 2-8 Cavalry action 2-1/2 km NW of Cavalair 4 November and 1-9 Cavalry ambush at LZ Mary 3-4 November.

   A, B and C Batteries and elements of Headquarters Battery, 1-21st Field Artillery at LZ Falcon, LZ Columbus 14-18 November.

   3rd Brigade Aviation Section, 228th Assault Support Helicopter Battalion and 229 Assault Helicopter Battalion flight crews who flew support missions into LZ X-Ray, LZ Albany, LZ Falcon and LZ Columbus 14-18 November.

   229th Assault Helicopter Battalion flight crews who flew support missions in the 2-8 Cavalry action 2-1/2 km NW of LZ Cavalair 4 November.

   2-8 Cavalry Command Helicopter flight crew and passengers who landed in the battle area of 2-8 Cavalry in the action 2-1/2 km NW of LZ Cavalair 4 November.

   MEDEVAC flight crews who evacuated wounded and dead during the actual fighting from LZ X-Ray, LZ Albany, LZ Columbus, LZ Falcon 14-18 November or LZ Mary 3-4 November or the 2-8 Cavalry action 2-1/2 km NW of LZ Cavalair 4 November.

   Elements of 8th Engineer Battalion that supported Infantry, Cavalry or Artillery units at LZ X-Ray, LZ Albany, LZ Columbus and LZ Falcon 14-18 Nov, or 2-8 Cavalry during the action 2-1/2 km NW of LZ Cavalair 4 November, or 1-9 Cavalry during the ambush vicinity of LZ Mary 3-4 November.

   Army Photo and Movie Teams and War Correspondents who were on the ground during the actual fighting at LZ X-Ray, LZ Albany, LZ Columbus, LZ Falcon 14-18 November, LZ Mary 3-4 November or the 2-8 Cavalry action 2-1/2 km NW of LZ Cavalair 4 November.

   Higher Commanders and Staff personnel of the 1st Cavalry Division, 3rd Brigade, Division Artillery, 11th Aviation Group and other higher Headquarters who in the performance of their duties had occasion to be on the ground during the actual fighting at LZ X-Ray, LZ Albany, LZ Columbus, LZ Falcon 14-18 November or LZ Mary 3-4 November, or the 2-8 Cavalry action 2-1/2 km NW of LZ Cavalair 4 November.

   U.S. Air Force A-1E pilots of the 1st and 602nd Air Commando Squadrons who flew close air support missions at LZ X-Ray, LZ Albany, LZ Mary, LZ Columbus or the 4 November action of 2-8th Cav Northwest of LZ Cavalair.

   U.S. Air Force Forward Air Controller Teams who participated in the actions at LZ X-Ray, LZ Albany, LZ Mary, LZ Columbus or the 4 November action of 2-8th Cavalry 2-1/2 km NW of LZ Columbus.