SURROUNDED: Leading a Bayonet Charge to Save a Lost Platoon | Battle of Ia Drang | Tony Nadal

Become an AVC Patreon member to receive an annual calendar, early access to videos, exclusive content, and several other perks. This funding goes directly into helping us capture more incredible stories with our nation's veterans: http://patreon.com/americanveteranscenter Colonel Tony Nadal was born at Fort Benning, Georgia, and raised in his family’s home in Puerto Rico while his father served there in the Army. After boarding school, prep school, and then West Point, Nadal completed Airborne and Ranger School and was sent to Germany, where he later volunteered for the Special Forces. After earning his Green Beret in 1963, he was sent to Vietnam to command an A Detachment at Nam Dong in I Corps. He returned to the States, completed the Armored Officer's Career Course, wrangled briefly with the Army over going to Korea, then returned to Fort Benning and joined the 11th Air Assault, which became part of the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) and deployed to Vietnam as a unit in the early fall of 1965. He describes the brilliant leadership in the 11th Air Assault, which provided the Army with 13 three- and four-star generals. He discusses the battle at LZ X-ray, fighting under the legendary commander Hal Moore - the story told by Moore and Joe Galloway in their famed book, "We Were Soldiers Once...and Young," and subsequent film - and the lost platoon as well as why his unit is still so close today. The interview was recorded on November 4th, 2022. Video Credits: Interviewer - Greg Corombos Director of Photography - Jon Hambacker Editor - TJ Cooney 00:00 Intro 00:28 Family Background and West Point 03:15 First Army Assignment 05:38 Joining Special Forces 06:40 First Vietnam Deployment 09:23 Leading up to Battle of Ia Drang 12:40 LZ-Xray 14:26 Battle of Ia Drang Begins 18:22 Earning his men's trust 20:25 Bayonet Charge to Save Lost Platoon 24:37 His soldiers are still close Learn more about the American Veterans Center: http://www.americanveteranscenter.org/ Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/americanveteranscenter/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AVCupdate Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/americanveteranscenter/ Subscribe to our podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/americanveteranscenter?sid=youtubedescription