What was the Secret War in Laos?

[@RogerWilco66]

I've studied the SEA conflict for almost twenty years and just found your lectures. I must say that I am utterly impressed by your narrative and the way you present it. Excellent job! My compliments.

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@RogerWilco66 and I am humbled by your comment. Truly. I’ll try to maintain that standard always, and I will appreciate you watching and commenting. Thank you.

[@redx6129]

Thank for Laos history is memory I never forget because I was in situations during Laos war I saw they fighting day and nigh very strong both side very appreciated and thank sir for bring this history hopefully in future we get our democracy back

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@redx6129 I really appreciate you watching and commenting. God Bless you

[@nealthao6455]

Dr. Paul Carter, I lived in Sam Thong in August 1965 to June 1966, 9 years old boy, attended third grade at Sam Thong Primary school, met Mr. Don, a CIA agent who was killed in Na Khang in 1965, and later met Mr. Jack who replaced Mr. Don, to assist the Sam Thong Primary school, and I met Edgar Pop Buell and all the Hmong leaders in Sam Thing hospital. The King of Laos visited Sam Thong in December 1965 and gave a new name to Sam Thong as Muong Sam Thong Sayanakhone where I had seen the most White people to visit Sam Thong in December 25, 1965. I love and give you so much credits for the accurate historical account on the war in Laos. I love to see you speaking to the new Hmong generation about what you had shared in this video in order to out a closure to a dark chapter of the American war. I believe that you are right that the U.S. made some mistakes in waging the war in Vietnam despite an honest intention to bring democracy to Southeast Asia. Yes, the Hmong had fought brilliantly and courageously with the American, there was also a dark side that the American politicians need to learn, which is corruption and accountability. American politicians need to pay attention to "teach them to fish as opposed to give them the fish." In any rate, Americans are generous, freedom and democracy protector, hard working people, and have strong belief in competition with fair rule. Americans need to be reminded of fairness and justice. American did not lose the war in Vietnam; Americans were in fatigue to fight a war with the angry, extreme, and ulterior patriotism communist Vietnamese force after 1000 years of colonization from the Chinese, 81 years of French colonization, and 13 years of US. colonization. Indochina owes so much to the French and the U.S. from rescuing their countries from being permanently colonized by their neighboring countries such as China, Thailand, and Burma. Dr. Carter, thank you for sharing the accurate account of the history of the war in Vietnam. Dr. Neal Thao, a Professor at Metro State University, St. Paul, MN.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Neal, I am pleased you commented again, and it is my honor to meet you! I really do appreciate you taking the time to comment, and all Americans should feel so proud for the Hmong who were our allies and now are great Americans. What a wonderful success story, the Hmong coming to America and now are successful Americans woven into the fabric of this great country. I have several pictures of the King's visit in 1965 (would you like copies?) and it would be an honor for me to speak to younger Hmong. You know, I have visited Sam Thong twice, the last time in 2018. I was there with an American, Mac Thompson, who had been stationed there for awhile. He speaks Lao well and brought some pictures of Sam Thong back in the day. All the planes and people. He gave them to one family along the roadside - the old landing strip - in the middle of Sam Thong, and they just stared at them, really reflecting. It was a poignant moment. If you would like any photos I have, I will be happy to send you scanned copies. Email me at [e-mail] and thank you so much for your comment.

[@nealthao6455]

