0 ▁May ▁ 1 9 7 1 , ▁ 8 th ▁Task ▁Force ▁using ▁ 1 / 8 th ▁Battalion ▁as ▁the ▁spe ar - head ▁to ▁pier ce ▁enemy ▁blocking ▁line , ▁followed ▁behind ▁by ▁ 2 / 8 th ▁Battalion , ▁Task ▁Force ▁Command ▁Post , ▁ 1 st ▁Arm ored ▁Squadron ▁with ▁ 2 / 7 th ▁Battalion ▁acting ▁as ▁rear ▁cover , ▁to ▁withdraw ▁from ▁S nu ol ▁to ▁the ▁location ▁def ended ▁by ▁ 3 / 8 th ▁Battalion , ▁ 3 ▁kilom eters ▁S out heast ▁of ▁S nu ol ▁on ▁National ▁Route ▁ 1 3 ; ▁ ▁on ▁ 3 1 ▁May ▁ 1 9 7 1 , ▁ 3 / 8 th ▁Battalion ▁replaced ▁ 1 / 8 th ▁Battalion ▁as ▁the ▁spe ar head ▁in ▁pier cing ▁enemy ▁blocking ▁line , ▁followed ▁by ▁ 3 / 9 th ▁Battalion , ▁ 2 / 7 th ▁Battalion , ▁Task ▁Force ▁Command ▁Post , ▁ 1 st ▁Arm ored ▁Squadron ▁with ▁ 1 / 8 th ▁Battalion ▁acting ▁as ▁rear ▁cover , ▁allowing ▁ 8 th ▁Task ▁Force ▁to ▁reach ▁the ▁border ▁on ▁a ▁ 3 ▁kilometer ▁stretch ▁and ▁to ▁return ▁to ▁L ộ c ▁Nin h . ▁ ▁Reg arded ▁by ▁US ▁advis ers ▁as ▁the ▁worst ▁AR V N ▁Division ▁commander , ▁Hi ế u ' s ▁forces ▁had ▁been ▁badly ▁handled ▁during ▁the ▁S nu ol ▁operation , ▁and ▁his ▁troops , ▁according ▁to ▁II ▁Field ▁Force , ▁Vietnam ▁commander ▁Michael ▁S .