The Marines and ARVN would attempt to engage the PAVN/VC while the 1st Cavalry Division in the complementary Operation Masher would attack the base areas.

On the afternoon of 21 January a 14-man patrol was attacked by PAVN/VC at the base of Hill 829 (14°47′56″N 108°41′28″E / 14.799°N 108.691°E / 14.799; 108.691) 4 km northwest of Ba Tơ with the artillery forward observer going missing.

[1]: 25 D-Day 28 January was rainy with low clouds however the landings proceeded smoothly with BLT 3/1 Marines on Red Beach by 07:00.

BLT 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines was landed by HMM-362 helicopters on Nui Xuong Giong (14°49′N 108°58′E / 14.81°N 108.96°E / 14.81; 108.96), a hill northwest of Red Beach, in the afternoon.

Also on 29 January the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines was flown into Quảng Ngãi Airfield to exploit the results of the B-52 strikes scheduled for the next day.

That same afternoon Marine Aircraft Group 36 established a helicopter forward operating base called "Johnson City" 400m inland from Red Beach.

[1]: 29–30 On 3 February BG Platt ordered his forces to move south in an attempt to press the PAVN/VC against the 1st Cavalry and ARVN in Bình Định Province.

[1]: 30 On 11 February, after minimal results in their southern sweep, BG Platt ordered his forces to move back towards Red Beach/Johnson City.

[1]: 33 Operation Double Eagle concluded on 17 February, the Marines had suffered 24 dead and had a body count of 312 PAVN/VC killed and 19 captured.