@@CarterOnConflict Dr. Carter, yes, I would like to see those pictures of the King's visit in 1965 to Sam Thong. I used to live in the Catholic missionary boarding school in Vientiane, Laos and I Know Father Bouchard, a native of Massachusetts. My older brother went to Huahinh, Thailand in 1962, to receive the training at the age of 14. He was the third group of Hmong soldiers to receive the training in Huahinh, Thailand. He served as a special soldier trained by the PARU as a dropper rice and weapons to various Lima Sites. Our village was the LS 17, near Muong Sui. Later on, my older brother joined the US Aid in Vientiane for three years then he rejoined as a customer for Jerry Daniels and later with his boss, Dave McClaim, from Baltimore, MD. My brother had a nick name as Penguin and was assigned as a liaison for Dave McClaim at Buam Long. We came to the U.S. in March 1976, resettled in Providence, RI where my siblings received education at La Salle Academy and was a classmate to U.S. senator Pat Toomey, R-PA. My brother graduated at La Salle Academy rank #6 and Pat Toomey ranked Valedictorian. Pat Toomey went to Harvard and my brother went to Brown and Dartmouth. He got his MD from Brown and Dartmouth and his MPH at Harvard and his JD at William Mitchell Law school in MN. My son is now a US. Army Major stationed in Okinawa, Fort Hood, and Hawaii, followed the foot step of my brother and my dad. Actually, my siblings and I were the beneficiaries of the Vietnam war. Indochina had gone through much turmoil. As you know, Chinese leaders from the beginning till now have come from a conservative culture. Many Chinese left China and have become important political leaders in Laos, Burma, Cambodia, Thailand, The Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and the U.S. Ne Win, of Burma, is Chinese. Polpot of Cambodia, is a Chinese, Phoumi Nosavanh,a Chinese, was a Prime Minister of Laos. Many Thai Prime Ministers were Chinese descent such Chom Leekpai, Taksin Shinnawattra, and others, Lee Kwan Yu , the founding President of Singapore, a Chinese, the Aquino in the Philippines, and Gary Lock, former governor of Washington State and US. Ambassador under the Obama administration to the PR C. My older brother used to work U.S. Senator Sheldon White House while he was a young man in Laos during the early 1970s when his father U.S. Ambassador in Laos. I am so proud to see him elected US.S. Senator of RI (D-RI). I want to meet with you in the near future. I am eager to attend any conference that you will be invited as a speaker regarding the war in Laos. Dr. Carter, you make my day as I feel very good about watching your video. The Americans saved us and gave us democracy. Without the American involvement in the war in Laos, my brother and nieces and nephews would never graduated from Yale, Havard, Brown, Dartmouth, NYU, Brandeis, Cornell, BU, and BC. My niece, Mee Moua, was the first Hmong American elected to the MN state senate. My cousin, Choua Lee, was the first Hmong to be elected in the U.S., a St. public school board. I need to work hard and learn from the pilgrims how to have a life in the U.S., a new and young country, emerged as the world power in economics. If the early American settlers could do, we, the Hmong can do the same. Let's build our life based on the energy, motivation, and good spirit of the early American settlers in New England. Dr. Carter, thank you for meeting with me in this video. Watching your video reminded me of my early times to meet with Mr. Don, Mr. Jack, Edgar Pop Buell, and Jerry Daniels in the Lima Site 17, Nam Chong (1962), and 1965 in Sam Thong.

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@nealthao6455 it really is such an honor to meet you - I am amazed with your family history and so appreciate you sharing it. I want to meet you as well. I haven't been invited to any Laos War conferences - nor have I known any - but I would love to talk at one if such is ever scheduled. I am so proud of the Hmong that fought with the Americans and extremely honored at what you have contributed to America. Please email me at [e-mail] and I will email you the Sam Thong photos of the kings visit - and some others.

[@stevewhitton8671]

I pray for your ancestors. I am proud of your accomplishments in the US

[@leeyang5763]

They need to teach this in US History because as a Hmong person I'm getting tired of being called a Chinese, communist, telling us to go back home. Our parents and grand parents fought along side the US, so many of my family members died in that war. We deserve to be known that we are not enemies of the US but one of their most loyal ally.

[@CarterOnConflict]

I'm sorry this happens. What a shame. Many of us know your honor and sacrifice.

[@leeyang5763]

@@CarterOnConflict Thank you for honoring our elderlies sacrifices. What can you say when you don't have a country you will always be a minority everywhere you go. From our indigenous land in China to the high mountains of Vietnam, Laos, to the refugee camp in Thailand, the ghettos in the USA, you get use to the discrimination.

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@leeyang5763 Thank you for your sacrifice for freedom. America is lucky to have Americans such as you, and a steadfast and worthy ally during the war.

