Lyrics of Broken Arrow by HistoryMusicNerd
In the Ia Drang Valley in ’65
US Helicopters started to arrive.
Their Mission was „search and destroy“
The hostile forces here deployed.
First Battalion is almost overrun
and it’s call unleashes fire like the sun.
“Broken Arrow!” – desperate cry,
Napalm raining from the sky.
“Broken Arrow!” – bombers fly,
Ia Drang Valley burning dry,
“Broken Arrow!” – death soars high,
As Vietnams forces charge and die.
“Broken Arrow!” – desperate cry!
Napalm raining from the sky.
Soon the People’s Army’s swift attack
Turned LZ X-Ray into a trap.
The US Soldiers, just few hundred,
were surrounded and outnumbered.
First Battalion is almost overrun
and it’s call unleashes fire like the sun.
“Broken Arrow!” – desperate cry,
Napalm raining from the sky.
“Broken Arrow!” – bombers fly,
Ia Drang Valley burning dry,
“Broken Arrow!” – death soars high,
As Vietnams forces charge and die.
“Broken Arrow!” – desperate cry!
Napalm raining from the sky.
From November 14th till 16th,
Shells and fire reigned the scene.
But Colonel Moore would not abort,
and held the ground with air support.
Second battalion at LZ Albany,
Was in close fight with the enemy.
So close the napalm had to cease,
And they suffered heavy casualties.
First battalion is almost overrun
and it’s call unleashes fire like the sun.
“Broken Arrow!” – desprate cry!
Napalm raining from the sky.
“Broken Arrow!” – bombers fly,
Ia Drang Valley burning dry,
“Broken Arrow!” – death soars high,
As Vietnams forces charge and die.
“Broken Arrow!” – desprate cry!
Napalm raining from the sky.
Napalm raining from the sky!
Historical Background and Meaning
In short: The song is about the Battle of the Ia Drang Valley, the first large ground battle of US troops in the Vietnam War.
Broken Arrow – The Desperate Cry at Ia Drang
In November 1965, deep in the Ia Drang Valley, the United States faced its first major battle of the Vietnam War.
Surrounded, outnumbered, and on the verge of destruction, the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry made the call that summoned death from the sky—
“Broken Arrow.”
Ia Drang – The First Major Battle
“In the Ia Drang Valley in ’65, US helicopters started to arrive.”
The Battle of Ia Drang was the first major conflict between the U.S. Army and the People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN).
- The U.S. forces landed at LZ X-Ray, but were quickly surrounded by thousands of North Vietnamese troops.
- Colonel Hal Moore and his men were outnumbered 5 to 1.
- The battle marked the first large-scale use of helicopters in combat.
“First Battalion is almost overrun, and its call unleashes fire like the sun.”
“Broken Arrow” – A Call for Survival
“Broken Arrow!” – desperate cry, Napalm raining from the sky.
When an American unit was at risk of being completely wiped out, they could call “Broken Arrow”—
A signal that all available air support should strike their position.
- Bombers and napalm strikes pounded the battlefield.
- The North Vietnamese suffered massive casualties, but still kept coming.
- The battle raged for three days and nights.
“Second battalion at LZ Albany, was in close fight with the enemy.
So close the napalm had to cease, and they suffered heavy casualties.”
The Aftermath – A War That Would Not End
By November 16, the battle was over.
- Hundreds of American soldiers were dead, but thousands of Vietnamese lay scattered in the valley.
- The U.S. claimed victory, but the North Vietnamese saw it differently—they had stood their ground.
- It became clear: this war would not be won easily.
“Napalm raining from the sky!”
Want to Learn More?
- 🎥 The REAL Battle from We Were Soldiers – Ia Drang 65 (YouTube)
- 🎥 We Were Soldiers – The Battle of Ia Drang Valley (Movie)
- 🎥 Naplam in the Vietnam War (YouTube)
- 📖 Battle of Ia Drang (Wikipedia)
- 🎖️ Colonel Hal Moore – Leadership at Ia Drang (Wikipedia)
The Lesson?
The Battle of Ia Drang set the tone for the next decade of war.
It showed the power of American air support—but also the determination of the Vietnamese fighters.
And for those who fought at LZ X-Ray, the memory of “Broken Arrow” would never fade.
