Street Without Joy: The French Debacle in Indochina (Stackpole Military History Series)

by Bernard B. Fall

the Viet-Minh had simply followed the patrols back to Xom-Pheo using them as guides through the mine field! Within seconds, the carefully prepared positions of 1st and 2d Platoons were overrun, with the 1st Platoon being practically submerged in its own bunkers before it had a chance to react. At the same time well-prepared mortar fire pinned down 7th Company in its position, preventing it from using the communications trenches to 5th Company. A few seconds later, 4th Platoon was also attacked, thus leaving only 3d Platoon in position to act as a reserve. With incredible speed, indicating that the whole operation had been carefully rehearsed not only on the map and at the sand table but also through individual visual reconnaissance, Viet-Minh assault troops began to mop up the bunkers one by one with concentrated charges of TNT and bangalore torpedoes.