[@paolee2730]

Truth!

[@genaholshouser7148]

You have my respect

[@bluepacificsurf]

Dr. Carter, you have created a superb 1+ hour summary on a story that needs to be heard by all Americans. Thank you for both making this video and posting it here for all of us to learn and absorb the content.

[@CarterOnConflict]

I really appreciate you watching, and your comment. Thank you!

[@thoenglienoh9068]

可以有中文字幕嗎？

[@johnbaker5565]

I was a hippy in Vientiane in 1975. I crossed from Nong Khai and stayed in the Lido Hotel. there were 3 distinct types of Westerners in town at this time. Hippies, Junkies and CIA / Air America Types. An Australian friend suggested we visit Kasi, as he had stayed previously, and said there was a hotel run by a Swiss with good food, good weed and an opium den. Sounds wonderful and we travelled for hours on a local bus. Arriving at Kasi the nightmare began. The hotel was a pile of rubble so we went to the restaurant. They refused to serve us, and then a older man appeared and burst into tears, all we could understand was the word Americans. it gets worse. Soon 4 North Vietnamese soldiers arrived and took us to some army place that had a blackboard with chalk writing. They searched our belongings and found the weed which they returned. They asked some questions, but we were truly ignorant of what was going on in this part of Laos and they took us back to the destroyed hotel. One of the soldiers made a broom of sticks and indicated we clear a space and sleep on the floor, and to be on the morning bus back to Vientiane. The Australian knew where the opium den was, and we went there. it was VERY Dark inside coming from bright sunlight, but as our eyes adjusted, it was full of Pathet Lao (communist) soldiers. The pipe master told us the price of a cup of opium 200 Kip. Later he said 400 Kip. Then he explained. Lao smoke opium 100 Kip, American smoke opium 800 Kip. The price in Kip was irrelevant. By this time it was $1 = 18000 black market, when I entered Laos a few weeks before it was 1200. The border closed and everyone was trapped. Many Hmong women wore chunky silver as family wealth. They were selling it to an American paying them in his Black market Kip. he was cheating them. His brother I recall was in the CIA and somehow involved. It needs to be said that Vientiane was the heroin, transvestite and opium capitol of the world. There were dens on every corner that sold branded heroin in accurate weighted amounts. Last but not least was the infamous nightlife. There were bars where bargirls would do anything with their bodies for money. Westerners (not hippies and junkies) would use money to make these girls perform sexual acts of the most depraved kind. The White Rose Bar was the most infamous, but there were others. There are the courageous, brave Americans who fought and died alongside the Hmong who risked their lives to help these people who were undoubtably discriminated by Vietnamese and Laoations. The reality was that the Hmong like the Montagnards of Vietnam had lived with discrimination for centuries. They were "(PERSUADED") to fight the Vietnamese and look how it turned out. Many Green berets have stated they are ashamed of leaving these proud people to their fate and as so many Americans risked their own lives to help the Hmong, I can guess how many feel some shame. Thee misery of South and North Vietnam, Pol Pot's Cambodia and Laos are now history. The biggest losers were those who lost their lands and culture, the Hmong and Montagnards.

[@CarterOnConflict]

John….this is an amazing story….i have heard vaguely of this you describe but not in such detail. Did you cross over with a Kiwi by the name of Vaughn, or run into him? Long time ago, I know. Could you please email me at [e-mail]?

[@catchandeat]

Thank you for this. As first generation Hmong-Americans born in the US, we missed out on the detailed events and players of the theater. Many of the elders did not choose to share the trauma of war and chose to begin a new life instead--thus taking their story with them. My dad lived in Long Cheng until it was evacuated and he can still point to where his old house was. Two years ago he and my grandfather, an artillery loader at the time of the war, finally went back to Laos for the Phunsuvan Hmong New Year. Thanks for the hard work in this series, you don't know how much it means to us.

