After unsuccessful attempts to lure large enemy units into combat in Operation Crimp (8–14 January 1966) and Operation Mastiff (21–27 February 1966), Colonel William Brodbeck, commander of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division decided to reduce the size of units sent into the field in order to invite enemy attack.

[1]: 176 In the early morning of 5 March a patrol led by 2Lt Robert John Hibbs detected movement north of the base.

At dawn they observed a supply column of children and armed women to the northeast of the base which met up with a company of Viet Cong coming from the north.

[1]: 176–7 At 10:50 the 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment was deployed by helicopter to a landing zone 2 kilometres northeast of the patrol base in an attempt to block the retreating attackers.

[1]: 177 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.