 Fighting from reinforced bunkers that had kept them safe from the bombardment, the 400 soldiers who defended the outer perimeter of LZ Ross met the attackers with blistering fire.The armored personnel carriers raked the PAVN with their cupola-mounted .50-caliber machine guns; artillerymen fired their 105mm howitzers at the attackers by aiming along the top of their barrels.The assault slowed, lost its cohesion as casualties mounted, and finally came to an end around 05