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unity of command of ground and airmobile forces that characterized airmobile operations conducted unilaterally by the United States Army.

By late September and early October 1970 it had become obvious from various enemy actions and intelligence sources that the North Vietnamese Army planned to strangle Phnom Penh and overthrow the Lon Nol Government. At the same time, there was ample evidence that the North Vietnam Army would continue its aggression against South Vietnam and rebuild its bases along the Cambodian border adjacent to III and IV Corps Tactical Zones. The key to these enemy operations was an intensified resupply and reinforcement operation in southern Laos during the dry season which would last from mid-October to mid-April 1971.

December 1970 and January 1971 brought a sharp increase in the amount of supplies moved into the southern Laotian area known as Base Area 604, adjacent to Quang Tri Province in I Corps Tactical Zone. The intelligence community further noted that only a small portion of these supplies had been moved further to the south. In previous years the enemy had reached his peak efficiency in February and March in moving supplies down the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Accordingly, an attack against the base areas in Laos during these months presented the highest probability of inflicting the greatest damages to the enemy. Operation LAMSON 719 was conceived, developed, and implemented to react to this intelligence information.

Air interdiction of the entry points from North Vietnam into southern Laos had intensified since October 1970 and the 7th Air Force had been very effective in destroying enemy trucks. A new record of kills was reached in December and January. Army of the Republic of Vietnam operations into Cambodia were started in November 1970 with the mission of opening land and water routes to Phnom Penh. The Vietnamese forces had successfully expanded their area of operation and demonstrated their ability to conduct a major campaign without any advisory supervision.

In early February 1971 the Government of Vietnam decided to commit more than three Army of the Republic of Vietnam divisions to interdict the enemy's supply and infiltration routes in southern Laos and to destroy his logistical facilities and supplies. The broad objective was to reduce the North Vietnam Army capability for waging war in the south and to advance the security of the people of the Republic of Vietnam.

The operational area of LAMSON 719 covered an area roughly thirty-five to sixty-five kilometers. The geography of the area varied