The Secret War in Laos -1/4

This documentary of the Secret War in Laos was given by the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) News to Dr. Tony Vang on May 29, 1984 in Fresno, California. The Hmong people want to express their heartfelt thanks to the late NBC News reporter Ted Yates and his colleagues, Robert Rogers, Julian Townsend and others, for this historical documentary of the Vietnam War. All rights belong to NBC News and their respective owners.

[@bobkleen4553]

Damn, my dad fought in this war when he was 15 and I'm here playing videos games. I'm so thankful for him and my mother

[@nkaujhnubcichannel3173]

We, the Hmong people, were the real veterans of the Vietnam War. We never got the credits and respects from the American people. Many of us are still experiencing the trauma of the war. With the stories out all over the world now, hopefully more Americans will recognize and appreciate all the assistance the Hmong people provided to their soldiers during the war.

[@kinofrias8616]

Correct!!!proud to you brother im ur brother in ASEAN..philippines.

[@marcdickerson1736]

Sorry for what happened to you guys wished that we could have done more for you

[@bobprickett4973]

I was the night desk officer on the Laos desk on the current intelligence indications branch J 2 MACV in 1971. I just discovered this and it is the best thing I have seen on what America did in Laos. Hats off to the makers!

[@turbine6338]

The Hmong people trusted and believed in the Americans. As the American marines never left anyone behind, they should of done the same to the Hmong fighters and their families. They were all Hero's

[@lancesay]

i was just four in 1971, the first memory i had was after we left nam pa noy so my dad could come to teach at the long jang/long tieng (ls20a, or ls98) school and our house sat next to the school... what a previledge time to have fond memory between 1971 to 1975. thank you for uploading these films.

[@thboy1037]

My grandfather worked in Thai military base in South Vietnam during 1968-1969 . Some of his friends worked in Thai volunteer unit in Laos

[@matthew22nz]

“He’s confident that America will never simply abandon the hill people” damn, it’s pretty sobering to hear that with the knowledge that’s basically exactly what they ended up doing.

[@DinoMan_6]

Yep. Where was Gondor when the Westfold fell.

[@vangyang5595]

I still fell really fresh in my bone when i see this films after 60 years.

[@aircommando505]

And continued to do so in Afghanistan.

[@DinoMan_6]

@@aircommando505 where was Gondor when the Westfold fell…again..

[@curtischao9392]

My clan know as Mien or yao by chinese. we fought the vietnamise alongside with Hmong and AGI a division of cia. My elder brother was just about 12 or 13 when he died in this war.

[@Ban-rx2rz]

Respect for yall, don’t know why we “Hmong” took like all da credit smh yall helped too, Hmong people’s ego is annoying asf

[@waterjumper]

Thanks for sharing this.I look forward to viewing the other parts.

[@therookieanimations8117]

I'm glad to know that this video is still up, countless times I have searched far and wide for more footage and stories about my people and their history. I'll make sure my generation never forgets the sacrifice all of us have made to get here. I love you all who have sacrificed so much to get here.

[@xmedia-e]

An excellent news documentary. I use it to teach my students about the Secret War in Laos.

[@selavongsitteesone3209]

thank again for bring the news

[@annevang935]

When I was younger my mother would explain to me of her experience and trauma of the war. It was heartbreaking. I no longer ask her about now that I'm older because it brings me shivers and pain. Nonetheless, we only hope for the best, for all race, for all families and especially for all victims.

[@kishawalker8193]

@AnneVang 💐

[@jacques15]

Great! They are free people building a socialist society from the sweat of their own brows. In this respect, we are far behind them. Salute to the Vietnamese and Laotian peoples.

[@britwilliams-vanklooster4233]

@@jacques15 bro what? Do you understand the history here? When the Hmong describe the violence and trauma they suffered when the war was ending, who tf do you think it was that was slaughtering these people? You’d rather have them stay there and be tortured or murdered? Big yikes.

[@bcoleman5482]

Thank you for posting this - I have missed being able to see it when it has been shown on TV - if I am not mistaken, this was filmed in 1971-72 ish? My father , who is in this documentary died in July of 1972 above the PDJ .

[@jennyhawj253]

B Coleman may he rest in peace

[@Tay3257]

I cry ( every now and then ) for my father who was only a child when he became a soldier. How I wish he was still around for me to ask about his childhood life and what he experienced during the war.

