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MAP 6

Colonel Stannard entered the operation with the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Christian F. Dubia, air assaulting into landing zone SNAPPER, due south of Khe Sanh and overlooking Highway Nine. The circle began to close around the enemy (Map 6)

On D+5 (6 April), the 1st Marine Regiment continued its operations on the high ground north and south of Highway Nine, moving to the west toward Khe Sanh. The heaviest contact on that date occurred in the 3d Brigade's area of operation as the 2d Battalion, 7th Cavalry under the inspired leadership of Colonel Robinson continued its drive west on Highway Nine. Enemy blocking along the highway offered stubborn resistance. In a day-long battle which ended when the enemy summarily abandoned his position and fled, the battalion had accounted for 83 enemy killed, one prisoner of war captured, and 121 individual and ten crew-served weapons captured. The troops of the 1st Cavalry Division were airlifted to Hill 471 relieving the Marines at this position. This was the first relief of the defenders of Khe Sanh. Two companies of troopers remained on the hill while two other companies initiated an attack to the south toward the Khe Sanh Hamlet.

We had plotted heavy enemy artillery that had been dug deeply into the rocks of the Co Roc Mountains in Laos just west of Lang Vei. As we neared Khe Sanh I was concerned that these 152-mm