NVA from across the border, in Laos, registering their rocket launchers and guns—122s, 130s, and heavy mortars—in anticipation of our move into the A Shau. When our troops first air-assaulted to the valley the NVA were ready, waiting, with reinforcements, open supply lines and on-call supporting fire. How did they know, before we launched even our first helicopter, where we were headed? What would they have done if we had not stumbled across 937? Would they have attacked us in force or only have sniped at us? Mortared our NDPs but not have engaged us fully? Waited until we’d reported “The A Shau has been cleared,” let us leave, and then carry the war forward into the populated lowlands—attacking our bases, Viet Namese towns and cities on their own schedule? By Day 2 our units were catching
