Trong tha'ng 3 va` tha'ng 4, toa`n bo^. Su+ DDoa`n 1 Kho^ng Ky. Hoa Ky` la^`n lu+o+.t tro+? ve^` nu+o+'c. Nhu+ng Lu+~ DDoa`n 3 cu?a su+ ddoa`n na`y la.i co`n o+? la.i Vie^.t Nam cho dde^'n khoa?ng giu+~a na(m 1972 thi` mo+'i ru't ddi. (Charles T. Kamps, Jr., History Of The Vietnam War, tr.164).

Tha'ng 3, Su+ DDoa`n 1 Thie^'t Ky. Hoa Ky` ddu+o+.c di chuye^?n sang Ta^y DDu+'c, nhu+ng mo^.t chi ddo^.i cu?a su+ ddoa`n na`y ddu+o+.c o+? la.i Vie^.t Nam dde^'n khoa?ng mo^.t na(m sau. (Charles T. Kamps, Jr., History Of The Vietnam War, tr.164).

Tha'ng 4 va` tha'ng 5, hai trung ddoa`n (1 va` 5) cu?a Su+ DDoa`n 1 Thu?y Qua^n Lu.c Chie^'n Hoa Ky` ru't kho?i Vie^.t Nam. (Charles T. Kamps, Jr., History Of The Vietnam War, tr.164).

Lu+~ DDoa`n 2 thuo^.c Su+ DDoa`n 25 Bo^. Binh Hoa Ky` ddu+o+.c di chuye^?n sang Hawaii va`o tha'ng 4 na(m 1971. (Charles T. Kamps, Jr., History Of The Vietnam War, tr.164).

Ca'c ddo+n vi. Hoa Ky` lui binh kho?i Vie^.t Nam: Lu+~ DDoa`n 3 cu?a Su+ DDoa`n 1 Kho^ng Ky. (tha'ng 12), Lie^n DDoa`n 52 Pha'o Binh (tha'ng 6), Lu+~ DDoa`n 173 Nha?y Du` (tha'ng 8), Lu+~ DDoa`n 1 cu?a Su+ DDoa`n 1 Bo^. Binh (tha'ng 8), Lie^n DDoa`n 108 Pha'o Binh (tha'ng 11), va` Su+ DDoa`n "Americal." (Charles T. Kamps, Jr., History Of The Vietnam War, tr.164).

Va`o khoa?ng giu+~a na(m 1971, lu+.c lu+o+.ng Hoa Ky` ddo'ng ta.i Vie^.t Nam chi? co`n khoa?ng 190,500 ngu+o+`i. (Charles T. Kamps, Jr., History Of The Vietnam War, tr.164).

Cuo^.c ha`nh qua^n Lam So+n 719 ddu+o+.c xem la` chie^'n di.ch qua^n su+. lo+'n nha^'t trong na(m 1971. Trong chie^'n di.ch na`y, Qua^n DDo^.i Vie^.t Nam Co^.ng Ho`a ta^'n ki'ch sang La`o dde^? pha' hu?y he^. tho^'ng ddu+o+`ng mo`n Ho^` Chi' Minh cu?a Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t. Hai mu.c tie^u cha'nh ye^'u go^`m Ca(n Cu+' 604 na(`m ga^`n thi. tra^'n Tchepone, va` Ca(n Cu+' 611 na(`m ga^`n bie^n gio+'i Vie^.t-La`o khoa?ng 20 km ve^` phi'a Ta^y Nam cu?a ca(n cu+' Khe Sanh.

Qua^n So^' DDo^i Be^n Ta.i Chie^'n Tru+o+`ng Ha. La`o:

Co^.ng Sa?n: 42,000
Vie^.t Nam Co^.ng Ho`a: 16,000
Hoa Ky`: xem pha^`n chu' thi'ch be^n du+o+'i

Chu' Thi'ch: Lu+.c lu+o+.ng Hoa Ky` tham chie^'n ddu+o+.c chia la`m hai pha^`n: ca'c ddo+n vi. Bo^. Chie^'n (Bo^. Binh, Thie^'t Gia'p, Pha'o Binh, Ye^?m Tro+. Tie^'p Va^.n...) chi? hoa.t ddo^.ng tre^n la~nh tho^? Vie^.t Nam... Tha`nh pha^`n 2 go^`m lu+.c lu+o+.ng Kho^ng Qua^n va` tru+.c tha(ng cu?a Bo^. Binh co' nhie^.m vu. ye^?m tro+., chuye^?n va^.n va` tie^'p te^' cho ca'c ca'nh qua^n Vie^.t Nam tre^n la~nh tho^? La`o. (Tra^`n DDo^~ Ca^?m, "Ha`nh Qua^n Lam So+n 719: Ke^' Hoa.ch Ha`nh Qua^n". Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 6 1997, tr.20).

Pho'ng DDo^` Ha`nh Qua^n Lam So+n 719

Ca'c ddo+n vi. VNCH tham chie^'n:

• Su+ DDoa`n 1 Bo^. Binh vo+'i ca'c Trung DDoa`n 1 va` 3 Bo^. Binh. Sau na`y, va`o giai ddoa.n dda'nh chie^'m Tchepone, Trung DDoa`n 2 Bo^. Binh (go^`m 5 tie^?u ddoa`n) mo+'i tham chie^'n.
• Lie^n DDoa`n 1 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n vo+'i ca'c Tie^?u DDoa`n 21, 37 va` 39. Sau na`y ddu+o+.c ta(ng cu+o+`ng the^m Tie^?u DDoa`n 77 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n Bie^n Pho`ng va`o giai ddoa.n cuo^'i cu?a cuo^.c ha`nh qua^n.
• Lu+~ DDoa`n 1 Thie^'t Ky. vo+'i ca'c Thie^'t DDoa`n 11 va` 17, sau na`y ddu+o+.c ta(ng cu+o+`ng the^m Thie^'t DDoa`n 7.
• Ca'c Tie^?u DDoa`n 44 va` 64 Pha'o Binh o+? Qua^n DDoa`n 1, trang bi. dda.i ba'c 155 ly.

(Tra^`n DDo^~ Ca^?m, "Nhu+~ng Tra^.n DDa'nh Cu?a Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n Ta.i Ha. La`o," Website Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t).

Chie^'n Di.ch Dewey Canyon 2 ba('t dda^`u vo+'i qua^n ddo^.i Hoa Ky` tro+? la.i ta'i chie^'m ca(n cu+' Khe Sanh (dda~ ddu+o+.c bo? tro^'ng ke^? tu+` sau tra^.n dda'nh lo+'n trong na(m 1968). Qua^n ddo^.i ddo^`ng minh se~ xu+? du.ng ca(n cu+' na`y dde^? ye^?m tro+. cho qua^n ddo^.i VNCH trong Cuo^.c Ha`nh Qua^n Lam So+n 719. (Charles T. Kamps, Jr., History Of The Vietnam War, tr.165).

Lie^n DDoa`n 1 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n vo+'i ba Tie^?u DDoa`n 21, 37 va` 39 ddu+o+.c tru+.c tha(ng va^.n to+'i vu`ng ta^.p trung qua^n ga^`n Phu' Lo^.c, ve^` hu+o+'ng DDo^ng Ba('c Khe Sanh. Lie^n DDoa`n 1 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n se~ thie^'t la^.p mo^.t ca(n cu+' ho?a lu+.c trong pha^`n dda^'t Vie^.t Nam ye^?m tro+. cho ca'c tie^?u ddoa`n co+ hu+~u hoa.t ddo^.ng be^n La`o va` cu~ng dde^? ba?o ve^. ma(.t Ba('c cho ca(n cu+' chi'nh Khe Sanh, no+i dda(.t Bo^. Chi? Huy Ha`nh Qua^n Lam So+n 719. Nga`y 5 tha'ng 2, Tie^?u DDoa`n 37 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n va` Tie^?u DDoa`n 64 Pha'o Binh ddu+o+.c bo^'c to+'i Phu' Lo^.c. (Tra^`n DDo^~ Ca^?m, "Nhu+~ng Tra^.n DDa'nh Cu?a Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n Ta.i Ha. La`o," Website Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t).

Ho^`i 021920H, mo^.t pha?n lu+.c co+ Ha?i Qua^n Hoa Ky` thuo^.c ma^~u ha.m Ranger trong mo^.t phi vu. Skyspot dda~ tha? la^`m 2 tra'i bom CBU va`o vi. tri' du+`ng qua^n cu?a Thie^'t DDoa`n 11 do Trung Ta' Bu`i The^' Dung chi? huy va` hai Tie^?u DDoa`n Du` tu`ng thie^'t ga^`n Lang Vei. To^?ng co^.ng co' 5 ngu+o+`i che^'t, 51 bi. thu+o+ng va` mo^.t thie^'t va^.n xa bi. thie^u hu?y. (Ta`i lie^.u bo^? tu'c cu?a Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 12/99).

Thie^'t Gia'p Vie^.t Nam Co^.ng Ho`a kho+?i dda^`u Cuo^.c Ha`nh Qua^n Lam So+n 719 vo+'i tru.c tie^'n qua^n ngay tre^n Quo^'c Lo^. 9 ddi tha(?ng sang La`o. Ca'c lu+.c lu+o+.ng bo^. chie^'n VNCH ddu+o+.c tru+.c tha(ng My~ kho^ng va^.n sang bie^n gio+'i. Trong phi vu. kho^ng va^.n kho^?ng lo^` na`y, Hoa Ky` cu`ng Vie^.t Nam Co^.ng Ho`a dda~ xu+? du.ng to^?ng co^.ng 659 chie^'c tru+.c tha(ng, go^`m 64 tru+.c tha(ng tha'm sa't nhu+ OH-6A va` OH-58, 177 tru+.c tha(ng vo~ trang nhu+ AH-1 Cobra va` UH-1C, va` 418 loa.i tru+.c tha(ng va^.n ta?i nhu+ UH1H, CH-47, CH-53, va` CH-54. (Charles T. Kamps, Jr., "History Of The Vietnam War", tr.167). Lu'c 1 gio+` chie^`u nga`y ho^m a^'y, Tie^?u DDoa`n 21 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n (BDDQ) do Thie^'u Ta' Nguye^~n Hie^.p chi? huy ddu+o+.c tru+.c tha(ng va^.n to+'i Ba~i DDa'p BDDQ Nam (trong la~nh tho^? La`o). Pho`ng kho^ng 12.7 ly cu?a Vie^.t Co^.ng ba('n le^n du+~ do^.i khie^'n 11 qua^n nha^n Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n bi. thu+o+ng. Tru+.c tha(ng vo~ trang cu?a toa'n Kho^ng Ky. Hoa Ky` ba('n pha' ca'c o^? pho`ng kho^ng dde^? ba?o ve^. cho tru+.c tha(ng tie^'p tu.c ddo^? qua^n. Ca'c cuo^.c oanh ki'ch na`y ga^y mo^.t so^' tie^'ng no^? phu. va` pha' hu?y mo^.t so^' co^ng su+. cu?a ddi.ch. Cuo^.c ddo^? qua^n hoa`n ta^'t va`o lu'c 11 gio+` dde^m. (Tra^`n DDo^~ Ca^?m, "Nhu+~ng Tra^.n DDa'nh Cu?a Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n Ta.i Ha. La`o," Website Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t).

Tho+`i tie^'t xa^'u khie^'n vie^.c chuye^?n qua^n ba(`ng tru+.c tha(ng bi. ddi`nh hoa~n 24 gio+`. Ca'c ddo+n vi. Vie^.t Nam Co^.ng Ho`a dda~ sang La`o trong nga`y ho^m truo+'c dda~ la^.p tu+'c bung ra hoa.t ddo^.ng trong vu`ng tra'ch nhie^.m. Lu'c 3 gio+` 45 chie^`u, Tie^?u DDoa`n 21 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n cha.m ddi.ch khoa?ng 4 ca^y so^' Ta^y Ba('c Ca(n Cu+' Ho?a Lu+.c30. Ke^'t qua? ddi.ch 8 che^'t, 1 AK-47 bi. ti.ch thu. Phi'a Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n co' mo^.t qua^n nha^n hy sinh, mo^.t ngu+o+`i kha'c bi. thu+o+ng. (Tra^`n DDo^~ Ca^?m, "Nhu+~ng Tra^.n DDa'nh Cu?a Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n Ta.i Ha. La`o," Website Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t).

