[2]: 73 Colonel Herbert E. Ing's 1st Marine Regiment was responsible for the Osceola area of operations which bordered the Lancaster area of operations to the west, Kentucky and Napoleon/Saline to the north and Neosho to the east and south and included the Quảng Trị Combat Base, but not Quảng Trị city which was defended by the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN).

Ing concentrated his units on security and pacification operations rather than pursuing the PAVN in the Hải Lăng Forest as in Operation Medina with the 2/1 Marines deployed south of the Thạch Hãn River guarding the approaches to Quảng Trị Combat Base and the 2/4 Marines protecting the base and the area north of the Thạch Hãn River.

[2]: 119  On 24 and 31 January the base was hit by 122mm rocket and mortar fire causing minimal damage.

[2]: 118 When the PAVN and Viet Cong (VC) launched their Tet Offensive attack on Quảng Trị city the 1/3 Marines were unable to assist the ARVN due to their commitments to the defense of Quảng Trị base and the 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division was the only unit available to assist the ARVN.

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