 On 2 July, the first day of Operation Buffalo the base was again heavily shelled in an attempt to reduce fire support for the encircled 1st Battalion, 9th Marines.From late 1967 the ARVN 2nd Regiment of the 1st Division was based at Gio Linh together with Company M 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines to provide security for the artillery.On 9 January a mortar attack on the base resulted in 3 Marines killed and 2 wounded.