In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Popi writes on July 24, 1965, during a rare day off. He’s not sure where Suzie is, in Florida or still in New Jersey, so he’s sending his letters home and hoping they find her. There’s still no word on his orders, but he’s hoping to leave Quang Ngai by August 8. The delay matters not just for him, but for Charlie, the monkey he hopes to send home before the weather turns cold. Popi also mentions a big change: the 11th Air Assault Division is coming to Vietnam, newly renamed the 1st Air Cavalry Division.

This episode explores the arrival of the 1st Air Cav and how it transformed the war. Built from the 11th Air Assault Division, the 1st Cavalry was the first full-scale airmobile force. Its rapid deployment in July 1965 marked a turning point. With helicopters at its core, the unit brought unprecedented speed and reach to combat, but also new risks. Their first major test came at Ia Drang, a brutal battle that revealed both the strengths and limits of air mobility. For soldiers like Popi, their arrival signaled a shift: the war was changing, growing, and coming closer to what aviation crews had already been living through.

What’s Covered:

• Bill’s reflections on Suzie’s travel, his day off, and hopes to return to Vinh Long
• The arrival of the 1st Air Cavalry Division and the airmobile revolution
• The Battle of Ia Drang and its impact on U.S. strategy in Vietnam
• Family myths about military service and why we cling to them

📷 Featured Photo: A row of Huey helicopters lined up on a worn tarmac, the pavement pitted and scarred. Each chopper bears the white star of the U.S. Army—ready to move, ready to fight.

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