Tho+`i tie^'t thua^.n lo+.i ho+n. Lu'c 1 gio+` chie^`u o+? ga^`n Ba~i DDa'p BDDQ Nam, mo^.t toa'n 4 tru+.c tha(ng Kho^ng Qua^n Vie^.t Nam cho+? ca'c si~ quan tham mu+u Qua^n DDoa`n 1 bi. pho`ng kho^ng 37 ly cu?a Co^.ng Sa?n ba('n. Ke^'t qua? 2 tru+.c tha(ng bi. ro+i, ta^'t ca? mo.i ngu+o+`i tre^n 2 tru+.c tha(ng na`y dde^`u bi. che^'t. Chie^'c thu+' nha^'t cho+? ca'c DDa.i Ta' Tru+o+?ng Pho`ng 3 va` 4 cu?a Qua^n DDoa`n 1. Chie^'c thu+' hai cho+? 4 pho'ng vie^n ngoa.i quo^'c go^`m Larry Burrows cu?a ba'o Life, Henri Huet cu?a ha~ng Associated Press, Ken Potter va` Keishaburo Shimamoto cu?a ba'o Newsweek. Tin cho bie^'t vi. Tru+o+?ng Pho`ng 3 co' mang theo ba?n ddo^` ha`nh qua^n va` dda(.c le^.nh truye^`n tin. Tuy qua^n ta co' lu.c soa't nhu+ng kho^ng ti`m ra cho^~ tru+.c tha(ng bi. ro+i. Do ddo' co' the^? qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n dda~ ba('t ddu+o+.c ca'c ta`i lie^.u quan tro.ng ngay tu+` khi cuo^.c ha`nh qua^n kho+?i dda^`u. (Tra^`n DDo^~ Ca^?m, "Nhu+~ng Tra^.n DDa'nh Cu?a Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n Ta.i Ha. La`o," Website Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t).

Tie^?u DDoa`n 39 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n ddu+o+.c tru+.c tha(ng va^.n to+'i Ba~i DDa'p BDDQ Ba('c dde^? ta(ng cu+o+`ng cho Tie^?u DDoa`n 21 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n dda~ tra^'n ddo'ng Ba~i DDa'p BDDQ Nam tu+` nga`y 8 tha'ng 2. Cu`ng lu'c ddo', Tie^?u DDoa`n 3/1 Bo^. Binh ddu+o+.c tru+.c tha(ng va^.n to+'i Ca(n Cu+' Ho?a Lu+.c Delta thuo^.c vu`ng Nam ddu+o+`ng so^' 9. Trong khi ddo' ta.i vu`ng tra'ch nhie^.m cu?a Lie^n DDoa`n 1 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n, ddi.ch gia ta(ng a'p lu+.c ra^'t na(.ng. Quanh vu`ng Phu' Lo^.c, Tie^?u DDoa`n 37 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n luo^n luo^n cha.m nhu+~ng toa'n tie^`n phong ddi.ch, ngoa`i ra, cu~ng bi. pha'o lie^n mie^n. Tre^n pha^`n dda^'t La`o, ca'c Tie^?u DDoa`n 39 va` 21 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n la` ca'c ddo+n vi. bi. ddi.ch qua^n ta^'n co^ng tha(m do` nhie^`u nha^'t. (Tra^`n DDo^~ Ca^?m, "Nhu+~ng Tra^.n DDa'nh Cu?a Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n Ta.i Ha. La`o," Website Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t).

Ho^`i 11 gio+` tru+a, Tie^?u DDoa`n 37 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n cha.m su'ng vo+'i qua^n Ba('c Vie^.t, ha. 13 Co^.ng qua^n, ba('t so^'ng 1, ti.ch thu 10 AK-47. Phi'a be^n Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n co' 4 qua^n nha^n tu+? thu+o+ng va` 6 bi. thu+o+ng. Hai tru+.c tha(ng AH-1 Cobra dde^'n ye^?m tro+. bi. pho`ng kho^ng Ba('c Vie^.t ba('n ro+i khie^'n 2 phi ha`nh ddoa`n che^'t cu`ng 2 bi. thu+o+ng. Lu'c 6 gio+` 25 chie^`u, Tie^?u DDoa`n 21 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n ba('n ha. 11 bo^. ddo^.i Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t o+? mo^.t ddi.a ddie^?m 4 km ve^` phi'a DDo^ng Ba('c cu?a Ba~i DDa'p BDDQ Nam. DDe^'n 10 gio+` dde^m, Tie^?u DDoa`n 21 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n bi. su'ng co^'i ddi.ch qua^n pha'o ki'ch la`m 6 ngu+o+`i bi. thu+o+ng. (Tra^`n DDo^~ Ca^?m, "Nhu+~ng Tra^.n DDa'nh Cu?a Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n Ta.i Ha. La`o," Website Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t).

Lu'c 1 gio+` 50 sa'ng, Tie^?u DDoa`n 39 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n cha^.n dda'nh mo^.t ddo+n vi. Co^.ng Sa?n, ba('n ha. 43 te^n, ti.ch thu 2 dda.i ba'c pho`ng kho^ng 37 ly, 2 thu+o+.ng lie^n 12.7 ly va` mo^.t so^' lu+o+.ng lo+'n su'ng ca' nha^n va` dda.n du+o+.c. Phi'a Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n co' 1 che^'t va` 10 bi. thu+o+ng. Trong khoa?ng tho+`i gian tu+` 3 dde^'n 5 gio+` sa'ng, Tie^?u DDoa`n 21 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n ddu.ng ddo^. le? te? vo+'i chu+`ng mo^.t trung ddo^.i Co^.ng Sa?n, ba('n ha. 15 te^n. Tu+` 7 gio+` sa'ng dde^'n 10 gio+` sa'ng, Tie^?u DDoa`n 21 la.i cha.m su'ng vo+'i mo^.t ddo+n vi. ddi.ch qua^n (kho^ng ro~ qua^n so^'). Mo^.t qua^n nha^n Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n che^'t cu`ng 7 ngu+o+`i kha'c bi. thu+o+ng. Ve^` phi'a Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t co' 4 bo^. ddo^.i bi. ba('n ha., nhu+ng ho. bi. thie^.t ha.i nhie^`u tre^n phu+o+ng die^.n qua^n du.ng: 300 thu`ng dda.n dda.i ba'c chie^'n xa dda~ bi. lu+.c lu+o+.ng Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n ti.ch thu. (Tra^`n DDo^~ Ca^?m, "Nhu+~ng Tra^.n DDa'nh Cu?a Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n Ta.i Ha. La`o," Website Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t).

Lu'c 1 gio+` 30 chie^`u, ta.i ddi.a ddie^?m phi'a Nam Ba~i DDa'p BDDQ Ba('c, Tie^?u DDoa`n 39 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n bi. pha'o ki'ch la`m 5 qua^n nha^n bi. thu+o+ng. Lu'c 10 gio+` 45 to^'i, cu~ng ta.i vu`ng Nam Ba~i DDa'p BDDQ Ba('c, mo^.t tha`nh pha^`n cu?a Tie^?u DDoa`n 39 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n cha.m ddi.ch, ha. 5 bo^. ddo^.i Co^.ng Sa?n, trong khi ddo' phi'a Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n co' 2 ngu+o+`i bi. thu+o+ng. (Tra^`n DDo^~ Ca^?m, "Nhu+~ng Tra^.n DDa'nh Cu?a Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n Ta.i Ha. La`o," Website Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t).

Lu'c 10 gio+` to^'i, ta.i khi'a Ba('c Ba~i DDa'p BDDQ Nam, mo^.t tha`nh pha^`n cu?a Tie^?u DDoa`n 21 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n cha.m ddi.ch kho^ng ro~ qua^n so^'. Sa'u bo^. ddo^.i Co^.ng Sa?n bo? xa'c ta.i chie^'n tru+o+`ng. Chie^'n lo+.i pha^?m do Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n ti.ch thu go^`m 50 tra'i sa'ng. Ti'nh cho dde^'n nay, ca'c lu+o+.c lu+o+.ng VNCH dda~ chie^'m Ba?n DDo^ng ddu+o+.c ga^`n mo^.t tua^`n le^~ nhu+ng kho^ng tie^'n the^m to+'i ga^`n mu.c tie^u Tchepone. (Tra^`n DDo^~ Ca^?m, "Nhu+~ng Tra^.n DDa'nh Cu?a Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n Ta.i Ha. La`o," Website Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t).

Nga`y 17 tha'ng 2, tin ti`nh ba'o cho bie^'t lu+.c lu+o+.ng ta(ng vie^.n ca^'p su+ ddoa`n cu?a qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t tu+` vu`ng Phi Qua^n Su+. dda~ ba('t dda^`u xa^m nha^.p phi'a Ba('c vu`ng ha`nh qua^n. Ra.ng sa'ng nga`y 18 tha'ng 2, Co^.ng qua^n gia ta(ng a'p lu+.c va`o ca'c ddo+n vi. Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n VNCH. Ca'c Tie^?u DDoa`n 21 va` 39 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n bi. ta^'n co^ng tha(m do` va` pha'o ki'ch kie^n tie^'p. Tuy nhie^n, ddu+o+.c pha'o binh va` phi co+ ye^?m tro+. ra^'t hie^.u qua?, ca'c Tie^?u DDoa`n Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n va^~n giu+~ vu+~ng vi. tri'. Lu'c 8 gio+` 30 sa'ng nga`y na`y, Bo^. Chi? Huy Lie^n DDoa`n 1 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n ta.i Phu' Lo^.c cu~ng bi. pha'o ki'ch 8 dda.n su'ng co^'i 82 ly khie^'n 2 che^'t va` 4 bi. thu+o+ng. Tin ti`nh ba'o do cung tu+` cu?a tu` binh xa'c nha^.n Su+ DDoa`n 308 Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t (go^`m ba Trung DDoa`n 64, 88, va` 102) dda~ tham chie^'n va` hie^.n ta^.p trung qua^n ta.i vu`ng tra'ch nhie^.m cu?a Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n. (Tra^`n DDo^~ Ca^?m, "Nhu+~ng Tra^.n DDa'nh Cu?a Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n Ta.i Ha. La`o," Website Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t).

Trung DDoa`n 102 Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t (thuo^.c Su+ DDoa`n 308) ta^'n co^ng Ba~i DDa'p BDDQ Ba('c. Ta.i no+i na`y, Tie^?u DDoa`n 39 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n du+o+'i quye^`n chi? huy cu?a Thie^'u Ta' Vu~ DDi`nh Khang dda~ cho^'ng tra? du+~ do^.i va` cha^.n ddu+'ng nhie^`u ddo+.t cu+o+`ng ta^.p bie^?n ngu+o+`i cu?a Co^.ng qua^n. Nhie^`u tru+.c tha(ng Hoa Ky` thuo^.c Tie^?u DDoa`n 158 Combat Assault dda~ bay nhie^`u phi vu. hie^?m nghe`o dde^? tie^'p te^' va` ye^?m tro+. cho ca'c binh si~ Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n trong tra^.n dda'nh na`y. Ca'c pha'o ddo^.i thuo^.c Tie^?u DDoa`n 44 Pha'o Binh dda(.t ta.i Phu' Lo^.c ve^` hu+o+'ng DDo^ng va` Ca(n Cu+' Ho?a Lu+.c 30 ve^` hu+o+'ng Nam cu~ng ta'c xa. to^'i dda va`o vi. tri' Co^.ng qua^n. DDe^? tra'nh ho?a lu+.c du+~ do^.i cu?a phi pha'o, ddi.ch qua^n dda~ lie^`u li~nh a'p du.ng to^'i dda chie^'n thua^.t "ba'm sa't" va`o vo`ng ra`o pho`ng thu? cu?a Ca(n Cu+' BDDQ Ba('c. Nhie^`u tru+.c tha(ng Hoa Ky` dde^'n tie^'p te^' bi. tru'ng dda.n ddi.ch qua^n vi` kho^ng nha^.n ro~ ddu+o+.c dda^u la` ba.n dda^u la` thu`. The^m va`o ddo', vi` ca'c vi. tri' cu?a Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n va` Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t qua' ga^`n nhau ne^n phi co+ tha? bom ye^?m tro+. cu~ng ra^'t kho' kha(n.

Tra^.n dda'nh ta.i ca(n cu+' Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n Ba('c ke'o da`i suo^'t nga`y 19 tha'ng 2. Tie^?u DDoa`n 39 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n ba'o ca'o ddi.ch ta^'n co^ng ma.nh nha^'t va`o su+o+`n phi'a DDo^ng ba(`ng su'ng kho^ng gia^.t tru+.c xa. va` su'ng co^'i 82 ly dda(.t ra^'t ga^`n ca(n cu+' ne^n ba('n ra^'t chi'nh xa'c. Nhu+ng sau nhie^`u ddo+.t ta^'n co^ng tie^`n pha'o ha^.u xung cu?a ddi.ch, Tie^?u DDoa`n 39 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n va^~n giu+~ vu+~ng vi. tri'. Cung tu+` cu?a tu` binh xa'c nha^.n ddo+n vi. Co^.ng qua^n ta^'n co^ng la` Trung DDoa`n 102, ddu+o+.c trang bi. toa`n vu~ khi' va` qua^n trang mo+'i. Trung DDoa`n na`y co' nhie^.m vu. thanh toa'n ca(n cu+' Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n Ba('c ba(`ng mo.i gia' dde^? do.n ddu+o+`ng cho lu+.c lu+o+.ng ta(ng vie^.n cu?a chu'ng co' the^? tie^'n sa^u ho+n va`o vu`ng ha`nh qua^n. Trong tra^.n na`y, qua^n Ba('c Vie^.t tuy bi. thie^.t ha.i na(.ng nhu+ng va^~n ba'm sa't tra^.n ddi.a va` lie^n tie^'p mo+? nhie^`u ddo+.t ta^'n co^ng vi` chu'ng ddu+o+.c bo^? xung qua^n so^' va` ta(ng vie^.n ra^'t nhanh cho'ng. Nhu+ng dde^'n chie^`u Co^.ng qua^n dda`nh pha?i ru't lui dde^? chi?nh ddo^'n ha`ng ngu~ vi` bi. che^'t qua' nhie^`u. Xa'c va` vu~ khi' ddu? loa.i cu?a Co^.ng qua^n bo? la.i ngo^?n ngang tre^n ca'c su+o+`n ddo^`i.

Tra^.n dda'nh nga`y 19 tha'ng 2 la` mo^.t chie^'n tha('ng lo+'n cu?a Tie^?u DDoa`n 39 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n. Tuy nhie^n tie^?u ddoa`n na`y cu~ng bi. ye^'u su+'c pha^`n na`o vi` nhie^`u binh si~ bi. che^'t, co`n so^' bi. thu+o+ng kho^ng ddu+o+.c di ta?n dda~ nhie^`u nga`y, la.i kho^ng ddu+o+.c ta(ng vie^.n hay gia?i to?a a'p lu+.c. Nguy hie^?m ho+n nu+~a, dda.n du+o+.c cu?a ho. cu~ng ga^`n ca.n vi` dda~ kho^ng ddu+o+.c tie^'p te^'.

DDe^m ho^m ddo', Co^.ng qua^n sau khi bo^? xung lu+.c lu+o+.ng la.i tie^'p tu.c ta^'n co^ng. Cu~ng va`o lu'c ddo', ca'c ca(n cu+' Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n Nam va` Phu' Lo^.c bi. pha'o ki'ch va` dda'nh ca^`m cha^n ne^n kho^ng the^? ta(ng vie^.n hay ye^?m tro+. hu+~u hie^.u cho tie^?u ddoa`n ba.n ddang bi. a'p lu+.c na(.ng ne^`. Tre^n bo^'n su+o+`n ddo^`i bao quanh ca(n cu+' Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n Ba('c, ddi.ch qua^n ddo^`ng loa.t ta^'n co^ng bie^?n ngu+o+`i va`o ca'c tuye^'n pho`ng thu? cu?a Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n. Ta.i ha^`m chi? huy, Thie^'u Ta' Vu~ DDi`nh Khang, vi. Tie^?u DDoa`n Tru+o+?ng can tru+o+`ng va^~n bi`nh ti~nh ddie^`u ddo^.ng ddo+n vi. pho`ng thu? va` pha?n co^ng. Theo lo+`i chi? da^~n cu?a Thie^'u Ta' Khang, mo^.t nha^n vie^n y ta' Hoa Ky` (bi. ke.t la.i o+? Ba~i DDa'p BDDQ Ba('c vi` kho^ng co' tru+.c tha(ng ddu+a anh ta ve^` ha^.u cu+') dda~ du`ng ma'y truye^`n tin dde^? lie^n la.c vo+'i ca'c phi co+ kho^ng ye^?m Hoa Ky` tre^n tro+`i. Khi nhu+~ng to.a ddo^. cu?a mu.c tie^u ddu+o+.c chi'nh xa'c ghi nha^.n, ca'c cuo^.c oanh ta.c tu+` tre^n kho^ng trung dde^`u ddu+o+.c thi ha`nh ra^'t chi'nh xa'c.

Trong khi ddo', tra^.n dda'nh o+? ha`ng ra`o pho`ng thu? cu?a Ca(n Cu+' BDDQ Ba('c dda~ tro+? ne^n kho^'c lie^.t. Mo^.t so^' bo^. ddo^.i Co^.ng Sa?n vu+`a may ma('n xa^m nha^.p va`o ddu+o+.c be^n trong pho`ng tuye^'n dda~ ga(.p su+'c kha'ng cu+. ghe^ go+'m cu?a lu+.c lu+o+.ng pho`ng thu?. Trong ca'c giao tho^ng ha`o, ca'c binh si~ Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n dda~ pha?i xu+? du.ng dde^'n lu+o+~i le^ va` lu+.u dda.n dde^? dda'nh ba^.t lu+.c lu+o+.ng Co^.ng qua^n ra kho?i ca(n cu+'. (Tra^`n DDo^~ Ca^?m, "Nhu+~ng Tra^.n DDa'nh Cu?a Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n Ta.i Ha. La`o," Website Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t).

Tu+` 7:30 sa'ng cho dde^'n 2:30 chie^`u co' 32 phi vu. oanh ta.c ddu+o+.c gu+?i dde^'n ma(.t tra^.n o+? Ca(n Cu+' BDDQ Ba('c va` Ca(n Cu+' BDDQ Nam. Ma(.c da^`u bi. thie^.t ha.i na(.ng vi` ho?a lu+.c kho^ng ye^?m, Co^.ng qua^n va^~n tie^'p tu.c bao va^y. Ha`ng tra(m bo^. ddo^.i Ba('c Vie^.t bi. tan xa'c vi` bom dda.n tu+` ca'c oanh ta.c co+ cu?a Hoa Ky`. Tuy nhie^n, lu+.c lu+o+.ng Co^.ng Sa?n trong vu`ng ddu+o+.c ye^?m tro+. bo+?i mo^.t ru+`ng pho`ng kho^ng da^`y dda(.c. Ca'c tru+.c tha(ng My~ kho^ng the^? dda'p xuo^'ng dde^? ta?i thu+o+ng cho ba^'t cu+' mo^.t ai.

DDe^'n tru+a, ti`nh hi`nh nguy ca^.p. Phi co+ quan sa't cho bie^'t tu+` khoa?ng 400 dde^'n 500 qua^n Ba('c Vie^.t ddang va^y ki'n vi. tri' cu?a Tie^?u DDoa`n 39 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n. Trong ti`nh the^' nguy ca^.p na`y, kho^ng ddu+o+.c tie^'p te^', kho^ng ddu+o+.c ta(ng vie^.n, kho^ng ddu+o+.c ta?i thu+o+ng, ca'c binh si~ ha^`u he^'t dda~ he^'t dda.n, Thie^'u Ta' Vu~ DDi`nh Khang dda`nh ra le^.nh ro+`i bo? ca(n cu+'.

Tru+o+'c khi ru't lui, Thie^'u Ta' Khang co' lie^n la.c va` tho^ng ba'o cho ca'c phi co+ Hoa Ky` bie^'t Ca(n Cu+' Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n Ba('c kho^ng co`n co^' thu? ddu+o+.c nu+~a. Trong khi ddo', ca'c binh si~ Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n va^~n kho^ng nao nu'ng. Ho. bi`nh ti~nh ddi thu lu+o+.m vu~ khi' va` dda.n du+o+.c cu?a ddi.ch qua^n dde^? tie^'p tu.c tu+. ve^.. Chie^`u nga`y 20 tha'ng 2, Tie^?u DDoa`n 39 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n mo+? ddu+o+`ng ma'u xuye^n qua vo`ng va^y cu?a Co^.ng qua^n. Bo^. Tu+ Le^.nh Ha`nh Qua^n ta.i Khe Sanh va` Lie^n DDoa`n 1 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n ta.i Phu' Lo^.c ma^'t lie^n la.c vo^ tuye^'n vo+'i Tie^?u DDoa`n 39 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n lu'c 5 gio+` 10 chie^`u nga`y 20 tha'ng 2. Ma~i to+'i khuya mo+'i nha^.n ddu+o+.c tin tha`nh pha^`n co`n la.i cu?a Tie^?u DDoa`n 39 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n, go^`m ga^`n 200 qua^n nha^n trong so^' ddo' co' 107 ngu+o+`i co`n kha? na(ng chie^'n dda^'u va` 92 ngu+o+`i bi. thu+o+ng, dda~ di chuye^?n dde^'n ddu+o+.c ca(n cu+' Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n Nam cu`ng vo+'i vu~ khi'. Theo ca'c ta`i lie^.u ba'o ca'o cu?a Hoa Ky`, trong to^?ng so^' tre^n 400 qua^n nha^n, thie^.t ha.i cu?a Tie^?u DDoa`n 39 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n ddu+o+.c ghi nha^.n la` 178 ngu+o+`i che^'t hay ma^'t ti'ch, 148 bi. thu+o+ng. Thie^.t ha.i ve^` phi'a Co^.ng qua^n go^`m 639 che^'t va` ga^`n 500 vu~ khi' bi. pha' hu?y hay ti.ch tha^u. (Tra^`n DDo^~ Ca^?m, "Nhu+~ng Tra^.n DDa'nh Cu?a Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n Ta.i Ha. La`o," Website Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t).

Mo^.t ru+`ng pha'o ki'ch cu?a Co^.ng qua^n tu+` tre^n tro+`i cao ddo^? a^.p xuo^'ng Ca(n Cu+' BDDQ Nam. Trong suo^'t nga`y na`y, mu+'c ddo^. pha'o ki'ch gia ta(ng vo^ cu`ng du+~ do^.i vo+'i ddu? loa.i dda.n tu+` ho?a tie^?n 122 ly cho dde^'n dda.i ba'c ta^`m xa 130 ly. O+? be^n trong ca(n cu+', Tie^?u DDoa`n 21 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n giu+~ vu+~ng chie^'n tuye^'n. Ha`ng tra(m tay su'ng Mu~ Na^u ke^'t tha`nh mo^.t bu+'c tu+o+`ng sa('t va` dda^?y lui ca'c ddo+.t cu+o+`ng ta^.p bie^?n ngu+o+`i kinh ho^`n cu?a Co^.ng qua^n. (Tra^`n DDo^~ Ca^?m, "Nhu+~ng Tra^.n DDa'nh Cu?a Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n Ta.i Ha. La`o," Website Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t).

Xuye^n qua ma`n lu+o+'i pho`ng kho^ng da^`y dda(.t, 13 chie^'c tru+.c tha(ng lie^`u li~nh dda'p xuo^'ng Ca(n Cu+' BDDQ Nam dde^? di ta?n thu+o+ng binh. Sau khi mo^.t so^' thu+o+ng binh ddu+o+.c bo^'c ddi, o+? be^n trong ca(n cu+' chi? co`n la.i khoa?ng 400 ngu+o+`i -- ke^? ca? mo^.t so^' binh si~ cu?a Tie^?u DDoa`n 39 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n vu+`a di ta?n dde^'n. Phi'a be^n ngoa`i, qua^n Ba('c Vie^.t ta^.p trung lu+.c lu+o+.ng tie^'p tu.c bao va^y cha(.t che~. (Tra^`n DDo^~ Ca^?m, "Nhu+~ng Tra^.n DDa'nh Cu?a Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n Ta.i Ha. La`o," Website Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t).

