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The size of the North Vietnamese Army logistics system in Cambodia adjoining III Corps Tactical Zone was vast. It had the capacity to move thousands of tons of material from various points in Cambodia to supply depots along the South Vietnamese border and move these supplies quickly over the network of roads that connected the various caches. The system was so dependent on trucks that an extensive refueling and repair organization was necessary. Sophisticated and effective, the North Vietnam Army supply system was a major weapon in the enemy's arsenal.

By mid-May, the search had eastward to the border area north of Phuoc Long Province where on 8 May the 2d Brigade discovered a new significant cache site. This North Vietnam Army base camp, nick-named ROCK ISLAND EAST, eventually yielded 329 tons of munitions. As the operation continued, the 1st Brigade was moved from War Zone C to the O'Rang area east of the 2d Brigade. Both Brigades used the airstrip at Bu Gia Map as a forward logistics base. One rifle company patrolled out of the abandoned Special Forces camp there as security for the refuel, rearm point and the tons of palletized supplies which were offloaded from C-130's and C-123's.

The withdrawal of the 1st Cavalry from Cambodia, although the most critical of all the operations, was executed in a truly classic manner. The withdrawal sequence was time-phased to allow for the redeployment of one fire support base each day. This phasing would allow for even utilization of aircraft assets, particularly the CH-54 Cranes of the 273d Aviation Company which were required for the movement of bridges, 155-mm howitzers, 2 ½-ton trucks, and bulldozers. On the second day of extraction, while lifting the 1st Battalion, 50th Cavalry from Fire Support Base DAVID, the aviation units ran into extremely poor weather with ceilings at zero, fog and rain. The Chinooks from the 228th Assault Support Helicopter Battalion showed the ultimate in professionalism by flying at extremely low levels through the valleys, skirting the fog-covered hills, and extracting the unit. On 24 June, while extracting Fire Support Base BRONCHO, one aircraft was downed and five others were hit. At the same time the fire support base was taking indirect fire regularly throughout the day. Using all possible suppressive fires from the armed helicopters, Fire Support Base BRONCHO was extracted at last light.

Besides the Division's organic Cranes, the 273d Aviation Company (Heavy Helicopter) was under operational control of the 1st Cavalry during the sixty days of the Cambodian Campaign. This company with its CH-54 Flying Cranes lifted essential engi[neering]