[@motorcycletourslaos]

Wow, must watch Video, thanks for posting it......

[@shannonbliayang7143]

Rest in peace GVP. You are a very important person in this world, my dear uncle. We miss you!

[@schoolssection]

Most gracious of you. Thank you and welcome.

[@MrAlanpxh]

I want thank to our father, war lord, and hmong leader, Vang Pao who supported the United States fought in the Secret War. Because of his brave decisions, a lot of hmong families are now settled in the USA. His works will never forgotten for many years to come. Thank you Vang Pao.

[@jennyhawj253]

Think about what you just said. So... if it was VangPao who got us to the States, who was the war lord and the hmong leader who supported and fought alongside the US that got the Hmong to relocate to France??? to Canada?? and other countries? Yes, he may have been a general who worked alongside the CIA but I'm sure he wasn't the one who got us here. It was HIM who abandoned the remaining Hmong people in Laos. I can remember my mom's recollection of that day they had to leave their village. Her only brother (who was a soldier and was away at war) suddenly shows back up and told them to hurry and pack up because VangPao had abandoned them and it's time to go. It was VangPao who abandoned the Hmongs in Laos. Whether he was the general or not, Hmongs would've came to the US...

[@Pred4tor83]

+ Jenny hawj He said that because he is as much selfish as Vang Pao who made it to the U.S and have no concern about all them Hmong in Laos. To me it's more like a horrible decision and that same goes for Laos who help Vietnam, but to be reasonable what can we do if they take advantage of us? And in my opinion if Vang Pao made decision to help the communist that could've save many Hmong lives and less suffer. And like Jenny said either way any of you would've still come to U.S later or after.

[@MrAlanpxh]

Jenny hawj you are an idiot scumbag. Vang pao fled Laos because the country falls to communist regime, and he has to fled prior to leader execution. It is not his fault leaving his colleagues but it is Americans stupid war political game do you understand? Why Hmong people still settles in frances, Australia and USA? Well, Vietnamese, Laotians, and other miniseries came to those 3rd countries under refugee program. But specifically Hmong people came here to 3rd countries because CIA promised to the Hmong a better place if the land lost. So, Australia, Frances, Canada, accepted the Hmong to their because they accept immigrants. In concluding, ask your poppy and mommy if they ever said they follow Vang pao at interview or not? If they said yes, they tell you the truth. IF THEY SAY NO, they lie to you and they should go back where they come from.

[@richardteh2936]

christopher her millions die so that hermong people can enjoy good life in the United snake sleep well

[@simonjohnston9488]

And many, many more are dead.

[@niamtxiv]

very good video. thank for sharing.

[@lapekuvang]

Thank you for sharing your story. We will never forget our heroes who sacrificed their lives to defend us.

[@JACKHASAIDS]

It is estimated that 30,000 Hmong lost there lives fighting the communists from 1960-75.A whole generation wipe away.Vang Pao did a brillent job considering the odds were greatly stack against him in fighting the communists.Pao was one of a kind.

[@ahang2097]

JAC died from AIDS I say more than that possibly 200000

[@takeaction8463]

The real veterans are the hmong people. Never once were we recognized for our bravery helping the American armies in one of the worst war in history.......

[@nativelifehunkpapa9295]

That's because you were being used.

[@DUDEfreestyle]

Don't worry, I wrote about the secret war back in middle school. Am 26 now.

[@sovietrussia8216]

Nativelife is America Yea we were being used but we wanted to take back our land and we didn’t exactly have the guns to fight the Lao or Vietnamese

[@TheMadisonHang]

@@nativelifehunkpapa9295 more than fair sentiment hmong would like to think beyond this but that isn't hard to do either because its true

[@hckyplyr9285]

That's not entirely true. The Hmong people were honored at the Vietnam memorial in Washington DC in 1985, and many individual Hmong have received awards and decorations from the US government.

[@yingporxiong5361]

A very good and resourceful piece of history about the Hmong and their never ending journeys.

[@chalee1264]

Excellent video. I agree with those who commented that these clips should be preserved and shown to the public to remind the young and old who we are, where we come from and what our parents and grandparents did for the United States. Even though this was a war, this was a pinnacle turning point for our people and our history. Because of our alliance with America (Vang Pao and CIA), this paved the way for education and for the Hmong to come to America after the war.

