Dr. James H. Willbanks, CGSC’s General of the Army George C. Marshall Chair of Military History, delivered the third lecture in the Vietnam War Commemoration Lecture Series Dec. 7 at 5:30 p.m. in the Riverfront Community Center in downtown Leavenworth, Kansas. The CGSC Foundation sponsored a reception that began at 5 p.m.
This third lecture in the series was entitled “Johnson’s War and the Battle of the Ia Drang Valley.” Dr. Willbanks led a discussion on President Johnson’s actions to “stay the course” and ultimately escalate U.S. involvement in Vietnam after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. He discussed in detail the battle of the Ia Drang Valley and its implications for both sides in its aftermath.
CGSC instructor Lt. Col. Joe Donalbain shakes hands with retired Lt. Col. Norm McLeod a veteran of the 1st Cavalry Division in Vietnam after the lecture.
A surprise highlight during the question and answer portion of the lecture was an impromptu briefing by retired Lt. Col. Norm McLeod who commanded Company D of the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry after the first battle of the Ia Drang.
Dr. Willbanks’ has delivered each lecture in the series, walking attendees through a timeline and actions taken on all sides during the war. Willbanks delivered the first lecture on March 23, 2016, entitled “The Roots of U.S. Involvement in Vietnam (1941-1956).” The second lecture was Oct. 5, entitled “The Diem Years and the Early Advisory Effort, 1956-1963.”
The fourth lecture in the series will be delivered in January 2017 by guest lectured Professor Greg Daddis from Chapman College. – A specific date is yet to be determined.
Click here for more photos from the lecture.
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