4th Infantry Division commander Major general William R. Peers planned a defense in depth against People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) incursions from Base Areas 701 and 702 across the Cambodian border.

Special Forces, CIDG units and the 4th Division's long-range reconnaissance teams would search the area west of this line to the Cambodian border.

[2]: 290 On 28 April, the 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment patrolling north of Plei Me ambushed a group of PAVN killing 13 and the remainder fled into a fortified base camp.

On searching the base, the 2/8th Infantry found 42 weapons, supplies and ammunition and a notebook detailing PAVN objectives for the rainy season offensive, including the 2nd Brigade base at Landing Zone Oasis and the Special Forces camps at Plei Djereng, Đức Cơ and Plei Me.

[2]: 291 Following four B-52 strikes southwest of Đức Cơ Camp, Peers sent the 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry in to search the area but they found no sign of PAVN activity.

On the morning of 18 May, Company B 1/8th Infantry patrolling in the densely jungled Ia Tchar Valley near the Cambodian border saw and pursued a lone PAVN soldier.

[2]: 293–4  Private first class Leslie Allen Bellrichard and Staff sergeant Ferenc Zoltán Molnár would each be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions during this attack.

Artillery fire was called in and a relief column sent and after an hour the PAVN withdrew leaving 37 dead, while U.S. losses were four killed.

The PAVN launched several assaults, coming within 10m of the U.S. lines but were unable to penetrate and were eventually driven back by artillery and gunship fire leaving 96 dead and two wounded behind.

[2]: 304–6 On 23 July, Companies B and C 3/8th Infantry were manning positions south of Đức Cơ, 10 km east of the Cambodian border.

After a four-day battle and with heavy air support, the ARVN overran the position forcing the surviving defenders to flee into Laos.

[2]: 303–4 Between 24 September and 10 October, Peers deployed the 2nd Brigade to interdict PAVN infiltration through the Dak Payau Valley, southeast of Pleiku.

On 1 October, helicopter gunships and tactical air support engaged a PAVN force moving along a trail, killing 49 by body count and taking two prisoners from the 95B Regiment.

[2]: 309 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.