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@catchandeat I appreciate your kind words. I can understand of course the elder Hmong just wanting to put it all behind them, so I am glad you enjoyed it and really appreciate you taking the time to tell me. God Bless, and going to Phonsavan for the New Years sounds like alot of fun. I bet that was very meaningful.

[@catchandeat]

@@CarterOnConflict i believe it was, he was able to visit his hometown which they call La 52. I'm not sure what the Laotian name for this town is. What he took away from the trip was the inevitable passage of time. He said he walked the path he used to take to the well every day but now it's a street lined with buildings. He came back a little rejuvenated and I think he got some closure.

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@catchandeat wow, fascinating. Well, that he got some closure is the most important thing. Thank you for sharing this.

[@dang25272549]

The most detailed story of this war and very well made . Thank you so much for your time and effort to make a whole footage,

[@CarterOnConflict]

I really appreciate you watching, and your comment. I do hope there are other videos on my channel that you watch and enjoy, particularly the two Raven videos and the Lee Gossett Air America video. Thank you again.

[@paddy654]

Thank you professor for this clear lecture. It is so fascinating to follow these lectures now that I am retired and finally learn the real truth!

[@CarterOnConflict]

Well thank you so much for watching and your comment - I appreciate it!

[@joepvanderijt3725]

Another fantastic video Paul; Well researched, unbiased, clear and open minded and excellent build up of your video.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Joep, I am both humbled and joyed you enjoyed the video - and thanks for your comment!!!

[@Voicesonthewindadventures]

Dr.Carter Thank you for your research and effort into making this video. This is history that needs to be taught to all Americans.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Sir, call me Paul and I appreciate you watching and commenting. I’m glad you feel this way. If you haven’t seen it yet, may I please suggest a couple of videos on my channel, I’ll just give you this one: Laos Secret War Pilot: Lee Gossett kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJzPg4ljn7WJo5I thank you again.

[@hmoobtwincitiesnews]

I have brothers , friends, uncle any other die for this Secret War in Laos, we like this video, when i watch this video i cry all time , thanks for post our Hmong story in the public'

[@CarterOnConflict]

I know you all sacrificed so much. God bless you. Thank you for watching and your comment.

[@Dushan-o8w]

They died for nothing but yanky imperialism

[@jgood9810]

My father was a gunner on a AC130 gunship stationed in Ubon and Korat Thailand from 68-73. He wasn't credited with all of his combat missions until the mid 1990's due to the secrecy of operations in Laos and Cambodia. He flew over 300 missions in South East Asia,, mostly they flew truck interdiction along the Ho Chi Min trail nightly.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Thank you for sharing that. Too many servicemen were not duly rewarded for their service since it was in Laos. I appreciate you watching and sharing.

[@jgood9810]

@@CarterOnConflict Thank you, these are all stories that need to be heard. I just found your channel while looking for content on pows left behind in South East Asia. After watching your video on that I subscribed, now I'm watching everything you have made. Thank you so much for helping preserve these almost forgotten pieces of US history.

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@jgood9810 comments like yours is why I do this. Without you and others, I certainly wouldn’t. You keep me motivated. I appreciate your subscription and watching. I have some good ones coming up too, so….thanks for making my day.

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@jgood9810 oh…you may have gotten to this one already, but our 1918 POWs is a very sad story as well. Under 18 minutes, I have original film and video: POW/MIA Part II: The 1918 Russian Expedition kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2S8eoiafKeXfpo

[@CarterOnConflict]

POWs: The Documented Cases of POWs Left Behind kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3O7qGN7jb-lb7M

[@ronrickenbach2878]

You did a fine job. A very thoughtful look at we did in Laos. I do not think I ever thought of what you suggest...that the whole idea of it having to be a "secret" war was in hindsight probably the biggest mistake of all. With the worst of the consequences of that mistake shouldered by the Hmong who never stood a chance in a conventional war. I was a USAID worker at Sam Thong in 1977. I was 23, idealistic, and felt very much at home in that space. We felt we were the good guys. We did not contemplate what ultimately took place. And there was a confidence that we would prevail in Vietnam. Not for nothing, at minute 45:00 in the film, where Pop is being introduced, there is a picture of Pop between a Hmong couple who had been married that day. I am standing next to Hertou's bride. Surprise! Anyway, job well done.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Thank you for coming on board and leaving this comment. I will label the picture with this identifying information (I can't in the video, but the pic on my computer I can). Were you involved in a crash? I meant to ask you that!

