in early june, savannakhet unit of the cia planned operation black lion to retake khong sedone. on 15 june 1972, "groupement mobile 32" (gm 32) was helilifted into pakxe site 47, unloading on the fly and without their heavy weapons company. this placed gm 32 11 kilometers north of khong sedone. only two hours after re-forming their ranks, gm 32 moved south toward their objective. less than two kilometers out, they ran headon into the 3rd battalion of the pavn 39th regiment. after intense fighting, the arrival of tactical air support for the royalists drove the vietnamese out of the way.