[@quintonvongpanya5669]

I asked my grandma what happened and she went into a lot of details with her point of view. She mentioned how the some of the Lao people committed genocide on your people and it hit me as to why I, being Lao myself, never had Hmong friends - I don't blame them. I had to take time to grasp it all, even though I wasn't alive back then and was never part of the genocide, it still didn't feel right. I made sure that I wouldn't become what some did. I'm sorry for how my ancestors treated yours.

[@TheMadisonHang]

same thing with japan, its the imperial governmental power its just very typical human history, people greedy for power and control and the destruction of a few generations of a people group, and their own citizens is worth it to them. maybe God has a bigger plan, but on the ground, the reality is reality is very harsh

[@yeejyaj5518]

thank so much....

[@shenghouontube]

thank you

[@johnlacroix3522]

I’m saddened every time I see this documentary and it’s been 40+ yrs.

[@dennisx4492]

I'm so glad my parents survived this war. I want to thank the American family who sponsered my family to come to America. Because of that, I'm alive, and serving the people.

[@TheDustysix]

Two very good and complimentary books are "My Secret War" by Richard S. Drury and "Flying Through Midnight" by John T. Halliday. A-1 Skyraiders and C-123 Candlestick's respectively.

[@peterharris6635]

At 20 min in, very brave pilot with interviewer,elderly pilot been doing job for 7 years to send 4 daughters through college,a somewhat comical sketch, bless him.

[@regiomontanus2438]

part 2 , please

[@curtischao9392]

Sad thing about this war. Laos people did not fight this war. They surrendered to the commonist as they entered the town. Let the hills tribes fought the war. Lead by Viang pao and other tribal leaders.

[@theresayang187]

Yes. I'm married to a Laotian and I never heard them talk about the war. I hear it all the time with my dad and uncle's and they show us pictures of them in uniform at the age of 13. We Hmong people had always been fighting since the beginning of time. Look at us now very successful here in American. I'm proud of my people for fighting even if it was not our war. It was call the Secret War for a reason and if your not Hmong you won't understand our pain....keeping it real

[@somphongsouvannakhily4616]

I'm Laos and my dad die still fighting against the communist in 1984. That mean he's still fighting after the communist took over Laos. And if I was still in Laos I'll still be fighting. So get your info straight before you think that us low land Laos just surrender. And how could anyone forget that hmoog are high land laos.

[@mongher103]

There were two sides. All ethnic groups were divided. To say that all Laotians surrendered and sides with the Viet Congs / Communists is not true. There were Miens, Laotians, and other ethnic groups who fought alongside the Hmong too. Also, there were Hmongs who sided with the Communists as well. Either way, it was a sad situation for all on both side. Especially, the children, women and elderly.

[@xKdawg00]

@@mongher103 my ppl was those ones that helped the Hmong and Americans I’m half Hmong & Lao

[@xKdawg00]

Even some Hmong ppl turn against each other and went join communist it was either fight kill or run if you was in the mother land u would understand what was going on you can’t speak on it just listen and learn your research im half Hmong & Laos and my ppl fought n obviously ran wen communist took over did u kno Laos was a kingdom 2 brothers fought over the country one was communist n other one king

[@beexiong69]

anyone knows where i can get this whole documenttary flim?

[@marcdickerson1736]

The men and women who volunteered to fight that secret war of hmong thank you

[@findingthelostones335]

Is it possible for me to use part of the video shown above? I will put your link down below and give you credit.

[@nraughmoobyaj8088]

We, the Hmong, were American allies. We came to America for sacrificing and war reasons. The ones that came here were the left-over ones. Thousands sacrificed their lives for the Americans.

[@GalacticJourney]

This seems to be a mashup of two different documentaries. Is there a clean copy of 1967's "Laos: The Forgotten War" anywhere?

[@cheechmann75]

Great video

[@SaibCimNcoKhawsThiabLomzemuake]

Kuv zoo siab qhov nej khaws tau tej no tab sis kuv xav tias yog yuav muab post li no yuav tau muab edit tej yam hais txog hmoob cog yeeb, haus yeeb thiab ua lag luam yeeb pov tseg ua ntej muab coj los post. Yog kuv hais yuam kev zam txim pub nawb.

[@ngoquyen9285]

Could someone upload the rest?

