French Forces occupied the Black River Valley to interdict the flow of supplies from Communist China to Vietminh insurgents in November 1951. As usual, General Giap's Forces retreated to fight another day. That day came two months later when the Vietminh infantry regiment, recently supplied with American Booty from the Korean Conflict, slithered to the base of Xom-Pheo at midnight, On the slopes above, the Foreign Legion's 13th demi-brigade kept watch over "Road 6", a key French supply route.
Attacker: Vietminh (88th Infantry Regiment)
Defender: French (5th Company, 2nd Battalion, 13th Demi-Brigade)
