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tactical air, threw back the first and second waves of the enemy attack; but, on the third wave, three Soviet-made T-34 tanks made it to the top of the Base and forced the withdrawal of the defenders. This was to be the first and last success of enemy tanks during LAMSON 719 and the only friendly fire base to be completely overrun in Laos.
Three Army of the Republic of Vietnam armored cavalry squadrons and four infantry battalions had not proved sufficient to provide ground security for the 20 kilometers of road in Laos. Consequently, General Lam had reassessed his plan of attack after the disappointing results of friendly armor in keeping open Highway Nine. Obviously he could no longer plan to use this as a secure main supply route. Capitalizing on his airmobile support, he decided to attack the main objective of Tchepone with a series of rapid air assaults along the high escarpment to the south of the river using the 1st Infantry Division.
From 3 to 6 March, the 1st Army of the Republic of Vietnam Division had accomplished a series of airmobile assaults to the west along the escarpment overlooking Route Nine. The first Army of the Republic of Vietnam units air assaulted successfully into landing zones LOLO, LIZ, and Fire Base SOPHIA WEST. After a very effective preparation of the area by B-52's, on 6 March two infantry battalions were lifted by 120 Hueys for 65 kilometers to air assault into landing zone HOPE north of Tchepone. This large combat assault was carried out in what was considered to be the most hostile air defense environment ever encountered in the entire war, yet only one Huey was hit and it made a safe landing in the objective area. The Army of the Republic of Vietnam units attacked south and west controlling the town. (Map 12) Tchepone was the objective of the allied drive to the west and was the natural communications hub of the enemy's logistics system in Laos. The enemy immediately increased his presence in the Tchepone area and attacked the Army of the Republic of Vietnam fire bases on the escarpment viciously.
The I Corps Commander decided that most of the objectives of LAMSON 719 had been accomplished and ordered a timed withdrawal from Laos before weather worsened. During the extraction to the east from the Tchepone area, new enemy forces brought heavy pressure to bear on the Army of the Republic of Vietnam all along Route Nine. Extremely heavy antiaircraft fires were encountered along routes to or from the Army of the Republic of Vietnam fire bases. Enemy pressure was also felt at the primary U.S. Forward Support Area at Khe Sanh which received heavy