[@chopperman10]

Wow just wow! Interestingly enough I have a close friend, also a Helicopter pilot like myself who for the past 14 years has been actively involved with the US military POW MIA program. I found your vlog fascinating. 👍

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@chopperman10 thank you for watching and posting, and how cool you fly choppers!!! Good stuff. Please check out my videos, particularly my one on our 1918 POWs that shared a similar fate kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2S8eoiafKeXfpo

[@l06pual]

My father was a loyal Lao army officer were recruited by the CIA in 1960 to trained the Hmong soldiers, the CIA ditched him and let him be captured by the communist. He were sent to re-education camp and later 1975 my whole family were sent to join him in re-education camp for 12 years. I am the only one escaped to US my family still in Lao.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Such a sad story. Thank you for your comment. God Bless

[@stevewhitton8671]

I will pray for you and your family

[@modellbleu2294]

I've been living in Thailand for 20 years and spend a lot of time in Laos. They are a lovely people. Planning a trip to Long Tien. I hear it is finally accessible although there is a lot of red tape involved. Thanks for your video contribution!.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Sir, I've been to Long Tieng three times, 2015-2018. There was no red tape, unless things have changed since then (which is possible). The best way to find out (I'm curious myself) is to talk to the moto cy tour operators who are all over Laos for a living - hit up Chris Corbett at Laos Adventure Tours, he would know. You can find him through his website.

[@nwsli105]

Dr. Carter I praise you for your time and your knowledges about the secrete war in Laos. Tremendous time and effort have been put into the documentary for sure. Great job!

[@CarterOnConflict]

Well thank you so much for watching, and posting. I hope of my 25 videos there are others as well you may enjoy watching. Thank you again.

[@CardboardRN]

Thank you so much for this beautiful project and documentation. Very well done and valuable history in this video alone. The stories and sacrifices from the comment section, here, alone is so disheartening, and I hope everyone who’s involved in this tragedy will find peace and happiness. Bless day!

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@CardboardRN thank you so much for watching and commenting. Tragic story, or stories, for sure. We must stop seeing war as a solution except to defend one’s homeland, or, assist an ally financially. I appreciate you watching and commenting.

[@3108frank1]

Great video with a lot I never knew. I was stationed at Udorn 70-71 as a jet engine mechanic and time spent in maintence debriefing. Very sad so many people died over there who were just innocent people living their lives. I am in commercial real estate now and just sold a church to some people from Laos. I didn't know it but Sacramento has one of the largest population of people from Laos. They are wonderful people.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Frank, thank you so much for watching and commenting, and sharing this story. You are right about the Lao. They are just sone of the most gentle, kind people on the planet. And they got stuck in a superpower struggle that wasted so much blood and treasure. Glad we were able to bring sone to the US, but I guess that was a trickle overall. Anyway….appreciate you posting, thank you.

[@gtb4r]

Thank you, and bless you, Dr. Carter, for helping me to understand so many unanswered questions about why and how the Hmong people played a role in this war.

[@CarterOnConflict]

I appreciate you watching the video, and commenting. Your comment makes it all the worthwhile, and I am glad I helped in understanding this seemingly complex issue. I’m still learning myself. Thank you again, and this video may help as well. It is only 20 minutes and you can see several Hmong villages in this video and the pilot talks of the Hmong: Laos Secret War Pilot: Lee Gossett kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJzPg4ljn7WJo5I

[@Yeej40]

Thank you so much for this documentary. So little is known about Hmong people and how we got to the Unites States. This explains it pretty well to the best of my knowledge. Thank You.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Thank you for watching, and becoming great Americans. Your people suffered a lot, and in America have made great contributions.

[@georgemcmillan3360]

Great video, I made a motorcycle trip counterclockwise around Isaan and visited all the Royal Thai Air bases from the French Indochina/Vietnam War era. I plan to visit the old bases in Laos next visit, you provided great information.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Thank you so much for your feedback George. that sounds quite exciting, and what a wonderful experience they must have been. Speaking of Laos, I’m in the initial planning stages of doing a ride there in January. Thank you again for watching and your comment.

[@vanmalaphongsavan1331]

We have made a plan for 2023 by Aug 20. We can be Re-united at once of a life time!

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@vanmalaphongsavan1331 wonderful, please keep me posted on these plans!!!!

[@jjquinn2004]

Greetings from Pune, India. Thank-you, Dr. Carter, for a very informative video. Growing up in the States in the 1960s, I took an interest in what was going on in Southeast Asia - especially as I approached my 18th birthday in Sept 1972 and therefore had to register for the draft, which I did. Never really read much about the secret war in Laos, but I am now as I'm planning a 4 to 5 week visit to Vietnam and Laos early in 2024. For the latter, I hadn't yet decided whether or not I should take a side trip to the Plain of Jars area, but as a result of your video, I may. Thank-you again for an excellent video - especially for the book recommendations. BTW, I have a few friends & family members who are also interested in this subject and when I recently asked them if they had read any books on the secret war in Laos, but mentioned the book you panned! So, thanks also for that as I'll give it a miss in lieu of your other recommendations.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Sir, to receive messages like this is frankly why I do these videos. Very rewarding for me to get this kind of feedback. The plain of jars is nice to visit, but, they haven’t done much regarding the war, unlike the Vietnamese. If you are in the Hanoi area, visiting Dien Bien Phu I recommend. Around Saigon, they have several Vietnam War sites. I tolerate the anti American rhetoric at the war sites because, well, they won, ha ha. Of course, the people are beautiful. I do hope you check out some of my other videos - particularly The Ravens. And, Montagnards, missionaries, and the green beret. By the way…my favorite food in the world….Indian or Thai, I can’t decide. You all have such a huge variety though. I amazed at the artistry you have done with food!!! Amazing! Well, thank you again, enjoy your travels.

[@NavyDocHM3]

I've just recently discovered your channel and really appreciate your in-depth research. Many channels dealing with military history attempt a deep dive into the mythical “rabbit hole”, (and usually get lost) but you seemed to have found a detailed map! 🙂 Outstanding job, Sir! I'm looking forward to watching more if your presentations! John “Doc” Lykins NREMT-Paramedic (Ret) Former US Navy Hospital Corpsman

[@CarterOnConflict]

John, I really appreciate you saying this. When a guy of your obvious background and knowledge likes my channel, then I know I am doing the right things. I believe my video making is getting better, and as you were a paramedic you understand precision. I think I have 37 or so videos so you keep going - it keeps me running. Thank you again Doc.

[@NavyDocHM3]

@@CarterOnConflict you are very welcome Sir!

[@winaiwongsurawat7080]

This video is a tour de force. Awesome work!

[@CarterOnConflict]

Dr. Winai, thank you so much for viewing, and I very much appreciate you commenting.

[@willmears1111]

Your analysis was very good. Thank You. As Bui Tin later said totally cutting the Ho Chi Minh trail was definitely a path to US victory, but even more important, and much earlier, a very quick victory would have been the total destruction of North Vietnam's main and primary port, Haipong, where nearly all military and food supplies from Russia entered and sustained North Vietnam. Without arms and food for their own people the Communists in North Vietnam would have been totally unable to execute the invasion and murder of South Vietnam, thereby ending the war very quickly, and maintaining the freedom of the South. Johnson constantly refused. Had Haipong been destroyed in 1965/1966 the North's invasion, and war, would have ended in 1966/1967. I personally know that the US military was magnificant in their efforts, and I am very proud of our performance. As a US Intelligence Veteran in Vietnam, and responsible for Laos and I Corp between 1967-1969, the reluctance, and constant rule changes of Johnson, ensured the war lasted much longer, and more innocent people suffered.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Solid point, thanks for watching and sharing your personal and professional experience from the war.

