▁the ▁ 3 / 1 2 th ▁Infantry ▁into ▁the ▁I a ▁T char ▁Valley ▁to ▁support ▁the ▁ 1 / 8 th ▁Infantry ▁and ▁arranged ▁for ▁the ▁ 1 7 3 rd ▁Air bor ne ▁Brigade ▁to ▁be ▁moved ▁in ▁as ▁rein for c ements . ▁On ▁the ▁morning ▁of ▁ 2 4 ▁May ▁two ▁companies ▁of ▁the ▁ 3 / 1 2 th ▁Infantry ▁were ▁about ▁to ▁break ▁camp ▁when ▁they ▁were ▁hit ▁by ▁mort ar ▁fire ▁and ▁then ▁attacked ▁by ▁a ▁batt alion - s ized ▁force . ▁After ▁ 2 ▁hours ▁of ▁fighting , ▁low ▁cloud ▁in ▁the ▁area ▁cleared ▁allowing ▁air ▁support ▁to ▁break ▁up ▁the ▁attack . ▁U . S . ▁losses ▁were ▁ 1 0 ▁killed ▁while ▁P AV N ▁losses ▁were ▁ 7 9 ▁killed ▁and ▁ 4 ▁captured . ▁ ▁On ▁ 2 3 ▁May ▁it ▁was ▁decided ▁to ▁replace ▁the ▁ 1 / 8 th ▁Infantry ▁with ▁the ▁ 3 / 8 th ▁Infantry . ▁On ▁ 2 4 ▁May ▁as ▁the ▁ 3 / 1 2 th ▁Infantry ▁sh uff led ▁its ▁companies , ▁one ▁under str ength ▁company ▁was ▁left ▁alone ▁to ▁defend ▁a ▁hill top ▁landing ▁zone ▁when ▁they ▁were ▁hit ▁by ▁a ▁P AV N ▁attack . ▁Art illery ▁fire ▁was ▁called ▁in ▁and ▁a ▁relief ▁column ▁sent ▁and ▁after ▁an ▁hour ▁the ▁P AV N ▁with d rew ▁leaving ▁ 3 7 ▁dead , ▁while ▁U . S . ▁losses ▁were ▁ 4 ▁killed . ▁ ▁On ▁the