Sau nhie^`u tra^.n dda'nh da(`ng giai, sang nga`y 24 tha'ng 2, Bo^. Tu+ Le^.nh Ha`nh Qua^n ta.i Khe Sanh lu+o+.ng ddi.nh la.i ti`nh hi`nh va` nha^.n tha^'y ra(`ng no^~ lu+.c ba?o ve^. ca(n cu+' Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n Nam tro+? ne^n qua' na(.ng, ddo`i ho?i ha^`u he^'t ca'c phu+o+ng tie^.n ye^?m tro+. phi pha'o cu?a toa`n chie^'n tru+o+`ng khie^'n ca'c ma(.t tra^.n quan tro.ng kha'c kho^ng ddu+o+.c ye^?m tro+. dda^`y ddu? nhu+ y' muo^'n. Do ddo', Bo^. Tu+ Le^.nh Ha`nh Qua^n quye^'t ddi.nh di ta?n Tie^?u DDoa`n 21 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n ba(`ng tru+.c tha(ng ve^` Ca(n Cu+' Ho?a Lu+.c 30. Nga`y 25 tha'ng 2, cuo^.c di ta?n chie^'n thua^.t ba('t dda^`u. Ca'c binh si~ o+? Ca(n Cu+' BDDQ Nam ddu+o+.c tru+.c tha(ng di chuye^?n dde^'n Ca(n Cu+' Ho?a Lu+.c 30. (Tra^`n DDo^~ Ca^?m, "Nhu+~ng Tra^.n DDa'nh Cu?a Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n Ta.i Ha. La`o," Website Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t).

Ca(n Cu+' Ho?a Lu+.c 31 bi. Co^.ng qua^n tra`n nga^.p. (Tra^`n DDo^~ Ca^?m, "Ha`nh Qua^n Lam So+n 719: Mu.c Tie^u Tchepone". Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 6 1997, tr.28). Ca(n cu+' na`y na(`m tre^n mo^.t ngo.n ddo^`i nho? cao 456 thu+o+'c, ca'ch Ca(n Cu+' A Lu+o+'i (Ba?n DDo^ng) khoa?ng 8 km ve^` phi'a Ba('c, va` dda^y cu~ng la` no+i ddo'ng qua^n cu?a Bo^. Chi? Huy Lu+~ DDoa`n 3 Nha?y Du` do DDa.i Ta' Nguye^~n Va(n Tho. chi? huy. Trong nga`y 25 tha'ng 2, qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n xung phong 3 la^`n va` dda~ bi. thie^.t ha.i vo^ cu`ng ghe^ go+'m. Hai ddo+.t ta^'n co^ng dda^`u tie^n cu?a ho. bi. be? ga~y. Qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n pha?i xung phong dde^'n la^`n thu+' ba vo+'i su+. ye^?m tro+. cu?a mo^.t co+n ba~o lu+?a pha'o binh, mo^.t ru+`ng mu+a co^'i ddu? loa.i, co^.ng the^m tra^.n dda'nh bie^?n ngu+o+`i a^.p va`o tu+` ba phi'a co' ca? chie^'n xa ha.ng na(.ng T-54 ddi ke`m, thi` lu'c ddo' mo+'i bu+'ng no^?i Ca(n Cu+' Ho?a Lu+.c 31 ta.i Ha. La`o.

Ta`i lie^.u ve^` tra^.n dda'nh o+? Ca(n Cu+' Ho?a Lu+.c 31 ddu+o+.c pho^? bie^'n trong Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t so^' 45 xua^'t ba?n va`o tha'ng 11 na(m 1993. Xin ddu+o+.c tri'ch da^~n mo^.t ddoa.n nga('n du+o+'i dda^y:

"Lu'c na`y ha`ng ra`o pho`ng thu? cu?a ca(n cu+' dda~ bi. chie^'n xa ddi.ch xe' na't ta.i nhie^`u no+i, nhu+ng nhu+~ng to^? chie^'n dda^'u cu?a qua^n Du` va^~n anh du~ng chie^'n dda^'u va` ha. ra^'t nhie^`u ddi.ch qua^n... Cha(?ng bao la^u, nhu+~ng chie^'n xa co`n la.i cu?a ddi.ch qua^n leo ddu+o+.c le^n ddi?nh ddo^`i vo+'i bo^. binh ddi.ch tra`n theo xo^ng va`o nhu+~ng ha^`m pho`ng thu?. Sau ddo' la` tra^.n tu+? chie^'n cuo^'i cu`ng cu?a Tie^?u DDoa`n 3 Du` vo+'i ddi.ch qua^n ngay trong giao tho^ng ha`o. Tu+`ng tra'i lu+.u dda.n no^? la`m banh xa'c Co^.ng qua^n cu~ng nhu+ ca'c chie^'n binh Du` tu+? thu?." (Tra^`n DDo^~ Ca^?m, "Chie^'n Di.ch Ha. La`o: Tra^.n DDa'nh Cu?a Tie^?u DDoa`n 3 Du` Ta.i DDo^`i Ma 31". Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 6 1997, tr.43).

"...Cha(?ng bao la^u, kho^ng bi. nga(n ca?n dda~ tra`n to+'i sa't ha^`m chi? huy cu?a DDa.i Ta' Nguye^~n Va(n Tho. va` ca'c co^ng su+. pho`ng thu? ke^' ca^.n. DDa.i U'y PHu+o+ng, Tie^?u DDoa`n Pho' Tie^?u DDoa`n 3 Pha'o Binh Du`, gu+?i ddi mo^.t ddie^.n va(n cho't tre^n he^. tho^'ng truye^`n tin dde^? ca?m o+n va` vi~nh bie^.t ca'c ddo+n vi. ba.n dda~ he^'t lo`ng ye^?m tro+.! Mo^.t so^' ddi.ch qua^n lao xuo^'ng ha^`m chi? huy bi. che^'t tan xa'c cu`ng vo+'i Thie^'u Ta' Hie^`n, Tham Mu+u Tru+o+?ng Lu+~ DDoa`n 3 Du`, vi` tra'i lu+.u dda.n cuo^'i cu`ng cu?a o^ng. DDa^`u ha^`m phi'a be^n kia, ngu+o+`i anh hu`ng Mu~ DDo? tre^n DDo^`i Ma 31, DDa.i U'y Nguye^~n Va(n DDu+o+ng (Pha'o DDo^.i Tru+o+?ng Pha'o DDo^.i B3 Du`) sau khi xu+? du.ng dde^'n kha^?u dda.i ba'c 105 cuo^'i cu`ng dde^? ba('n va`o xe ta(ng ddi.ch, dda~ du`ng su'ng nga('n dde^? ba('n va`o ke? thu`, chu+`a vie^n dda.n cuo^'i cu`ng cho chi'nh mi`nh!" (Tra^`n DDo^~ Ca^?m, "Chie^'n Di.ch Ha. La`o: Tra^.n DDa'nh Cu?a Tie^?u DDoa`n 3 Du` Ta.i DDo^`i Ma 31". Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 6 1997, tr.43).

Tuy qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n chie^'m ddu+o+.c Ca(n Cu+' Ho?a Lu+.c 31, nhu+ng ho. dda~ pha?i ddo^?i mo^.t gia' qua' dda('t trong tra^.n na`y. Theo ta`i lie^.u pho^? bie^'n trong Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t (so^' 45, tha'ng 11 na(m 1993), to^?ng ke^'t thie^.t ha.i ddo^i be^n trong tra^.n dda'nh ta.i Ca(n Cu+' Ho?a Lu+.c 31 ddu+o+.c ghi nha^.n nhu+ sau: Vie^.t Nam Co^.ng Ho`a: 155 tu+? thu+o+ng, 6 dda.i ba'c 105 ly bi. pha' hu?y. Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t: ha`ng nga`n tu+? thu+o+ng cu`ng 11 chie^'n xa T-54 va` PT-76 bi. ba('n ha. ta.i cho^~ (Tra^`n DDo^~ Ca^?m, "Chie^'n Di.ch Ha. La`o: Tra^.n DDa'nh Cu?a Tie^?u DDoa`n 3 Du` Ta.i DDo^`i Ma 31". Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 6 1997, tr.43).

Trung Tu+o+'ng Du+ Quo^'c DDo^'ng ra le^.nh cho mo^.t pha^n ddoa`n Thie^'t Gia'p va` 2 DDa.i DDo^.i thuo^.c Tie^?u DDoa`n 8 Du` ddang hoa.t ddo^.ng ta.i vu`ng ba('c A Lu+o+'i la^.p tu+'c dde^'n ta(ng vie^.n cho Ca(n Cu+' Ho?a Lu+.c 31 ca'ch chu+`ng 6 ca^y so^' ve^` hu+o+'ng Ba('c ddang bi. ddi.ch qua^n va^y ha~m. Lu+.c lu+o+.ng tie^'p cu+'u na`y go^`m ca'c chie^'n xa va` thie^'t va^.n xa thuo^.c Thie^'t DDoa`n 11 va` 17 Ky. Binh. Hai dda.i ddo^.i Du` do Thie^'u Ta' Phu', Tie^?u DDoa`n Pho' Tie^?u DDoa`n 8 Du` chi? huy. Nhu+ng ga(.p tro+? nga.i vi` ddi.a the^' xa la., ddu+o+`ng ru+`ng nu'i di chuye^?n kho' kha(n la.i bi. ddi.ch qua^n phu.c ki'ch lie^n mie^n ne^n ca'nh qua^n na`y dda~ kho^ng ki.p gia?i va^y Ca(n Cu+' Ho?a Lu+.c 31. Khi ddi.ch qua^n tra`n nga^.p Ca(n Cu+' Ho?a Lu+.c 31 va`o ho^`i 251800H, toa'n Thie^'t Gia'p chi? co`n ca'ch chu+`ng hai ca^y so^'. (Ta`i lie^.u bo^? tu'c cu?a Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 12/99).

Sau khi Ca(n Cu+' Ho?a Lu+.c 31 bi. ro+i va`o tay ddi.ch qua^n, Tu+o+'ng DDo^'ng ra le^.nh cho toa'n qua^n cu+'u vie^.n ho+.p cu`ng tha`nh pha^`n co`n la.i cu?a Tie^?u DDoa`n 3 Du` pha?n co^ng chie^'m la.i vi. tri' na`y. Toa'n Thie^'t Gia'p la^`n dda^`u tie^n ddu.ng ddo^. du+~ do^.i vo+'i ca'c chie^'n xa ddi.ch ta.i vu`ng ga^`n Ca(n Cu+' Ho?a Lu+.c 31. Trong tra^.n xa chie^'n na`y, Thie^'t DDoa`n 17 Ky. Binh ba'o ca'o ba('n ha. 22 chie^'n xa ddi.ch, go^`m 6 chie^'c T-54 va` 16 chie^'c PT-76 ma` kho^ng bi. thie^.t ha.i mo^.t chie^'n xa na`o vi` dda.n thie^'t gia'p ddi.ch. Tuy nhie^n, co' 5 chie^'n xa M-41 bi. hu+ ha.i vi` dda.n B-40 va` B-41 cu?a bo^. binh ddi.ch. (Ta`i lie^.u bo^? tu'c cu?a Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 12/99).

DDi.ch qua^n du`ng bo^. binh va` chie^'n xa toan tra`n nga^.p lu+.c lu+o+.ng Thie^'t Gia'p, nhu+ng vo+'i su+. ye^?m tro+. hu+~u hie^.u cu?a ca'c tru+.c tha(ng vo~ trang, toa'n Thie^'t Gia'p va` qua^n Du` dda^?y lui ddi.ch qua^n, nhie^`u chie^'n xa ddi.ch cu~ng bi. ba('n ha.. (Ta`i lie^.u bo^? tu'c cu?a Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 12/99).