[@organogardener]

Where can we find the rest of this doc video?-- 2/4, 3/4, 4/4.

[@kuab50]

Thank you, for spent you time to posting these video. I was a youth soldier at the filming time and thank you for the CIA gave the first time ever to flew Helicopter.

[@donnyyesa6096]

what happen to the other parts?

[@mylyhmoobtojsiab9818]

Trẻ em chưa doi tuổi 18 tay da can. Sung thưa quá

[@korle521]

was this aired?

[@whaugen57]

Original air date of this NBC News, presumably White Paper, Laos The Forgotten War was January 5, 1967. The producer, director, co-writer, and NBC reporter, Ted Yates, was killed later that year on June 5, 1967 in Jerusalem while covering the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.

[@xmedia-e]

Thanks for sharing. Never knew his life was cut short.

[@caliglory1240]

Thanks to Robert Yates for this film.

[@pnwoollams]

Not a mention of the American air support which VP became so reliant on,or the Ravens,Thai soldiers,Korean soldiers and other hill tribes like the Shan and Haka.

[@WaterShowsProd]

A couple of years ago I met a man who was deaf in one ear from firing a cannon in The Thai Army during The 2nd Indochina War. He fought in Vietnam. He told me he was glad he wasn't sent to Laos because if he had been he wouldn't be here today. This report says the Thai soldiers were volunteers, but his account did not make it sound like it was a volunteer choice, but rather a lottery.

[@beryang7260]

What is the name of that piano Lao song GVP played? GVP is very skillful. He was sent down by the gods to guide us to America.

[@henrivang7509]

Dok Champa

[@TinhHuy.J]

Trong chiến tranh chẳng ai đúng cũng chẳng ai sai, thắng là vua thua là giặc, nhưng tôi thấy ở đây sự tổn thương của người hmong chúng tôi quá lớn... Thật đáng để buồn

[@Pred4tor83]

There is no point for arguing who is right or wrong since everyone think their side is the right. But to put it simple way is if there's no war btw the Americans and Vietnam all them Lao and Hmong wouldn't have suffer so much and lost their lives, after all it is not our war. But the past is past so I hope the Lao gov stop killing them Hmong and welcome them to the society.

[@curtischao9392]

The problem is laos government currently is persecuting hills tribes of laos

[@TheMadisonHang]

@16:10 Vang Pao's Melody "get out of our land"

[@mijongkungpark2663]

ປະຊາຊົນລາວ ຂອງພວກເຮົາຈະຈຶຈຳພາບນີຕະລອດໄປໄປ ຄຽງຄູກັບສັງຄົມລາວ ບໍມີລຶມ

[@phooj_ywg]

I proud to be Hmong

[@mr.yeezus944]

Same

[@lebekaxiong4874]

I hope the Laotians nowadays, still struggle over communist, appreciate what had happened to the Hmong people. They laid their lives over this country of Lao.

[@viexay]

Sorry I cant watch this. It just brings tears to my eyes

[@pollydor07]

1970 I was on several top hills near Ho Chi Minh trail Plateau Bolovens Attapeu Pak Song hired by the CIA Laos station Pak se Province . I got wounded on PS-165 . Next morning porter single engine plane landed picked me up and brought to Laotian army base PS-22 awaited C-123 brought me to the CIA hospital at PS-18 on the edge of Mekong River Laos side near Thai Ubon province .

[@bayyaj]

MY KING MY HERO MY DAD MY GENERAL VANG PAO RIP

[@randommarvel]

Golden triangle kingpin

[@bahnartukrong857]

👍🙏💪❤

[@takeaction8463]

When someone says their the HMONG people you AMERICANS need to respect HMONG. You died 100,000 we must of died 500,000 hmong and it. Was all a secret...

[@samuelparker9882]

TakeAction Why. It was your own BIGOTRY AND HATE of other Asians ( Vietnamese ) that allowed you to be bought with AID RICE and LIES to fight for WHITE MEN that never gave a FUCK ABOUT YOU or any other Asians!!! YOU DID THIS to YOURSELVES!!! AND THAT'S A WELL DOCUMENTED FACT! NOT TO MENTION your leader LEFT YOU AND RAN TO AMERICA. SO HOW'S THAT WORKING OUT FOR YOU??!!

