On the early morning of 27 December after preparatory mortar fire Bird was attacked by 3 Battalions of the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) 22nd Regiment.

The PAVN quickly breached the perimeter and occupied all the 155mm and some of the 105mm gun pits.

The remaining guns of 2/19 Artillery were then used to fire Beehive rounds directly at the PAVN stopping the attack.

Supporting artillery fire was called in from nearby Firebase Pony and helicopter gunships also arrived to give supporting fire, forcing the PAVN to retreat.

[2] U.S. losses at Firebase Bird were 27 dead and 67 wounded, more than 60 percent of the defenders, while the U.S. claimed that PAVN losses in the attack and a four-day pursuit of the attackers were 267 dead.