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attacks by fire and sappers. All and all, the enemy used every means at his disposal to make the allied withdrawal as difficult as possible.

The last elements of the 1st Infantry Division were extracted on 21 March and the remaining Vietnamese forces withdrew back into South Vietnam over the next few days. The major airmobile actions in Laos were terminated by 25 March even though some Army of the Republic of Vietnam forces continued to operate across the border. Two highly successful airmobile raids of battalion size were conducted between 31 March and 6 April.

Thousands of tons of ammunition, petroleum, oils, and lubricants, and other supplies and equipment were destroyed by LAMSON 719 forces including U.S. air assets. In addition to the destruction of these stockpiles, supplies from the caches of Base area 604 were at least partially consumed by the North Vietnam Army forces opposing LAMSON 719. Initial reports of supplies and equipment destroyed or captured include over 4,000 individual weapons; more than 1,500 crew-served weapons; 20,000 tons of ammunition; 12,000 tons of rice; 106 tanks; 76 artillery pieces; and 405 trucks. The effectiveness of B-52 strikes, tactical air, helicopter gunships, and artillery is further indicated by over 9,700 secondary explosions.

As a minimum, it can accurately be stated that the enemy lines of communication in Base Area 604 were severed, and that supplies and equipment ceased to move south through this area during the inclusive dates of the operation. This was particularly significant, for in past years the enemy has reached his peak efficiency in moving resources south during the months of February and March. Additionally, the detailed knowledge obtained concerning the location of depots, trail networks, truck parks, and the fuel pipeline would permit more precise targeting in the future.

Enemy personnel losses were very heavy. While these losses might eventually be replaced, the requirement to replace losses in such regiments as the 1st Viet Cong, 29th, 36th, 64th, 102d, and 803d would, in all probability, draw off replacement personnel programmed for other units. Combined air-ground operations in Base Area 604 resulted in a reported total of 13,914 enemy killed in action. Air and ground attacks inside the five depot areas reportedly accounted for 5,357 of these casualties. An additional 69 enemy soldiers were captured.

The precise impact of LAMSON 719 on the enemy's long-range goals must be left for future studies. The important issue here is