'We Were Soldiers' Cavalry Officer on First Major Battle in Vietnam

Gregory "Matt" Dillon began his Army career in the ROTC program at the University of Alabama. After graduation Dillon served his required two years and he enjoyed them so much he served another 23 years.

Dillion would deploy to Vietnam in 1965 serving in the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment. The unit became infamous for their heroic actions during the Battle of Ia Drang, the first major engagement between the United States Army and the People's Army of Vietnam.

Dillon served as Operations Officer under the command of Col. Hal Moore, who after the war would recount the actions of 1/7 in the widely acclaimed memoir "We Were Soldiers Once...and Young". The book would later be adapted into the film "We Were Soldiers", starring Mel Gibson and with John Hamm portraying then Captain Dillon.

Interview recorded on November 7, 2024