From the S&S archives:
Heavy fighting breaks out near Tay Ninh

SAIGON — The Viet Cong carried out two heavy mortar attacks on a U.S. infantry base camp and were beaten back in repeated assaults against two government outposts as the major ground action centered around Tay Ninh Friday.

The communists dropped more than 100 mortar rounds in two early morning attacks on the base camp of the 196th Light Inf. Brigade, about 65 miles northwest of Saigon.

The first attack began about 2 a.m. and lasted about 30 minutes. The second one came about 5:45 a.m. and ended about 15 minutes later.

American casualties and damage were described as light.

This was the heaviest attack made against the base camp since the 196th arrived in Vietnam in August. The camp was hit by mortar fire on one other occasion, but the attack was light.

The base camp of the Philippine Civic Action Group, near the 196th headquarters, also was hit. Light casualties and damage were reported.

Shortly after midnight, a company of South Vietnamese regional force troops manning two outposts about 18 miles southeast of Tay Ninh came under attack by an estimated 700-800 Viet Cong. The attack was preceded by a heavy mortar attack that lasted nearly an hour.

The government troops — outnumbered seven or eight to one — fought off the Viet Cong despite superior firepower and repelled repeated assaults on their positions. Flareships and armed helicopters were called in about 4:30 a.m. and the enemy withdrew about 5 a. m.

Just before noon Friday, a company from the 196th Light Inf. Brigade made contact with the enemy in the same area as the previous day's fighting, northeast of Tay Ninh. The unit was reinforced and was getting heavy artillery support.

Pacific Stars and Stripes photographer Kim Ki Sam, at the scene, reported that heavy fighting was continuing in the afternoon.

The attacks Friday followed heavy fighting in the same general area Thursday. Units of the 196th and the 25th Inf. Div. made contact with a large enemy force about 12 miles northeast of Tay Ninh.

Initial contact was made about 9 a.m. Thursday when a unit of the 25th drew heavy fire from a dug-in reinforced company of Viet Cong. Meanwhile, another unit of the 196th in the same area came into heavy contact with an estimated company after uncovering an enemy base camp.

A Huey medical evacuation helicopter was shot down by enemy groundfire, injuring one of the occupants. The copter later was recovered.

Artillery and air strikes were called in against the enemy position and contact was broken off soon after.