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[trans]port Hueys. The terrain was flat with scrub trees up to 100 feet high, thick elephant grass varying in height from one to five feet, and ant hills up to eight feet high. Along the western edge of the landing zone, the trees and grass were especially thick and extended through the jungles to the foothills of the Chu Pong Mountains. Company B made the initial assault.

The commander of Company B, Captain John D. Herren, secured the landing zone by having his 1st platoon dispatch its squads into different areas 50 to 100 meters off the landing zone to reconnoiter while he retained the balance of his company concealed near the center as an offensive striking force. The first prisoner, taken at 1120, stated that there were three battalions of the enemy on the mountain above the landing zone who were just waiting for an opportunity to attack. Company A, commanded by Captain Ramon A. Nadal, II, followed Company B into the landing zone unopposed and the perimeter expanded.

At 1330, B Company reported that it had been heavily attacked by at least two companies and its 2d platoon was in danger of being surrounded and cut off. Then 60-mm and 81-mm mortar fire began falling in the landing zone and on Company B. Company C arrived and its commander, Captain Robert H. Edwards, was ordered to take up blocking positions in the south and southwest of the landing zone to protect it from being overrun from that direction. The company commanders, the forward observers, the forward air controller, and the artillery liaison officer were all having difficulty getting coordinated as to the location of the forward elements of the company. There was no well-defined terrain feature to help identify positions and the air was heavy with smoke and dust. Company B seemed to be in the worst position since it had one platoon separated from the rest of the company in the jungle and could not precisely pinpoint its location to bring in fire support. By mid-afternoon the battalion knew it was in a major battle and fighting for its very existence. The enemy was coming from all sides.

As the lead elements of D Company landed, the helicopters took numerous hits, but none was shot down. One radio operator was killed before he could dismount from the helicopter and the door gunner and pilot were wounded. Colonel Moore stopped the other eight UH-1D's from landing by radio. Those who had landed from D Company immediately became engaged in the fire fight near A Company. The fighting became more intense. Colonel Moore decided to pull back A and B Companies under the cover of heavy supporting fire and smoke to the fringe of the landing zone and set up a tight defensive perimeter for the night. White