They sustained increasing casualties .
They clashed with several groups of VC trying to move around their western flank to get between 11 and 12 Platoon and form a cut - off force prior to mounting a frontal assault .
Sustaining increasing casualties , they clashed with several groups of VC trying to move around their western flank to get between 11 and 12 Platoon and form a cut - off force prior to mounting a frontal assault .