[@JB-ef7ks]

I actually lived in Hai phuong for 8 months in 2011 n they absolutely did bomb the crap out of it as well as laid underwater mines in the bay that my golf course overlooked. They actually found an undetonated b52 bomb on the golf course when building and my grandfather a seal went to undetonate the mines after the war was over. One of the older staff guys that lived there through the bombing said it got so bad that at one point they were eating grass.They also had heroes that sacrificed themselves to find the mines by driving a boat around till they found one so they could keep the channel open for the ship's

[@SlyCave]

thank you for this! much love from Thailand

[@yellowneck92]

Both my grandpas and one uncle (child soldier) fought in the secret war and yes i’m also a afghan vet. Thank you so much for thia video

[@CarterOnConflict]

Thank you for watching and your comment, and thanks to your uncle and grandfathers for fighting for a worthy cause.

[@fongthao7052]

Thank you for your service in USA army….in paying back our debt to our nation(USA).

[@vitorodriguez256]

Excellent documentary. I feel like I'm in a classroom. Very professional.

[@CarterOnConflict]

I really appreciate your feedback Vidal - thank you for posting!

[@rwjr1944]

The best short form historical treatise of this subject. Thank you.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Well thank you so much for watching, and your comment.

[@whoisthatguynameken]

My grandpa served alongside the U.S during this war but he is still alive and living in the U.S thanks to the U.S helping him thankfully

[@CarterOnConflict]

Ah good story. Glad your grandpa survived the war. Thank you for watching and sharing with us.

[@ChristianGutierrez-ej2xw]

Thank you Dr. Carter for such a great documentary about the secret war in Laos.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Christian, thank you for watching, and your comment. I appreciate it greatly. Paul

[@chertongyang4696]

Thanks for your deep knowledge and research about the secret war in Laos about the Hmong People and those who were dragged or involved in the Vietnam War font 1965-1975.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Thank you for watching, and your comment.

[@tommcclelland119]

Another great video Paul. Our mission to pick up 7 gentleman (of the green face variety) took us rvery close to Laos….that’s what my Senior Chief said. Miles of rivers and tributaries through dense jungle with a few villages scattered about….endless miles of confusion for yours truly. My Senior Chief had ran this route in 67 & 69, so the 6 of us had faith in his ability to navigate this long, watery, snake. I remember the river current. Always upstream. I remember going under several tall trees in a cluster that grew together to form a huge dark spot that we sheltered under. A few minutes went by before 7 figures emerged and jumped aboard. We pushed off, and started a downstream journey that took about 9 hours before we handed off these snake-eaters to another boat. At my age these memories are spotty at best, but I remember that this particular trip was one of only a few that didn’t get us in a gun fight. My Senior Chief passed away in 1993 in his sleep (in his home in Michigan). Most of us have passed away, but I’ll never forget these brave men. These guys made me a better man….they were brave. I was 17-18 years old and joined to support my young wife. We’re still married after 52 years. God bless you Paul. I truly appreciate your hard work to keep our memories alive.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Wow Tom….I always you did much more and was much more involved than I knew….it may be interview time with you :-) thank you so much for posting this, you are educating us - you were there.

[@tommcclelland119]

@@CarterOnConflict thank you for your kindness Paul. Honestly, these days I have a few good flashbacks when I watch your videos. All these years I’ve been suppressing my memories, because I’ve listened to so many dang hippies of the years telling us how we killed babies and so on and so forth. I served my Country to the best of my young abilities, and I’m not ashamed of that. It was unfortunate that I was influenced by a few loudmouths. It’s very therapeutic, to watch your videos, because I remember that we were men of honor fighting for democracy.

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@tommcclelland119 it is my honor Tom, truly. So well said Tom, your comments. I look forward to hearing your stories, and thanks for sharing these with everyone.

