Over the next month and the Christmas period, there was only sporadic skirmishes, but at the start of the new year, there were some medium size battles in which the Americans killed a few dozen VC.
The series of actions in the operation was primarily conducted north of the Mỹ Tho River and directed against VC bases in Dinh Tuong Province.
During the nine-hour operation, the battalion destroyed 141 VC bunkers and evacuated 500 kg (1,100 lb) of rice and an assortment of engineering and medical materials from a cache.
The evacuated materials were delivered to Dinh Tuong Province Headquarters for distribution within South Vietnamese government programs.
[1]: 136 The Americans were joined by the 5th Battalion of the Republic of Vietnam Marine Corps at a shore camp near Mỹ Tho on 6 November.
[1]: 136 After a short time used for training and maintenance, the MRF and the South Vietnamese Marines resumed Coronado IX on 9 November, targeting the 263rd and 514th VC Battalions in the Cam Son area.
[1]: 136 On the second day the search for the VC shifted to the east; troops were moved by boat and helicopter into the Ban Long and the Ap Bac base areas.
This operation continued through the night; platoon-sized ambush patrols were sent out along Highway 4 north of Đồng Tâm but could not intercept many VC.
The attack was repulsed several hours before the MRF entered the operational area off the Mỹ Tho River on the Rach Ruong Canal.
To allow the MRF to enter the operational area, IV Corps South Vietnamese engineers, who were accompanying the assault forces early on the morning of 18 November, had to remove the center span of the bridge on the Rach Ruong Canal.
While the 5th Marine Battalion conducted riverine assaults in the southern portions of the area, the 4/47th Infantry landed troops by helicopter in the north.
[1]: 138 The lack of contact in the two secret zones and new intelligence suggested that two VC battalions were located in Base Area 470 in western Dinh Tuong Province.
The MRF and elements of the 3rd Brigade, 9th Infantry Division, together with ARVN units proceeded to launch Operation Kien Giang 9-1 against Base Area 470 on 15 November.
[2]: 130 On 18 November Colonel David's force intercepted the VC 263rd Battalion as they retreated southeast following their attack on Firebase Cudgel.
[1]: 138 [2]: 134 Following a period at Đồng Tâm for rest and maintenance, the force returned to Cam Son Base area on 23 November.
[1]: 138 After the first air attack, a B-52 bomber strike in the heavily populated Dinh Tuong Province, the three allied battalions entered the area by riverine assault craft.
[1]: 139 During 27–30 November operations were conducted to clear VC from the Kinh Xang Canal, running northwest alongside Đồng Tâm.
The opening of the upper reaches of the canal permitted the MRF to use assault craft to attack the VC base in Ap Bac.
[1]: 139–40 [2]: 135–6 The MRF was able to land the Marines with light casualties on 4 December mainly due to a flame thrower aboard one of the ATCs.
This operation covered most of the north-central part of Dinh Tuong Province and used both helicopters and boats to bring in troops.
[1]: 141 The MRF was instructed that only defensive actions should be taken during Christmas period and that they could fire on groups of VC who "seemed to be trying to breed contact" or who were more than "platoon-size" in number.
It conducted operations directed westward toward Cai Be, with supporting fire from barge artillery batteries located to its south along the north shore of the Mỹ Tho River.
In groups of platoon and company size, the battalions were dispersed to prevent the VC from using important communication lines during the truce period.
Over the two days, the Americans killed 47 while losing 18 and suffering 50 wounded, most during the landing when they were caught out by the VC's well-prepared, camouflaged positions.
[2]: 141 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.