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change the orientation 180 degrees and attack late in the afternoon was a bold one, but was to prove indisputably sound.

Colonel Rattan had consulted with Mr. Brewer on the most probable location of enemy infiltration routes and then selected landing zones adjacent to them. These assault areas were selected for the purpose of reducing the enemy's reinforcement capability by blocking his avenues of approach and to eliminate his fire support capability by landing on his support areas. At approximately 1345 hours, the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry and the 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry were directed to launch their air assaults as soon as possible with priority of lift assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry. Additional aircraft were requested from division resources, and the 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry and aerial rocket artillery were alerted.

By 1555, B Company of the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry had assaulted into a landing zone east of Quang Tri and a few minutes later was followed by C Company. Even while they were landing, C Company received intense fire from an estimated enemy company. This contact lasted until 1900 at which time the enemy broke contact leaving 29 bodies. The 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry air assaults had straddled the heavy weapons support of one of the enemy battalions. As a consequence, this battalion found itself heavily engaged on the eastern edge of Quang Tri by the Army of the Republic of Vietnam and in its rear among its support elements by the Air Cavalry troops. Caught between the two forces, it was quickly rendered ineffective. Shortly after the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry had launched its attack, the 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry assaulted southeast of Quang Tri with two companies. They also landed directly on enemy positions and immediately came in heavy contact with the K-6 Battalion of the 812th North Vietnamese Army Regiment. Like its sister battalion, the K-6 found itself wedged between Army of the Republic of Vietnam forces and the 1st Cavalry and it sustained a terrific pounding from aerial rocket artillery and the air assaults.

As darkness fell, it became evident that the battered enemy was attempting to break contact and withdraw. Its forces rapidly broke down into small groups with some individual soldiers even attempting to get away among the crowds of fleeing refugees. Contacts were made throughout the night with many small enemy groups trying to get out of the city. The enemy had suffered a terrible