▁south ▁into ▁Dar lac ▁Province ▁and ▁the ▁ 4 2 nd ▁Regiment ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 2 nd ▁Division ▁extended ▁it ▁north ▁into ▁Kon ▁T um ▁Province , ▁split ▁between ▁Kon ▁T um ▁city ▁and ▁T ân ▁C ả n h ▁Base ▁Camp . ▁ ▁The ▁operation ▁saw ▁isolated ▁sk irm ishes ▁in ▁its ▁first ▁ 2 ▁weeks , ▁then ▁in ▁mid - A pril ▁Special ▁Forces ▁teams ▁reported ▁eng aging ▁a ▁P AV N ▁batt alion ▁in ▁northern ▁Dar lac ▁Province ▁and ▁several ▁days ▁later ▁they ▁reported ▁sight ing ▁ 2 ▁P AV N ▁companies ▁ 7 0   km ▁south ▁of ▁P lei ▁Me . ▁In ▁response ▁to ▁these ▁reports ▁on ▁ 2 4 ▁April ▁M G ▁Pe ers ▁sent ▁a ▁ 1 st ▁Brigade ▁batt alion ▁task ▁force ▁into ▁northern ▁Dar lac ▁Province . ▁ ▁On ▁ 2 8 ▁April ▁the ▁ 2 nd ▁Battalion , ▁ 8 th ▁Infantry ▁Regiment ▁pat rolling ▁north ▁of ▁P lei ▁Me ▁amb ushed ▁a ▁group ▁of ▁P AV N ▁killing ▁ 1 3 ▁and ▁the ▁remainder ▁fled ▁into ▁a ▁fort ified ▁base ▁camp . ▁The ▁ 2 / 1 8 th ▁Infantry ▁were ▁unable ▁to ▁break ▁through ▁the ▁P AV N ▁def enses ▁despite ▁air ▁and ▁art illery ▁strik es . ▁The ▁following ▁morning , ▁supported ▁by ▁ 2 ▁t anks ▁and ▁M 1 1 3 s ▁they ▁entered ▁the ▁camp ▁but ▁found ▁it ▁desert ed . ▁The ▁force ▁continued ▁to ▁advance , ▁finding ▁another ▁base ▁camp ▁which ▁was ▁soon ▁over run ▁by