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[demoli]tions and set up the necessary lights for night landings. This remarkable feat was accomplished under enemy observation and fire. By darkness at 1915 hours, a resupply of ammunition, rations, water, and medical supplies had been brought in even though smoke hung like a horizontal curtain over the entire area.

Early that night the wounded had all been evacuated and the dead had been collected in the command post area. Mortar and artillery fires were registered close to the perimeter and the battalion prepared for night attacks. Company B still had one platoon that was cut off and surrounded, but it was reported holding its position with good morale. Later it was learned that this platoon began and ended the night with eight killed in action, twelve wounded in action, and only seven men not hurt. They had lost their platoon leader, platoon sergeant, and weapons squad leader. The platoon received several attacks during the night by an estimated 50-man enemy force. All were beaten off by small arms fire and artillery concentrations. A tactical air strike was made under flareship illumination. This was the only illumination used all night since it exposed the men in the surrounding area. However, there was a fairly bright moon from 2315 hours onwards. When daylight broke, numerous enemy dead were seen in the surrounding area.

At brigade headquarters, Colonel Brown continued to assess the significance of the day's activities. He was pleased that the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, had been able to hold its own against heavy odds, and with moderate casualties, but was convinced that the fight was not yet over. He radioed General Kinnard for another battalion, and was informed that the 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry, would begin arriving at brigade headquarters the following morning.

In the early morning hours savage close range fighting went on throughout the battalion perimeter. There was considerable hand-to-hand fighting. For example, the 1st Platoon leader of Company C was found killed with five dead enemy around him in and near his command post fox hole. Nearby, one trooper was found killed in action with his hands at the throat of a dead North Vietnamese Army soldier.

At approximately 0715 hours, the enemy attacked the sector of Company D, near where the mortars were emplaced. This put the perimeter under attack from two directions. Artillery, aerial rocket artillery, and Tactical Air were called in and delivered accurate and extremely accurate fires. The aerial rocket artillery literally rained the perimeter with its rocket concentrations. Shortly, Colonel Moore radioed brigade headquarters informing