[@user-xd4rs6vr4n]

American veterans don't even deserve any respect from Americans for fighting that illegal war. Fuck the CIA and their opium smuggling little Hmongs.

[@THX-bz8bi]

When you met an american you HMONG must respect AMERICANS as they were the only country that cared for the hmong when nobody would, when you hmong ASKED for help Becuase the communist were threating your people also theres many hmong in midwest USA.

[@THX-bz8bi]

@@user-xd4rs6vr4n you disrespectful pig

[@DUDEfreestyle]

Long live ,🇱🇦

[@TheDustysix]

My Uncle was there early 60's.

[@user-pl8ui7re2s]

ຖ້າແປ່ເປັນພາສາລາວຄົງຊິດີຫລາຍ😍

[@tshajlij6882]

This is one of the Hmong evidences video made copies and keep till the end.

[@wamennoodles2508]

I wish we could of followed vang pao wish that we could keep fighting in the jungles but most Hmong people went to America or Thailand. Not many Hmongs are in the jungles. But the remaining are still hunted. So sad.

[@unknownmasksw2serialirious580]

So what.

[@caaspasvang7427]

This was a painful memory of hmoob people’s lives back then 😭😭

[@mrvang8077]

Sad thing about this gorrila war is that they never had a backup support when needed the most to ensure a stronghold in key location.

[@sidi45]

We were long gone from Laos in 1984. Obviously late 60s early 70s.

[@chaovang8528]

GVP we kept your promise to fight 50 or 100 years, now its 40 yrs already its half way through no matter what the result will end up we will keep fighting to the fullest of your promise and until then you be back to lead us in generations to come, we missed you GVP and waiting for you and will carry on your idealism untill the Vietnamese is out of our home land.

[@theresayang187]

I would of stay and fight with my people and not run to America. Like V.P said in the video we will fight till the end but what happen. You came here and lived a good life supported by the government with all your wives & kids... what about the rest of your people, Left to die. Blood money how do u really sleep at night...just keeping it 💯

[@TheMadisonHang]

@9:30 Vang Pao = George Patton lol 🤣, this makes me chuckle, cuz its true

[@caliglory1240]

DEEPLY SAD.

[@kenhgiaitrihmoobchannel9742]

Vietnam verry good ❤❤❤

[@emrakultheaeonstorn7430]

Eastridge.. Amarillo Texas a Hmong ville

[@chaovang8528]

On the Lao/Hmong SGU legislation congress acknowledge those who were 13 yrs old up but this doc. tells that is 11 yrs old.

[@mongher103]

They lie. I’ve heard from uncles and grandfathers, aunts, and grandmothers say that boys as young as 9 years old were recruited a lot if not most of them were basically forced to join. If the families refused or tried to hide or send their sons away, they’d be punished, arrested and imprisoned, etc.

[@lovevang454]

Love❤❤☔hhmmoooobb

[@turbine6338]

The Americans and Hmong people did their best with what they have.

[@pkmst3392]

ເປັນຫຍັງພວກເຈົ້າມາຄືມາຂ້າຄົນລາວ ຄົນລາວໄປເຮັດຫຍັງໃຫ້ພວກເຈົ້າ

[@selavongsitteesone3209]

P'k Mst เขา้ไปชอย เขา้ บ ได้ ไป ขา้ เขา้ ต่ ตาน้ ลาว คิมมีว นิด ลาววงงจัน เปัน ผายปะชาทิปะไต ตอน้ นน้

[@zzzthaoster]

The hmongs were living poorly in the hills of Laos, farming to survived but they were living happily and peacefully. Maybe they should have never stick their noses in this war because the consequences out weigh the benefits. Their people are still suffering from this war right now as I'm writing this and the Americans doesn't even give a crap about it.

[@jololol7158]

Both my parents were just kids when they escaped to Thailand. My mom told me that when her family was trekking through the forest she kept crying and making noise that would alert their location to the NVA and for that her mom fed her opium to “silence” her but thankfully they made it to the refugee camps and my Mom was given medicine and she was spared. I asked her was she mad at her mom for doing that and all she said was they had to do whatever they could to get away, even if it means killing off their children.

[@lapekuvang]

It’s really sad story. You should write a book about it so we can keep our story alive and also for generations to learn about the tragedies that their grandparents n parents had been through.

