 It had been quiet at Da
Trach and around the outposts manned by one RF company and seven PF platoons.Three of these outposts were in the hills and along the river south of Da Trach, while the others were in the valley of the Khe Le stream (), which flowed into the Sông Thu Bồn northeast of Da Trach post.Also located in the valley was the 4th Company, 146th RF Battalion, which had its 80-man garrison in the Ap Ba hamlet group (), along the road that twisted eastward over the Deo Le Pass to Quế Sơn.