In response on 16 October the French command dropped the 6th Colonial Parachute Battalion (6 BPC), commanded by Major Marcel Bigeard into Tu Le, midway between Gia Hoi and Nghĩa Lộ to cover the retreat of French forces to the west bank of the Black River.
In response on 16 October, the French command deployed the 6th Colonial Parachute Battalion (6 BPC), commanded by Major Marcel Bigeard, into Tu Le, situated between Gia Hoi and Nghĩa Lộ to secure the retreat of French forces to the west bank of the Black River.