[@britwilliams-vanklooster4233]

I’m not sure where you live, but my mom worked with many Hmong in Wisconsin during the 80s and 90s, and she said one of the people she met told almost the same story. I cannot imagine a parent having to make that decision. Living here in the US, most of us have no real concept of experiences like that. I’m proud of your family for the courage they showed to survive.

[@jololol7158]

@@britwilliams-vanklooster4233 I currently live in Minnesota. Its really an eye opener when my Mom told me about what they had to endure during that time. Im glad my Mom is here and also thankful my Dad is also here. I never really asked my Dad about his experience, I will ask when I go see him soon.

[@mazzygutierrez8787]

My granpa was in the veitnom war his name is neng

[@viexay]

Your grammer & spelling also needs corrections

[@gchgvhf9676]

ສົ່ງຄາມລາວອະດີດນອ່ຍຄົນບໍ່ມີໃຜ່ຮຸ້

[@TheMadisonHang]

@28:20 will you look at that humans trying convince themselves they are civil

[@leekousayaxang5140]

Hmoob yeej ntse thiab tshaj lij heev tab sis hmoob mej ntsis raug rhuav tshem tau yooj yim vim hmoob ntseeg luag lwm tus ntxias tau sai, vim tsis xav kom ntxaws ntxaws 8 fab.

[@Kpx1999]

peb cov hmoob puas yuav muaj leej twg ua tau ib yam li peb txiv vaj pov nej puas paub hais tias thaum nws ntsia mus rau tej niam txiv pej xeem nws tsua tau hais rau lawv sawv daws hais tias kom ua lub siab loj xwb tiam sis qhov tseeb tiag hauv peb txiv vaj pov hauv nws lub siab yeej hlub niam txiv pej xeem sawv daws txhua nrho nws thiaj yuav tau ua khov kho tiv thaiv lub teb lub chaw os kwv tij hmoob nco ntsoov los koom ua ib haiv thiaj yuav muaj yeej nco ntsoov peb txiv cov lus os

[@JenositePAD1968]

That Awesome Secret War in Lao !

[@hmoobluj3860]

America war end in 1975 but Hmong war was continuing in Laos never ending!

[@hmonghang9540]

Peb yuav tsum muab kom tau peb lub teb chaw looj ceeb rov los ua peb tu thiaj tsim nyog qhov pua yog hmong

[@Job.Well.Done_01]

6:40 westmoreland…..is that you?

[@hmoobkhoxovtooj8455]

You see that all hmong people help american to safe soldiers that us must love hmong

[@xcapwned1yh900]

Manifest Destiny, was in favorite of the Hmong people. It was written, we shall come to this promise land. Wherever we came from we manage to move a mass of our people to come here. With only "tribal" technology and "savage" political views, how else would you explain it. Lady Luck should not take this away. Still Hmong; still free. New Religions - "Most likely the product of suppressing nostalgia from oneself to retaliate transgressions from egocentric agendas." ©xcapwned1 yh 2017 All rights reserved.

[@Badboy-wf1lv]

The Hmong soldiers refused to help the Thai soldiers when they were attacked by the enemy The Hmong soldiers ran away very quickly

[@worldentertainmentvang7307]

Lies, proof? The Hmong did all the fighting.

[@cocopuff3766]

....

[@touxiong7118]

Hmong people didn't know that American and Chinese just played game because American CIA used signal planes to shoot smoke to a place where they were going to bumb before they bombing their enermy north Vietnamese. After couple years of Fighting the American just pulled out of lao and Vietnam. They left many captains and soldiers in the front lines fighting and took only couple soldiers and general vangpao to Thailand. American were not serious fighting to win because American just played politics. Also the red laotian and white laotian just played game and politicsonly because after letting the Hmong fighting for many years they just signed peace treaty. The Hmong have no choice after general vangpao left the country then the Hmong have to go to the jungle with the unleft captains and soldiers to fight against the communist. Even if vangpao left to American; he kept sending Hmong soldiers to lao jungle where the resistance fighters stayed and told them to keep fighting the communist because he was going to return.

[@hmoobvwj5539]

ok

[@vajxeemthoj9913]

Vangpo

[@mangthao2644]

CCTV

[@yellowneck92]

What the hell would you expect, join VP's army or get drafted into the communist force. It's war, pretty much a civil war among Hmongs.