Trung Tu+o+'ng Hoa`ng Xua^n La~m bay va`o Sa`i Go`n dde^? tri`nh ba^`y tru+o+'c To^?ng Tho^'ng Nguye^~n Va(n Thie^.u va` DDa.i Tu+o+'ng To^?ng Tham Mu+u Tru+o+?ng Cao Va(n Vie^n ve^` ke^' hoa.ch dda'nh chie^'m Tchepone nhu+ sau: Hai Lu+~ DDoa`n 258 va` 147 Thu?y Qua^n Lu.c Chie^'n se~ xua^'t tra^.n thay the^' qua^n Su+ DDoa`n 1 Bo^. Binh hie^.n ddang dda?m tra'ch ma(.t tra^.n Nam ddu+o+`ng so^' 9 ta.i vu`ng nu'i Co^ Ro^'c. Lu+~ DDoa`n 369 Thu?y Qua^n Lu.c Chie^'n co`n la.i ddu+o+.c kho^ng va^.n to+'i Khe Sanh lie^n tie^'p trong ba nga`y 1, 2 va` 3 tha'ng 3 la` tha`nh pha^`n tru+` bi.. Su+ DDoa`n 1 Bo^. Binh go^`m co' ca'c Trung DDoa`n 1 va` 3 se~ tie^'n qua^n ba(`ng tru+.c tha(ng va^.n ve^` hu+o+'ng Ta^y Ba('c. Ca'c ddo+n vi. na`y co' nhie^.m vu. thie^'t la^.p mo^.t chuo^~i ca(n cu+' ho?a lu+.c mo+'i tre^n nhu+~ng cao ddie^?m phi'a Nam so^ng Sepone, sa^u ho+n trong pha^`n dda^'t La`o dde^? ye^?m tro+. cho ca'nh qua^n thuo^.c Trung DDoa`n 2 Bo^. Binh dda'nh tha(?ng va`o Tchepone. Su+ DDoa`n Du` va` Lu+~ DDoa`n 1 Thie^'t Ky. va^~n chi.u tra'ch nhie^.m giu+~ an ninh ma(.t ba('c ddu+o+`ng so^' 9. (Ta`i lie^.u bo^? tu'c cu?a Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 12/99).

DDi.ch qua^n sau khi ddu+o+.c ta(ng vie^.n, ta^'n co^ng toa'n Thie^'t Gia'p la^`n thu+' hai nhu+ng cu~ng bi. tha?m ba.i. Tuy chu+a bi. tra`n nga^.p, nhu+ng vi` so^' thu+o+ng vong kha' cao la.i kho^ng ddu+o+.c ta?n thu+o+ng va` tie^'p va^.n kho' kha(n ne^n kha? na(ng ta'c chie^'n cu?a toa'n qua^n ta(ng vie^.n bi. gia?m su't ra^'t nhie^`u. (Ta`i lie^.u bo^? tu'c cu?a Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 12/99).

Tie^?u DDoa`n 2 Nha?y Du` VNCH pha?i di ta?n chie^'n thua^.t kho?i Ca(n Cu+' Ho?a Lu+.c 30. Sau ba nga`y di chuye^?n trong ru+`ng gia`, tie^?u ddoa`n ddu+o+.c tru+.c tha(ng bo^'c ve^` Khe Sanh. (Tra^`n DDo^~ Ca^?m, "Ha`nh Qua^n Lam So+n 719: Mu.c Tie^u Tchepone". Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 6 1997, tr.28).

Tie^?u DDoa`n 7 Thu?y Qua^n Lu.c Chie^'n thuo^.c Lu+~ DDoa`n 147 ddu+o+.c tru+.c tha(ng va^.n to+'i Ca(n Cu+' Ho?a Lu+.c Delta. Tie^?u DDoa`n 2/3 Bo^. Binh dda~ bi. thie^.t ha.i kha' na(.ng trong ca'c tra^.n dda'nh tru+o+'c dda^y ta.i Ca(n Cu+' Ho?a Lu+.c Hotel 2 ddu+o+.c ddu+a ve^` ha^.u cu+'. Tha`nh pha^`n co`n la.i cu?a Trung DDoa`n 3 Bo^. Binh di chuye^?n dde^'n vu`ng Ca(n Cu+' Ho?a Lu+.c Delta 1 va` Ba~i DDa'p Brown. Trong 3 nga`y lie^n tie^'p, Bo^. Chi? Huy Lu+~ DDoa`n 147 cu`ng hai Tie^?u DDoa`n 2 va` 4 co`n la.i ddu+o+.c tru+.c tha(ng va^.n to+'i Ca(n Cu+' Ho?a Lu+.c Delta. Toa`n bo^. Lu+~ DDoa`n 258 ddu+o+.c tru+.c tha(ng va^.n to+'i Ca(n Cu+' Ho?a Lu+.c Hotel. (Ta`i lie^.u bo^? tu'c cu?a Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 12/99).

Qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n mo+? cuo^.c ta^'n co^ng la^`n thu+' ba, la^`n na`y co' ca? mo^.t trung ddoa`n chie^'n xa ye^?m tro+.. Ca'c chie^'n si~ VNCH tuy bi. ye^'u the^' vi` ddi.ch qua^n qua' ddo^ng nhu+ng va^~n anh du~ng chie^'n dda^'u. Trong lu'c ti`nh hi`nh nguy nga^.p thi` ca'c co^' va^'n Thie^'t Gia'p ta.i Khe Sanh lie^n la.c ddu+o+.c vo+'i ca'c Pha'o DDa`i bay B-52 dde^? ye^u ca^`u ye^?m tro+.. Trong ti`nh tra.ng kha^?n ca^'p, ca'c phi vu. "Arc Light" na`y dda~ ddu+o+.c du`ng nhu+ phi co+ chie^'n lu+o+.c ye^?m tro+. ca^.n pho`ng, tha? bom ra^'t sa't pho`ng tuye^'n cu?a qua^n ba.n. Ke^'t qua? ddi.ch qua^n pha?i bo? cha.y khi nhie^`u chie^'n xa cu~ng nhu+ bo^. ddo^.i bi. loa.i ra ngoa`i vo`ng chie^'n. Sau ddo', toa'n Thie^'t Gia'p pha' ddu+o+.c vo`ng va^y tro+? ve^` A Lu+o+'i.

(To^?ng ke^'t, trong khi thi ha`nh nhie^.m vu. tie^'p u+'ng Ca(n Cu+' Ho?a Lu+.c 31 tu+` nga`y 25 tha'ng 2 cho to+'i 3/3, toa'n Thie^'t Gia'p va` qua^n Du` tu`ng thie^'t bi. thie^.t ha.i 27 tu+? thu+o+ng, 200 bi. thu+o+ng, khoa?ng 30 xe thie^'t gia'p ddu? loa.i bi. pha' hu?y. Phi'a ddi.ch co' 6 chie^'n xa T-54, 17 PT-76, 2 xe va^.n ta?i Molotova bi. pha' hu?y, tre^n 1,000 te^n ddi.ch bi. che^'t, 2 bi. ba('t so^'ng va` tre^n 300 vu~ khi' ddu? loa.i bi. ti.ch tha^u.).

(Ta`i lie^.u bo^? tu'c cu?a Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 12/99).

Ke^' hoa.ch dda'nh chie^'m Tchepone ddu+o+.c thi ha`nh. Tie^?u DDoa`n 3 (thuo^.c Trung DDoa`n 1 cu?a Su+ DDoa`n 1 Bo^. Binh) ddu+o+.c tru+.c tha(ng bo^'c dde^'n ba~i dda'p LoLo tre^n mo^.t ngo.n ddo^`i vo+'i cao ddo^. 723 thu+o+'c ca'ch thi. tra^'n Tchepone 13 km ve^` hu+o+'ng DDo^ng Nam. Ho?a lu+.c pho`ng kho^ng cu?a Co^.ng qua^n qua' ma.nh me~ ne^n cuo^.c ddo^? qua^n ta.m tho+`i bi. tri` hoa~n. Hai tru+.c tha(ng vo~ trang Hoa Ky` bi. ba('n ro+i, mo^.t so^' tru+.c tha(ng va^.n ta?i kha'c bi. thie^.t ha.i dda'ng ke^?. Ta`i lie^.u "Ha`nh Qua^n Lam So+n 719: Mu.c Tie^u Tchepone" do Tra^`n DDo^? Ca^?m bie^n soa.n co' ghi la.i cuo^.c ddo^? qua^n ha~i hu`ng na`y nhu+ sau:

...khi chie^'c tru+.c tha(ng dda^`u tie^n chua^?n bi. dda'p, ddi.ch qua^n ddo^`ng loa.t khai ho?a. Su'ng pho`ng kho^ng ddu? loa.i ddan mo^.t ma`ng lu+o+'i lu+?a da^`y dda(.c khu?ng khie^'p bao phu? chie^'c tru+p30c tha(ng trong ba~i dda'p va` chu.p go.n nhu+~ng tru+.c tha(ng ddang bay lu+o+.n tre^n tro+`i... Mo^.t ca(.p tru+.c tha(ng vo~ trang ddu+o+.c go.i to+'i dde^? da^.p ta't nhu+~ng o^? pho`ng kho^ng, nhu+ng ddi.ch va^~n ba('n le^n du+~ do^.i khie^'n ca? hai chie^'c dde^`u bi. ba('n ro+i. Ca'c tru+.c tha(ng cho+? qua^n kha'c kho^ng the^? na`o dda'p xuo^'ng.

Trong ba`i vie^'t, ta'c gia? cu~ng co' ghi la.i chie^'n ti'ch cu?a mo^.t toa'n ca?m tu+? qua^n ta.i ba~i dda'p tru+.c tha(ng LoLo:

Cuo^.c ddo^? qua^n pha?i tri` hoa~n dde^'n ba la^`n dde^? phi co+ oanh ki'ch the^m nha(`m tie^u die^.t nhu+~ng ho.ng su'ng ca xa. ba('n ra^'t chi'nh xa'c cu?a Co^.ng qua^n. DDa(.c bie^.t co' mo^.t o^? pho`ng kho^ng 37 ly ddo^i ddu+o+.c Co^.ng qua^n da^'u ki'n trong mo^.t hang nu'i cao, chi? ca'ch LoLo chu+`ng va`i tra(m thu+o+'c dda~ ta'c xa. ra^'t chi'nh xa'c ga^y nhie^`u thie^.t ha.i cho toa'n tru+.c tha(ng. Nhie^`u phi tua^`n pha?n lu+.c cu~ng nhu+ tru+.c tha(ng vo~ trang dda~ nha`o xuo^'ng tha? bom va` ba('n pha' dde^? da^.p ta('t ho.ng su'ng na`y nhu+ng vo^ hie^.u.

DDe^'n tru+a, DDa.i Ta' Nguye^~n Va(n DDie^`m tre^n tru+.c tha(ng chi? huy no'ng ruo^.t ra le^.nh cho Thie^'u Ta' Toa`n pha?i trie^.t ha. o^? pho`ng kho^ng na`y ba(`ng mo.i gia' dde^? tru+.c tha(ng kho^?ng lo^` ca^u dda.i ba'c 105 to+'i. Mo^.t o^? ca?m tu+? do Ha. Si~ 1 Nguye^~n Va(n DDo+.i chi? huy, go^`m bo^'n ngu+o+`i, thuo^.c DDa.i DDo^.i 1, ti`nh nguye^.n thi ha`nh nhie^.m vu. kho' kha(n na`y. Toa'n ca?m tu+? ddu+o+.c tro.ng pha'o tu+` A Lu+o+'i va` Ca(n Cu+' Ho?a Lu+.c Brown ba('n che cho+?, pha?i bo` ga^`n to+'i no+i ro^`i du`ng lu+.u dda.n va` M-72 ba('n tha(?ng mo+'i thanh toa'n ddu+o+.c o^? su'ng nguy hie^?m na`y...

Cuo^'i cu`ng, va`o khoa?ng 18:30H cu`ng nga`y, Tie^?u DDoa`n 3 (thuo^.c Trung DDoa`n 1, Su+ DDoa`n 1 Bo^. Binh) vo+'i tre^n 500 binh si~ cu~ng vu+o+.t qua ddu+o+.c ma`ng lu+o+'i cu?a tu+? tha^`n, ddo^? xuo^'ng ba~i dda'p va` la^.p tu+'c to^? chu+'c vo`ng ddai an ninh ca(n cu+'. (Tra^`n DDo^~ Ca^?m, "Ha`nh Qua^n Lam So+n 719: Mu.c Tie^u Tchepone". Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 6 1997, tr.33).

