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Summary 1965

The 11^th Air Assault Division (Test) at Ft. Benning, Georgia, became the 1^st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) on July 1^st, with appropriate ceremonies on July 3^rd, 1965.  On that same day, Company C, 2^nd Battalion, 38^th Infantry, 11^th Air Assault Division (Test) became Company C,  2^nd Battalion, 5^th Cavalry, 1^st Cavalry Division (Airmobile).

On July 28^th, President Lyndon Johnson said in a radio address "I am today ordering the airmobile division to Vietnam."  By August 2^nd, the first liaison team had departed, followed closely by another advance party on August 14^th.  C 2/5 Cav spent most of August and most of September on the ocean, landing at Qhi Nhon on September 14^th.    The rest of the month was busy with securing the highway between Qhi Nhon and An Khe (the new division base camp), initial shake down operations, and building a new home at An Khe.  It suffered its first death in October, and went on to participate in the famous battle at Ia Drang in November.

(Sources:  Anatomy of a Division 1st Cav in Vietnam - Stanton.   The 1st Air Cavalry Division Vietnam, Volume 1 August 1965 to December 1969  - The First Cavalry Division, Pleiku: The Dawn of Helicopter Warfare in Vietnam, J. D. Coleman)

Updated May 28, 2001