On this day, 72 years ago, July 24, 1953 (June 14, 1953 in the lunar calendar), French paratroopers surrounded Lang Son. The offensive codenamed "Sparrow" On July 24, 1953, the French troops stationed in Vietnam successfully carried out "Operation Sparrow". As part of this ambitious Navarre plan, paratroopers landed in the Lang Son area and once again seized this area of northeastern Beibu Gulf from the Communists. General Henry Navarre, the new French commander in Indochina, was deeply disappointed by the action. The Vietminh was hidden in the jungle, and the French could not lure them out to fight them. Navarre told his superiors in Paris that the war was much like the Korean War and could not be won. French defense officials called back saying Navarre should do his best to protect his troops.