Tie^?u DDoa`n 3/1 Bo^. Binh ddu+o+.c tru+.c tha(ng va^.n to+'i Ca(n Cu+' Ho?a Lu+.c Lolo, to.a ddo^. XD 431371, khoa?ng 13 ca^y so^' ddo^ng nam Tchepone. Cuo^.c ddo^? qua^n ra^'t gay go va` pha?i ddi`nh hoa~n nhie^`u la^`n vi` tra^.n ddi.a pha'o pho`ng kho^ng ddi.ch vo^ cu`ng a'c lie^.t. Trong khi ddo', Trung DDoa`n 2 mo+'i tham chie^'n ba('t dda^`u ro+`i DDo^ng Ha` dde^? dde^'n ddie^?m ta^.p trung. Bo^. Chi? Huy Trung DDoa`n 2 Bo^. Binh cu`ng vo+'i Tie^?u DDoa`n 2/2 to+'i Khe Sanh ho^`i 031030H, Tie^?u DDoa`n 1/2 dde^'n no+i ho^`i 032130H. (Ta`i lie^.u bo^? tu'c cu?a Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 12/99).

Bo^. Chi? Huy Trung DDoa`n 1 Bo^. Binh do DDa.i Ta' Nguye^~n Va(n DDie^`m chi? huy cu`ng vo+'i Tie^?u DDoa`n 4 (thuo^.c Trung DDoa`n 1) do Trung Ta' Le^ Hua^'n la`m tie^?u ddoa`n tru+o+?ng va` mo^.t pha'o ddo^.i dda.i ba'c 105 ly ddu+o+.c tru+.c tha(ng ddu+a dde^'n ba~i dda'p LoLo. Lu'c na`y lu+.c lu+o+.ng pho`ng kho^ng Ba('c Vie^.t quanh ba~i dda'p ha^`u nhu+ dda~ bi. tie^u die^.t hoa`n toa`n. (Tra^`n DDo^~ Ca^?m, "Ha`nh Qua^n Lam So+n 719: Mu.c Tie^u Tchepone". Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 6 1997, tr.34).

Bo^. Chi? Huy Trung DDoa`n 1 Bo^. Binh va` Tie^?u DDoa`n 2/1 cu`ng pha'o binh ddu+o+.c tru+.c tha(ng va^.n dde^'n Lolo. Tie^?u DDoa`n 4/1 ddu+o+.c tru+.c tha(ng va^.n dde^'n Ba~i DDa'p Liz, to.a ddo^. XD 376394, khoa?ng 6 ca^y so^' ta^y ta^y ba('c Lolo. (Ta`i lie^.u bo^? tu'c cu?a Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 12/99).

Tie^?u DDoa`n 4 va` Tie^?u DDoa`n 2 (thuo^.c Trung DDoa`n 2, Su+ DDoa`n 1 Bo^. Binh) ddu+o+.c tru+.c tha(ng va^.n dde^'n Ca(n Cu+' Ho?a Lu+.c Sophia, khoa?ng 5 km ve^` hu+o+'ng DDo^ng Nam cu?a thi. tra^'n Tchepone. O+? no+i na`y ho?a lu+.c pho`ng kho^ng Ba('c Vie^.t cu~ng ma.nh. Nhu+ng nho+` ca'c phi vu. oanh ta.c cu`ng pha'o binh ye^?m tro+. ba('n tu+` Ca(n Cu+' LoLo ne^n cuo^.c ddo^? qua^n dda~ ddu+o+.c tha`nh co^ng nhanh cho'ng. Chi? co' hai tru+.c tha(ng vo~ trang loa.i UH-1C cu`ng hai tru+.c tha(ng cho+? qua^n kha'c bi. ba('n ha.. Mo^.t so^' kha'c tuy bi. tru'ng dda.n, nhu+ng thie^.t ha.i kho^ng dda'ng ke^?.

Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, a^'n ba?n tha'ng 6 na(m 1997, co' ghi la.i mo^.t su+. vie^.c ra^'t ca?m xu'c o+? ba~i dda'p LoLo. DDo' la` ha`nh ddo^.ng que^n-mi`nh-hy-sinh dda^`y y' nghi~a cu?a Thie^'u Ta' DDi.nh -- mo^.t vi. si~ quan Bo^. Binh VNCH -- giu+~a vo`ng va^y nguy hie^?m:

Trong cuo^.c ddo^? qua^n (o+? ba~i dda'p Sophia), Thie^'u Ta' DDi.nh, Tie^?u DDoa`n Tru+o+?ng Tie^?u DDoa`n 5 (Trung DDoa`n 2 Bo^. Binh), ngo^`i tre^n chie^'c no'n sa('t cu?a mi`nh dda(.t tre^n sa`n tru+.c tha(ng cho+? qua^n. O^ng bi. mo^.t vie^n dda.n pho`ng kho^ng 12.7 ly xuye^n qua sa`n tru+.c tha(ng, qua chie^'c no'n sa('t va` tro^? tu+` mo^ng le^n to+'i vai. Tuy bi. thu+o+ng nhu+ng Thie^'u Ta' DDi.nh ra^'t bi`nh ti~nh, o^ng kho^ng dde^? lo^. ve? ddau ddo+'n hay hoa?ng so+. dde^? thuo^.c ca^'p bie^'t, so+. ho. ma^'t tinh tha^`n.

Khi tru+.c tha(ng mo+'i xa` xuo^'ng nhu+ng co`n kha' cao tre^n ba~i dda'p, va`i ngu+o+`i li'nh ti'nh nha?y xuo^'ng, nhu+ng Thie^'u Ta' DDi.nh na('m vai ho. la.i va` ba?o: "Tru+.c tha(ng co`n cao la('m."

Lu'c tru+.c tha(ng xuo^'ng tha^'p ho+n, li'nh dda~ nha?y ra he^'t. Ngu+o+`i ca^.n ve^. cu?a Thie^'u Ta' DDi.nh tha^'y o^ng ngo^`i ye^n, be`n lay vai du.c o^ng nha?y ra. Khi tha^'y tay be^ be^'t ma'u va` Thie^'u Ta' DDi.nh kho^ng tra? lo+`i, ngu+o+`i li'nh mo+'i bie^'t Thie^'u Ta' DDi.nh dda~ che^'t ngo^`i tre^n tru+.c tha(ng. (Tra^`n DDo^~ Ca^?m, "Ha`nh Qua^n Lam So+n 719: Mu.c Tie^u Tchepone". Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 6 1997, tr.34).

Khi ca'c ddo+n vi. Bo^. Binh VNCH ddo^? qua^n xong xuo^i, ho. lie^`n bung ra lu.c soa't. Ha`ng tra(m xa'c che^'t cu?a bo^. ddo^.i Co^.ng Sa?n ddu+o+.c pha't hie^.n. Nhu+~ng xa'c che^'t na`y dde^`u bi. tan ta`n du+o+'i su+'c co^ng pha' kinh khie^'p cu?a ddu? loa.i dda.n phi pha'o do lu+.c lu+o+.ng ddo^`ng minh ba('n ye^?m tro+.. Sa'ng nga`y 5 tha'ng 3, Tie^?u DDoa`n 4 Thu?y Qua^n Lu.c Chie^'n VNCH mo+? cuo^.c ha`nh qua^n ta?o thanh, ha. ddu+o+.c 130 ddi.ch qua^n, ti.ch tha^u va` pha' hu?y nhie^`u vu~ khi'. Lu'c a^'y Tie^?u DDoa`n 4 (Trung DDoa`n 1 Bo^. Binh) cu~ng cha.m su'ng vo+'i ddi.ch qua^n. Ho. ha. ddu+o+.c 41 bo^. ddo^.i Co^.ng Sa?n ta.i chie^'n tru+o+`ng. (Tra^`n DDo^~ Ca^?m, "Ha`nh Qua^n Lam So+n 719: Mu.c Tie^u Tchepone". Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 6 1997, tr.34).

Trung DDoa`n 2 Bo^. Binh du+. tru` ddo^? qua^n xuo^'ng Ca(n Cu+' Ho?a Lu+.c Sophia, to.a ddo^. XD 346498, khoa?ng 4 ca^y so^' ru+o+~i DDo^ng Nam Tchepone va`o ho^`i 051100H, nhu+ng vi` tho+`i tie^'t xa^'u ne^n pha?i tri` hoa~n. Ma~i to+'i 051320H, ca'c Tie^?u DDoa`n 4 va` 5/2 mo+'i ddu+o+.c ddo^? xuo^'ng Sophia ddu+o+'i ho?a lu+.c pho`ng kho^ng kha' ma.nh cu?a ddi.ch qua^n. To+'i 051900H, cuo^.c ddo^? qua^n mo+'i hoa`n ta^'t. Ta'm kha^?u dda.i ba'c 105 ly cu~ng ddu+o+.c ddo^? xuo^'ng tra^.n ddi.a. To+'i lu'c na`y, Tchepone dda~ na(`m trong ta^`m pha'o binh Qua^n Lu+.c Vie^.t Nam Co^.ng Ho`a va` coi nhu+ bi. qua^n Trung DDoa`n 2 kho^'ng che^'. (Ta`i lie^.u bo^? tu'c cu?a Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 12/99).

Trong mo^.t cuo^.c ha`nh qua^n kho^ng va^.n dda.i quy mo^, 120 chie^'c UH-1 ddu+a hai tie^?u ddoa`n VNCH tu+` Khe Sanh dde^'n thi. tra^'n Tchepone. Ca'c ddo+n vi. VNCH lu.c soa't va` tie^u hu?y mo^.t so^' qua^n du.ng to lo+'n cu?a qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t go^`m 76 kha^?u dda.i ba'c, 106 chie^'n xa, 405 xe va^.n ta?i, 1,934 su'ng co^.ng ddo^`ng, 5,066 su'ng ca' nha^n, 12,000 ta^'n ga.o, va` 800 ta^'n dda.n du+o+.c ddu? loa.i. (Will Fowler, "The Vietnam Story", tr.165).

Ho^m nay la` nga`y dda'nh va`o Tchepone. Khe Sanh bi. pha'o ki'ch ba(`ng ho?a tie^~n 122 ly nhu+ng chi? bi. thie^.t ha.i nhe.. To^?ng co^.ng co' khoa?ng 120 tru+.c tha(ng tha? hai Tie^?u DDoa`n 2 va` 3/2 xuo^'ng Ba~i DDa'p Hope, to.a ddo^. XD 344478, khoa?ng 4 ca^y so^' ddo^ng ba('c Tchepone. DDe^'n 061343H, ca? hai Tie^?u DDoa`n na`y va` mo^.t tha`nh pha^`n cu?a DDa.i DDo^.i Trinh Sa't cu`ng Bo^. Chi? Huy nhe. Trung DDoa`n 2 dda~ co' ma(.t ta.i Ba~i DDa'p Hope. Trong khi ddo', Tie^?u DDoa`n 1/1 ddu+o+.c ddo^? xuo^'ng Lolo dde^? ta(ng cu+o+`ng. (Ta`i lie^.u bo^? tu'c cu?a Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 12/99).

DDi.ch pha'o ki'ch Lolo, no+i dda(.t Bo^. Chi? Huy Trung DDoa`n 1 Bo^. Binh. Tie^?u DDoa`n 2/2 lu.c soa't vu`ng DDo^ng Tchepone trong khi Tie^?u DDoa`n 3/2 do Thie^'u Ta' Tra^`n Ngo.c Hue^' chi? huy dda'nh tha(?ng va`o Tchepone nhu+ng chi? ga(.p su+'c kha'ng cu+. le? te?. Thie^'u ta' Hue^' ddu+o+.c tha(ng ca^'p Trung Ta' dda(.c ca'ch ta.i ma(.t tra^.n. (Ta`i lie^.u bo^? tu'c cu?a Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 12/99).

Khoa?ng 1,000 binh si~ Bo^. Binh VNCH va`o Tchepone. Ho. ti`m tha^'y nhie^`u vu~ khi' cu`ng xa'c che^'t Co^.ng qua^n dda~ bi. tan na't vi` nhu+~ng phi vu. B-52 tru+o+'c dda^y. (Tra^`n DDo^~ Ca^?m, "Ha`nh Qua^n Lam So+n 719: Mu.c Tie^u Tchepone". Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 6 1997, tr.35).

