 To preempt the long-anticipated blow, General Koster on 2 January directed the 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, to scour the area around Ross with helicopter-borne infantry.Early that day, a company from the 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry, drew heavy fire when it landed into a rice paddy west of LZ Ross.A second company reinforced the first, and the two units remained in heavy contact with the enemy until dark.