The Battle of Ia Drang was the first major conflict between the United States Army and the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) during the Vietnam War. The battle took place from November 14 to 18, 1965, in the Ia Drang Valley of central Vietnam. The engagement involved the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), and other supporting units, who were airlifted into the valley to conduct a search-and-destroy mission against NVA forces. The battle was characterized by intense fighting, with both sides suffering significant casualties. The engagement marked a significant turning point in the war, as it was the first time that the United States had committed large numbers of ground troops to combat in Vietnam, and it set the stage for the large-scale involvement of American forces in the conflict.