The U.S. 4th Infantry Division was responsible for the defense of the provincial and district capitals that lay along Highway 14, a paved road that ran from north to south through the middle of the Central Highlands.

Thao’s main combat force, the 1st Division, contained three strong regiments, the 32nd, the 66th, and the 174th, and was commanded by a veteran officer, Colonel Nguyễn Hữu An.

The enemy received his supplies and replacements from several large bases on the Cambodian border, which lay at the southern end of the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

[1]: 148 As October 1967 drew to a close, I Field Force, Vietnam commander General William B. Rosson’s most pressing concern in the Central Highlands was the ominous sign of an offensive buildup by elements of the B3 Front.

Rosson believed that the most likely targets were the Civilian Irregular Defense Group program (CIDG) camps and other installations in western Kontum and Pleiku Provinces that were within easy reach of the enemy’s Cambodian base and Đắk Tô was at the top of the list.

[4]: 43  On 23 February a unit of the Division’s air cavalry squadron supported by helicopter gunships engaged two enemy companies killing 23.

By contrast, areas to the south were less well protected and thus offered a greater opportunity to pick off an isolated base or to ambush an unwary unit.

All the while, Thao would continue to restock his forward supply areas and to integrate replacements coming down the Ho Chi Minh Trail in anticipation of the next major phase of the 1968 general offensive.

Companies A and B of the 3rd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, had established the outpost a few days earlier to protect the Polei Kleng Camp 12 km to the east.

Employing flamethrowers in addition to automatic weapons and RPG-2s, the PAVN penetrated the northwest perimeter and briefly occupied a few bunkers until driven off by a U.S. counterattack.

A pair of PAVN deserters told their interrogators that the B3 Front was trying to strengthen its infiltration and supply routes that led from the tri-border area to the central plateau where the major cities were located.

As long as Stone controlled the high ground west of Kontum, the PAVN/VC would find it difficult to mass his forces to attack the provincial capital.

Scout helicopters from the 7/17th Cavalry, noticed a rise in enemy activity around Dak To in early April as the 95C and the 101D Regiments moved into the area.

Tanks from the ARVN 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment engaged the ambushers and were joined by mechanized infantry, Vietnamese Rangers and CIDG troops.

[8]: 19  On 10 May a firebase 9 miles (14 km) west of Đắk Tô was attacked, the enemy withdrew leaving 47 dead; U.S. losses were three killed.

[8]: 27  On 16 May near Landing Zone Brillo Pad Sergeant Anund C. Roark smothered the blast of an enemy hand grenade with his body an action for which he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

On 21 May Division engineers found a weapons cache 10 miles (16 km) west-northwest of Kontum containing 70 U.S. .45 cal submachine guns.

[8]: 39 On 22 May a unit of the 3rd Brigade supported by artillery and airstrikes engaged an enemy platoon 19 miles (31 km) west of Kontum killing ten.

[8]: 43  On 26 May at midnight a 1st Brigade unit at a firebase 11 miles (18 km) west of Đắk Tô was attacked with the enemy penetrating the perimeter and seizing four bunkers.

The unit counterattacked and recaptured the positions before the enemy withdrew leaving two captured from the 2nd Battalion, 101D Regiment, 325C Division and 51 individual weapons; U.S. losses were 14 killed.

At 13:05 the convoy was attacked again 4 miles (6.4 km) north-northwest of Kontum and Division units reinforced forcing the PAVN to withdraw leaving 41 dead; U.S. losses were one killed.

[10]: 13  On 7 June during a firefight near Kontum Private first class Phill G. McDonald would be killed while evacuating wounded soldiers, actions for which he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

On 13 June a Division unit in a night defensive position 28 miles (45 km) north-northwest of Đắk Tô was attacked resulting in 14 PAVN/VC killed.

[11]: 29–32 On 21 August at 13:30 a unit of the air cavalry squadron engaged an enemy force 26 miles (42 km) east-northeast of Ban Me Thuot killing 22 and capturing three individual and one crew-served weapons.

While sweeping the surrounding area the troops engaged a PAVN force and as the battle continued they were reinforced at 16:00 by a mechanized unit of the 2nd Brigade.

At 17:00 a firebase located 11 miles (18 km) west of Đắk Tô was hit by 120 rounds of 120 mm mortar fire causing minimal damage.

[15]: 9–10  On 4 November at 20:00 a 1st Brigade firebase 9 miles northwest of Đắk Tô was hit by 15 122 mm rockets causing minimal damage.

[15]: 12  On 11 November at 21:00 a 1st Brigade firebase 9 miles (14 km) northwest of Đắk Tô received 125 rounds of mortar, recoilless rifle and artillery fire causing minimal damage.

[15]: 47 On 10 December at 13:00 a company from the 2nd Brigade engaged an enemy force 17 miles (27 km) northeast of Pleiku killing ten and capturing one individual weapon.

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