Lu'c ba^'y gio+`, qua^n Trung DDoa`n 2 Bo^. Binh pho^'i tri' nhu+ sau: Tie^?u DDoa`n 3 trong thi. tra^'n Tchepone ta.i to.a ddo^. XD 323444. Tie^?u DDoa`n 2 ta.i bo+` Ba('c so^ng Sepone, to.a ddo^. XD 335432. Tie^?u DDoa`n 4 ta.i bo+` Nam so^ng Sepone, to.a ddo^. XD 332423. Tie^?u DDoa`n 5 tra^'n ddo'ng Sophia. To+'i tru+a, qua^n Trung DDoa`n 2 ta^.p trung ta.i bo+` so^ng Sepone. (Ta`i lie^.u bo^? tu'c cu?a Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 12/99).

DDe^m 8 tha'ng 3, ca'c Tie^?u DDoa`n 2 va` 3 mo+? cuo^.c ha`nh qua^n ca`n que't ve^` hu+o+'ng DDo^ng thi. tra^'n Tchepone. Tu+` ddo', ho. di chuye^?n ve^` hu+o+'ng Nam, vu+o+.t so^ng Sepone va` tie^'n ve^` hu+o+'ng Ca(n Cu+' Ho?a Lu+.c Sophia. (Tra^`n DDo^~ Ca^?m, "Ha`nh Qua^n Lam So+n 719: Mu.c Tie^u Tchepone". Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 6 1997, tr.35).

Sa'ng so+'m, ho^`i 090200H, hai Tie^?u DDoa`n 2 va` 3/2 ba('t dda^`u vu+o+.t so^ng Sepone tu+` bo+` ba('c sang bo+` nam, hoa`n ta^'t lu'c 090600H. To+'i 090900H, hai tie^?u ddoa`n na`y ve^` to+'i Sophia. Cuo^.c ta^'n co^ng va`o Tchepone coi nhu+ hoa`n ta^'t. Tu+o+'ng La~m bay va`o Sa`i Go`n dde^? ba'o tin chie^'n tha('ng va` tri`nh ba`y ke^' hoa.ch ru't qua^n cu`ng To^?ng Tho^'ng Thie^.u va` DDa.i Tu+o+'ng Vie^n. Theo ke^' hoa.ch na`y, mo^.t so^' qua^n Trung DDoa`n 2 se~ bo? Sophia dde^? chie^'m ddo'ng vi. tri' mo+'i ta.i Ba~i DDa'p Brick, to.a ddo^. XD 589299, khoa?ng 9 ca^y so^' Nam A Lu+o+'i, ga^`n ddu+o+`ng 926. Pha^`n co`n la.i se~ ddu+o+.c tru+.c tha(ng va^.n to+'i nhu+~ng vi. tri' phi'a ta^y va` nam cu?a Brick. Sau ddo', qua^n Trung DDoa`n 2 Bo^. Binh se~ lu.c soa't khu Binh Tra.m 33 va` ddu+o+`ng 914 theo hu+o+'ng ta^y nam. Hai Trung DDoa`n 1/2 va` 2/2 Bo^. Binh se~ ha`nh qua^n ta.i vu`ng na`y trong vu`ng tu+` 7 dde^'n 10 nga`y. (Ta`i lie^.u bo^? tu'c cu?a Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 12/99).

DDi.ch pha'o ki'ch du+~ do^.i va`o Sophia khie^'n 6 trong so^' 8 kha^?u dda.i ba'c 105 ly bi. hu+ ha.i. (Ta`i lie^.u bo^? tu'c cu?a Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 12/99).

Qua^n Trung DDoa`n 2 Bo^. Binh ddu.ng ddo^. thu+o+`ng xuye^n vo+'i ddi.ch quanh Sophia. Trung DDoa`n 2 Bo^. Binh ddu+o+.c le^.nh di chuye^?n ba(`ng ddu+o+`ng bo^. tu+` Sophia dde^'n Liz. Trong khoa?ng tu+` 111400H dde^'n chie^`u to^'i, Tie^?u DDoa`n 2/2 ddu+o+.c tru+.c tha(ng bo^'c tu+` Liz dde^? ddo^? xuo^'ng ba~i dda'p Brown, to.a ddo^. XD 505357. Tie^?u DDoa`n 5/2 ddu+o+.c tru+.c tha(ng va^.n to+'i mo^.t ddi.a ddie^?m ca'ch Sophia 2 (Sophia East) khoa?ng 1 ca^y so^' ve^` hu+o+'ng ba('c dde^? ba?o ve^. Bo^. Chi? Huy Trung DDoa`n 2 ddang ddo'ng ta.i dda^y. Tie^?u DDoa`n 4/2 co' nhie^.m vu. tra^'n giu+~ Sophia dde^? Trung DDoa`n lui qua^n. Buo^?i tru+a cu`ng nga`y, Tie^?u DDoa`n 4 cha.m ddi.ch ra^'t na(.ng ca'ch Sophia chu+`ng 1 ca^y so^' ve^` phi'a nam. (Ta`i lie^.u bo^? tu'c cu?a Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 12/99).

Ho^`i 121635H, Tie^?u DDoa`n 3/2 ddu+o+.c tru+.c tha(ng va^.n to+'i Ba~i DDa'p Moon, to.a ddo^. XD 495336, khoa?ng 1 ca^y so^' nam Sophia 2, hoa`n ta^'t lu'c 121645H. Tie^?u DDoa`n 4/2 la` ddo+n vi. cuo^'i cu`ng ro+`i Sophia, ddu+o+.c tru+.c tha(ng va^.n ddo^? xuo^'ng Brown ho^`i 121745H. Ta^'t ca? 8 kha^?u dda.i ba'c 105 ly bo? la.i dde^`u bi. phi co+ do^.i bom pha' hu?y. To+'i lu'c na`y, Ca(n Cu+' Ho?a Lu+.c Lolo, no+i Bo^. Chi? Huy Trung DDoa`n 1 Bo^. Binh tra^'n ddo'ng la` ca(n cu+' sa^u nha^'t ve^` hu+o+'ng ta^y trong pha^`n dda^'t La`o cu?a QLVNCH. (Ta`i lie^.u bo^? tu'c cu?a Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 12/99).

Khi Trung DDoa`n 2 Bo^. Binh ro+`i khu vu+.c phi'a ta^y Lolo, ca'c Trung DDoa`n 1 va` 31 thuo^.c Su+ DDoa`n 2 Vie^.t Co^.ng ba('t dda^`u ta^'n co^ng ca'c vi. tri' cu?a Trung DDoa`n 1 Bo^. Binh quanh Lolo khie^'n ca'c ddo+n vi. na`y pha?i di chuye^?n ve^` ga^`n ca(n cu+' chi'nh. Lolo cu~ng bi. pha'o ki'ch du+~ do^.i. (Ta`i lie^.u bo^? tu'c cu?a Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 12/99).

DDi.ch ba('t dda^`u ta^'n co^ng Lolo, mo+? dda^`u ba(`ng tra^.n ddi.a pha'o kho^'c lie^.t go^`m dda.i pha'o 130 ly, 152 ly va` ho?a tie^~n 122 ly khie^'n ca'c dda.i ba'c 105 ta.i Lolo dde^`u bi. hu+ ha.i. DDi.ch va^y cha(.t Lolo khie^'n tru+.c tha(ng kho^ng the^? ta?n thu+o+ng va` tie^'p te^' ddu+o+.c. (Ta`i lie^.u bo^? tu'c cu?a Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 12/99).

Qua^n Trung DDoa`n 1 Bo^. Binh ta.i Lolo bi. va^y cha(.t, kho^ng ddu+o+.c tie^'p te^' va` ta?n thu+o+ng, ne^n ddu+o+.c le^.nh ru't bo?. Ke^' hoa.ch di ta?n ddu+o+.c hoa.ch ddi.nh nhu+ sau: Bo^. Chi? Huy Trung DDoa`n 1 va` ca'c ddo+n vi. quanh Lolo se~ di chuye^?n ba(`ng ddu+o+`ng bo^. ve^` hu+o+'ng DDo^ng. Tie^?u DDoa`n 4/1 co' nhie^.m vu. o+? la.i Lolo cha^.n ddi.ch dde^? Trung DDoa`n pha' vo`ng va^y ru't lui. Sau ddo', Bo^. Chi? Huy Trung DDoa`n ddu+o+.c tru+.c tha(ng bo^'c ve^` Khe Sanh. Tie^?u DDoa`n 4/1 o+? la.i bi. thie^.t ha.i na(.ng, Tie^?u DDoa`n Tru+o+?ng la` Trung Ta' Le^ Hua^'n va` ta^'t ca? ca'c si~ quan dde^`u bi. tu+? thu+o+ng. Trung Ta' Hua^'n la` tie^?u ddoa`n tru+o+?ng tha^m nie^n cu`a Su+ DDoa`n 1 Bo^. Binh, o^ng bi. tu+? thu+o+ng vi` mo^.t tra`ng dda.n AK ba('n ga^`n cu?a Co^.ng qua^n trong lu'c ddie^`u ddo^.ng binh si~ ca^.n chie^'n vo+'i ddi.ch. (Ta`i lie^.u bo^? tu'c cu?a Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 12/99).

Tha`nh pha^`n co`n la.i cu?a Tie^?u DDoa`n 4/1 pha' vo`ng va^y ru't kho?i Lolo. Bo^'n dda.i ba'c 155 ly va` bo^'n dda.i ba'c 105 bo? la.i sau ddo' bi. phi co+ do^.i bom pha' hu?y. Trong khi Lolo bi. tra`n nga^.p, qua^n Trung DDoa`n 2 ddang lu.c soa't ta.i ca'c mu.c tie^u Cu+?a Tu`ng va` Cu+?a Vie^.t phi'a ddo^ng nam Sophia, do.c theo ddu+o+`ng 914, pha' hu?y nhie^`u kho qua^n du.ng. Buo^?i tru+a, Bo^. Chi? Huy Trung DDoa`n 3 Bo^. Binh va` Tie^?u DDoa`n 4/3 ddu+o+.c tru+.c tha(ng bo^'c tu+` Delta 1 ve^` ca(n cu+' Ha`m Nghi trong pha^`n dda^t Vie^.t Nam va`o ho^`i 121220H. Tie^?u DDoa`n 1/3 co`n la.i tra^'n giu+~ Delta 1. (Ta`i lie^.u bo^? tu'c cu?a Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 12/99).

Tha`nh pha^`n co`n la.i cu?a Tie^?u DDoa`n 4/1 sau khi ru't kho?i Lolo ddi chuye^?n to+'i bo+` so^ng Sepone, bi. ddi.ch dduo^?i ki.p va` va^y cha(.t. Tuy dda.n du+o+.c dda~ ha^`u ca.n, nhu+ng ngu+o+`i chi? huy cao ca^'p nha^'t co`n la.i la` Trung Si~ Trung DDo^.i Pho' Nguye^~n Va(n Ha`i va^~n tie^'p tu.c cu`ng ca'c ba.n ddo^`ng ddo^.i tu+? chie^'n dde^'n cu`ng, kho^ng chi.u dda^`u ha`ng. Tru+.c tha(ng vo~ trang Hoa Ky` ye^?m tro+. tie^'p ca^.n ra^'t hu+~u hie^.u cho toa'n ngu+o+`i so^'ng so't. Trong khi ddo', Tie^?u DDoa`n 5/2 bi. ddi.ch pha'o ki'ch na(.ng ta.i mo^.t vi. tri' ga^`n Ba~i DDa'p Brown. Theo ke^' hoa.ch, Bo^. Chi? Huy Trung DDoa`n 2 se~ ddu+o+.c di ta?n ba(`ng tru+.c tha(ng dde^'n Ca(n Cu+' Ho?a Lu+.c Delta 1. Ca'c ddo+n vi. co`n la.i cu?a trung ddoa`n di chuye^?n ba(`ng ddu+o+`ng bo^. ve^` hu+o+'ng ddo^ng. (Ta`i lie^.u bo^? tu'c cu?a Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 12/99).

