Objective: reconnaissance in force and area denial; combat operation; To eliminate PAVN bases used in Tet against Hue

Description: The original plan called for the 1st Cavalry Division and ARVN 3d Regiment to assault into the valley while the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne and ARVN Ariborne Division blocked the routes of escape. The 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry conducted air reconnaissance throughout the area and found anti-aircraft supplies. Even after these areas were attacked, the PAVN still brought down 23 helicopters. Fighting began on 19 April when the 5/7th and 1/7th landed on the peaks on the northern end of the valley. The PAVN tested the U.S. defenses that night. Weather became so bad that the 1/7th had to seek lower elevation to be resupplied. The 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division began assautling the A Luoi airstrip, and the battle soon turned into an airhead. The 1st Brigade turned to the south and west, where they discovered a PAVN storage area. This area, nicknamed the "Punchbowl", was secured by May 3. Earlier, the ARVN 3d Regiment pushed south along the Rao Lao River where they found a large supply cache. To the east, the 101st Airborne and ARVN Airborne troops also found large caches. Meanwhile, the PAVN fired artillery and rockets from Laos. DELAWARE-LAM SON 216 was a success in capturing supplies, however PAVN troops returned after only a few weeks.

Title: The Encyclopedia Of The Vietnam War: A Political, Social & Military History

Title: Preliminary Checklist Of United States Military Operations In Southeast Asia

Vietnam Center & Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive