SOUTH VIET NAM THE STRAIN OF CONSTANT COMBAT AFTER A WEEK OF 
MAJOR BATTLES, FURIOUS FIGHTING AND HEAVY CASUALTIES (TIME, JAN . 11), 
THE WAR IN SOUTH VIET NAM SETTLED BACK LAST WEEK INTO 
ITS NORMAL PATTERN OF VICIOUS, HIDE-AND-SEEK, HIT-AND-RUN ENGAGEMENTS . ONE BAND 
OF COMMUNIST VIET CONG GUERRILLAS BEHEADED A GOVERNMENT PROVINCIAL DISTRICT CHIEF 
NORTHWEST OF SAIGON, AND ANOTHER KNOCKED OVER A STRATEGIC HAMLET IN 
THE NORTHEAST, CAPTURING ENOUGH U.S . WEAPONS TO EQUIP AN ENTIRE 
RED COMPANY . WITH U.S . HELICOPTER CREWS WORKING OVERTIME, GOVERNMENT 
TROOPS KILLED AND WOUNDED 75 VIET CONG AND CAPTURED TONS OF 
SUPPLIES IN A SWEEP THROUGH A REDINFESTED AREA NEAR THE CAMBODIAN 
BORDER . BUT THE STRAIN OF CONSTANT COMBAT WAS BEGINNING TO 
TELL ON THE U.S . CHOPPER PILOTS . HEADING BACK TO 
BASE AFTER 15 HOURS OF CONTINUOUS ASSAULTS AGAINST RED POSITIONS ONE 
NIGHT LAST WEEK, A U.S . WHIRLYBIRD SUDDENLY TOPPLED OUT OF 
FORMATION AND, WITH ITS RED FLYING LIGHTS CARVING CRAZY PATTERNS IN 
THE DARKNESS OVER THE MEKONG RIVER, SPUN INTO THE GROUND . 
WHEN RESCUE WORKERS REACHED THE COPTER'S TWISTED WRECKAGE, THEY FOUND THE 
MANGLED BODIES OF SEVEN U.S . CREW MEMBERS . WITH TEN 
AMERICANS ALREADY KILLED IN 1963, ONE UISER REMARKED BITTERLY : " 
IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS GOING TO BE A HELL OF 
A YEAR FOR US. 