Buo^?i tru+a, qua^n Trung DDoa`n 1 Bo^. Binh vo+'i ca'c Tie^?u DDoa`n 1, 2 va` 3 sau khi ru't kho?i Lolo dde^'n mo^.t ddi.a ddie^?m ca'ch A Lu+o+'i chu+`ng 2 ca^y so^' ve^` hu+o+'ng ta^y nam, to.a ddo^. XD 512378. Toa'n qua^n na`y sau ddo' ddu+o+.c tru+.c tha(ng bo^'c ve^` Khe Sanh an toa`n va`o ho^`i 181230H. Khoa?ng tre^n 30 qua^n nha^n co`n la.i thuo^.c Tie^?u DDoa`n 4/1 sau cu`ng ddu+o+.c tru+.c tha(ng bo^'c ve^` Khe Sanh va`o buo^?i chie^`u cu`ng nga`y. Sau ddo', Tie^?u DDoa`n 5/2 cu~ng ddu+o+.c tru+.c tha(ng bo^'c ddi tu+` mo^.t ddi.a ddie^?m ga^`n Brown. Ngay sau ddo', ke^? tu+` ho^`i 181600H va` suo^'t dde^m ca'c Tie^?u DDoa`n 2, 3 va` 4 cu?a Trung DDoa`n 2 Bo^. Binh bi. ta^'n co^ng du+~ do^.i ta.i phi'a ta^y Ba~i DDa'p Brown. DDi.ch du`ng pha'o ba('n phu? dda^`u ro^`i ta^'n co^ng ba(`ng bo^. binh. Qua^n Trung DDoa`n 2 dda~ ca.n dda.n du+o+.c cu~ng nhu+ lu+o+ng thu+.c tu+` nhie^`u nga`y qua bi. thie^.t ha.i kha' na(.ng. (Ta`i lie^.u bo^? tu'c cu?a Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 12/99).

Chie^'n DDoa`n 1 Thie^'t Ky. ba('t dda^`u ru't kho?i A Lu+o+'i. Khi ca'nh qua^n na`y ve^` to+'i Ca(n Cu+' Ho?a Lu+.c Alpha tre^n ddu+o+`ng so^' 9, tha`nh pha^`n co`n la.i cu?a Su+ DDoa`n 1 Bo^. Binh ddu+o+.c tru+.c tha(ng bo^'c ddi, trong so^' na`y co' qua^n cu?a Trung DDoa`n 2 ta.i Ba~i DDa'p Brown va` Bo^. Chi? Huy Trung DDoa`n va` Tie^?u DDoa`n 1/3 ta.i Ca(n Cu+' Ho?a Lu+.c Delta 1.

Theo tin ti`nh ba'o, trong giai ddoa.n na`y, lu+.c lu+o+.ng ddi.ch ddu+o+.c pho^'i tri' nhu+ sau: Su+ DDoa`n 308 CSBV vo+'i ca'c Trung DDoa`n 36, 102 va` 88 ta^'n co^ng tu+` ma(.t Ba('c ddu+o+`ng so^' 9 ga^`n bie^n gio+'i La`o - Vie^.t. Ca'c Trung DDoa`n 64 thuo^.c Su+ DDoa`n 320 CSBV va` Trung DDoa`n 24 thuo^.c Su+ DDoa`n 304 CSBV bao va^y A Lu+o+'i va` ddoa.n ddu+o+`ng phi'a ddo^ng dde^? cha^.n ddu+o+`ng ru't lui cu?a Chie^'n DDoa`n 1 Thie^'t Ky.. Su+ DDoa`n 2 vo+'i ca'c Trung DDoa`n 1, 31 va` 141 bao va^y qua^n Su+ DDoa`n 1 Bo^. Binh VNCH ta.i ma(.t tra^.n Nam ddu+o+`ng so^' 9. Su+ DDoa`n 324 CSBV vo+'i ca'c Trung DDoa`n 29, 803 va` 812 bao va^y quanh Thu?y Qua^n Lu.c Chie^'n ta.i vu`ng Nam ddu+o+`ng so^' 9 ga^`n bie^n gio+'i La`o - Vie^.t.

Va`o buo^?i tru+a, Ca(n Cu+' Ho?a Lu+.c Delta 1 bi. pha'o ki'ch du+~ do^.i khie^'n bo^'n kha^?u dda.i ba'c 105 ly cu?a Pha'o DDo^.i C/44 bi. hu+ ha.i, 1400 qua? dda.n dda.i ba'c pha't no^?. Ca'c Tie^?u DDoa`n 2, 3 va` 4 thuo^.c Trung DDoa`n 2 ta.i vu`ng ta^y Sophia 2 cu~ng ddu.ng ddo^. na(.ng. Ho^`i 192300H, ca? 3 Tie^?u DDoa`n na`y dde^`u bi. ddi.ch qua^n ta^'n co^ng du+~ do^.i. Tie^?u DDoa`n 3/2 ta.i vi. tri' XD 512343, Tie^?u DDoa`n 2/2 ta.i vi. tri' XD 514 353 va` Tie^?u DDoa`n 4/2 ta.i vi. tri' 518342. DDu+o+.c phi co+ vo~ trang C-130 ye^?m tro+., dde^'n nu+?a dde^m, toa'n qua^n na`y ba'o ca'o va^~n giu+~ vu+~ng ddu+o+.c vi. tri'. DDi.ch qua^n bi. thie^.t ha.i na(.ng. (Ta`i lie^.u bo^? tu'c cu?a Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 12/99).

Lu'c 201320H, Tie^?u DDoa`n 3/2 ddu+o+.c tru+.c tha(ng bo^'c tu+` vu`ng ta^y Sophia 2 (to.a ddo^. XD 512344) ve^` Ca(n Cu+' Ha`m Nghi, ma(.c da^`u co' 28 trong so^' 40 tru+.c tha(ng cho+? qua^n bi. tru'ng dda.n pho`ng kho^ng. Ke^' hoa.ch bo^'c Tie^?u DDoa`n 4/2 sau ddo' bi. hu?y bo? khi co' the^m mo^.t tru+.c tha(ng bi. tru'ng dda.n pho`ng kho^ng pha't no^?. Theo ke^' hoa.ch du+. tru`, ca'c Tie^?u DDoa`n 2/2 va` 4/2 se~ ddu+o+.c bo^'c va`o nga`y ho^m sau, tie^'p theo la` Bo^. Chi? Huy Trung DDoa`n 2 va` Tie^?u DDoa`n 1/3 ta.i Ca(n Cu+' Ho?a Lu+.c Delta 1. Hai Tie^?u DDoa`n 2/2 va` 3/2 ddu+o+.c le^.nh tu+. ti`m ddu+o+`ng di chuye^?n dde^? ti`m ddie^?m bo^'c qua^n an toa`n ho+n. (Ta`i lie^.u bo^? tu'c cu?a Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 12/99).

Ho^`i 210300H, ddi.ch ta^'n co^ng ma.nh hai Tie^?u DDoa`n 2/2 va` 4/2 ddang bi. ke.t ta.i ddi.a ddie^?m 2 ca^y so^' ve^` hu+o+'ng ta^y cu?a Sophia, to.a ddo^. XD 513343, ga^y thie^.t ha.i kha' na(.ng. Lu+.c lu+o+.ng ddi.ch thuo^.c Su+ DDoa`n 2 CSBV quye^'t tie^u die^.t hai tie^?u ddoa`n na`y nhu+ng dda~ tha^'t ba.i va` bi. thie^.t ha.i na(.ng. Sau cu`ng, ca'c ddo+n vi. co`n la.i cu?a Su+ DDoa`n 1 Bo^. Binh ddu+o+.c tru+.c tha(ng va^.n ve^` Khe Sanh ho^`i 211800H. (Ta`i lie^.u bo^? tu'c cu?a Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t, tha'ng 12/99).

Cuo^.c Ha`nh Qua^n Lam So+n 719 cha^'m du+'t sau 45 nga`y ha`nh qua^n. (Tra^`n DDo^~ Ca^?m, "Nhu+~ng Tra^.n DDa'nh Cu?a Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n Ta.i Ha. La`o," Website Nguye^.t San DDoa`n Ke^'t).

500,000 ngu+o+`i My~ bie^?u ti`nh cho^'ng chie^'n tranh ta.i Washington, D.C. (Will Fowler, "The Vietnam Story", tr.124).

Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t: 14,000 tu+? thu+o+ng, 167 tu` binh, 6,657 vu~ khi' bi. ti.ch thu, va` 120 xe ta(ng bi. ba('n ha.. Vie^.t Nam Co^.ng Ho`a: 1,392 tu+? thu+o+ng, 4,236 bi. thu+o+ng, 71 chie^'n xa va` 96 kha^?u dda.i ba'c bi. thie^.t ha.i. (Charles T. Kamps, Jr., "History Of The Vietnam War", tr.165).

Nga`y 14 tha'ng 4 Qua^n DDo^.i VNCH mo+? cuo^.c ha`nh qua^n Lam So+n 720 va`o thung lu~ng A Shau. Chie^'n di.ch ke'o da`i dde^'n giu+~a tha'ng 5 vo+'i nhie^`u tra^.n dda'nh ki.ch lie^.t xa?y ra. Qua^n Ba('c Vie^.t mo+? cuo^.c pha?n co^ng ma.nh me~ dde^? ba?o ve^. Ca(n Cu+' 607. Va`i trung ddoa`n VNCH lie^`n ddu+o+.c ddu+a dde^'n ta(ng cu+o+`ng cho ma(.t tra^.n A Shau. (Charles T. Kamps, Jr., "History Of The Vietnam War", tr.165).

Trong mo^.t cuo^.c ha`nh qua^n ca`n que't vu`ng Khe Sanh, qua^n ddo^.i VNCH tie^u die^.t 225 bo^. ddo^.i Ba('c Vie^.t. Thie^.t ha.i ve^` phi'a VNCH tu+o+ng ddo^'i nhe. vo+'i 17 qua^n nha^n hy sinh. (Edgar O'ballance, The Wars In Vietnam, 1954-73, tr.163).

Ba('c Vie^.t ta^'n co^ng Ca(n Cu+' Ho?a Lu+.c Fuller o+? ga^`n vu`ng Phi Qua^n Su+.. Kho^ng Qua^n can thie^.p ma.nh me~ la`m qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n pha?i ru't lui kho?i chie^'n tru+o+`ng. (Edgar O'ballance, The Wars In Vietnam, 1954-73, tr.163).

To^?ng Tho^'ng Nguye^~n Va(n Thie^.u ta'i dda('c cu+? va` cha^'p cha'nh nhie^.m ky` to^?ng tho^'ng na`y la^`n thu+' hai (Edgar O'ballance, The Wars In Vietnam, 1954-73, tr.164). Bo^'n na(m sau, nga`y 21 tha'ng 4 na(m 1975 o^ng Thie^.u le^n dda`i truye^`n hi`nh ddo.c ba`i die^~n va(n tu+` chu+'c. Cu`ng nga`y na`y, Pho' To^?ng Tho^'ng Tra^`n Va(n Hu+o+ng nha^.m chu+'c To^?ng Tho^'ng Vie^.t Nam Co^.ng Ho`a.

Tha'ng 10, Qua^n DDo^.i VNCH mo+? cuo^.c ha`nh qua^n Lam So+n 810 dde^? nga(n cha^.n ca'c su+. xa^m nha^.p cu?a qua^n Ba('c Vie^.t do.c theo bie^n gio+'i Vie^.t-La`o. (Charles T. Kamps, Jr., "History Of The Vietnam War", tr.165).

Qua^n DDo^.i Hoa`ng Gia Cam Bo^'t cu`ng Qua^n DDo^.i Vie^.t Nam Co^.ng Ho`a mo+? cuo^.c ha`nh qua^n pho^'i ho+.p go^`m 27,500 ngu+o+`i gia?i to?a thi. tra^'n Chup trong la~nh tho^? Cam Bo^'t. Sau nhie^`u tra^.n giao tranh, lu+.c lu+o+.ng Co^.ng Sa?n bo? cha.y. Qua^n ddo^.i ddo^`ng minh tie^u hu?y nhie^`u ca(n cu+' tie^'p va^.n cu?a qua^n Ba('c Vie^.t va` Khmer DDo? (Co^.ng Sa?n Cam Bo^'t). (Charles T. Kamps, Jr., "History Of The Vietnam War", tr.168).

Vie^.t Nam Co^.ng Ho`a: 22,738 tu+? thu+o+ng, 60,939 bi. thu+o+ng.
Hoa Ky`: 2,349 tu+? thu+o+ng, 8,936 bi. thu+o+ng.
Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t: 98,094 tu+? thu+o+ng.

(Charles T. Kamps, Jr., "History Of The Vietnam War", tr.165).