[@tommcclelland119]

@@CarterOnConflict thank you Paul, but the honor is indeed mine. Without Historical Authors we have only stories passed down from generation to generation. It was the flaw of many great societies to use verbal history instead of a developed form of language and writing. Our Native Americans are a good example. I’m sorry it took decades of memory neglection before your historical videos shook loose some of my old memories. I hope you can forgive me for my flawed memories, but I’m sure more will surface as long as you continue to produce these outstanding, factual content.

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@tommcclelland119 I’m looking forward to us discussing this more Tom.

[@shanemilroy3684]

Excellent presentation Doctor. I look forward to more. Thank you.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Thank you so much Shane. I appreciate you watching and your post. If you click on my face, it takes you to my channel and I have 7 or 8 other videos that you may be interested in. Thank you again.

[@jonsonm.7465]

Thank you Sir for your amazing documentary and recommended reading list.

[@CarterOnConflict]

I really appreciate you watching the video and commenting - I do hope you can pass it along to others. Thank you for viewing - I truly am thankful.

[@pquach00]

It’s no longer a secret now that it’s on the internet. This is the piece of history that is not taught in VN school. Thanks for sharing!

[@CarterOnConflict]

Thank you for watching and commenting. Yes, no secret now :-)

[@2Oldcoots]

Thank You Dr. Carter for enlightening us all.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Thank you for watching and commenting sir

[@richp1114]

Hey Paul-this is great content. I saw your interview on the other channel, really interesting conversation. Long time since the IZIC-glad to see you are well.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Wow Rich.....long time.....IZIC.....wayback machine :-) Thanks for watching, and posting....when you get a chance, hit me up [e-mail].

[@chadamundson9733]

Great documentary thank you for your time and knowledge!

[@CarterOnConflict]

Chad, I appreciate you watching and commenting. I have about 34 or so videos, I hope you check out others. Here is one that might interest you regarding Laos: Laos Secret War Pilot: Lee Gossett kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJzPg4ljn7WJo5I

[@dlaavdlawb6214]

Thanks for the clarification, Dr Carter.

[@comontoshi]

Whew! Seriously, I never knew this aspect of the war in SE Asia. Thank you. 😘

[@CarterOnConflict]

Well thank you for watching, and your comment! I hope you enjoy some of my other videos as well.

[@kongvang2658]

Soo many of us lose lives. Family, village, relatives. And till today we're still known for being refugees or illegal immigrants and still send to communist country where it await death or tortured from prosecution because of involving family from the war. And thank you Dr. Carter for making it clear for the world to understand the history of the hmong.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Many of us know what great Americans the Hmong are. You have made America even greater. Thank you for all you have done.

[@florianpadua2978]

Thank you so much, I can find an informative content article in google regarding of my assignment. And I found this here in KZbin. You saved my 1st semester.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Wonderful Florian, glad this was of help and thank you for watching and your comment!

[@sagecreekwitt3301]

Great description. It seems to me tactical bombing from the air can be beneficial for close air troop support ... For example A-10's in Afghanistan . But strategic bombing usually hurts civilians and increases enlistments for your opponent . The hubris of shock and awe doesn't seem to work. The idea that we could have stopped the war defeat by creating a boundary, border/ fence etc.. on the ho chi Minh trail in Laos is intriguing. I appreciate that idea. It certainly would have been more effective than strategic bombing and spraying agent orange all over. This is the best description of the events in Laos I've ever seen,read or heard. Thank you!

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@sagecreekwitt3301 well thank you so much!!! I appreciate your thoughtful reply. Yes, digging into a defensive position on the trail would have been better than spraying agent Orange and bombing indiscriminately. I hope you share the video with others and I appreciate you watching and commenting.

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@sagecreekwitt3301 Witt, I forgot to mention, I really go deeper into blocking the Ho Chi Minh Minh trail in this video, I think you will really enjoy: Vietnam War: How the U.S. Fought the Wrong Conflict kzbin.info/www/bejne/jIuZk4F4esp9fs0

[@dontran391]

The key to winning the Vietnam War is Laos Eisenhower said it. That north Vietnamese general admitted it too. America should have deployed troops to Laos & NOT South Vietnam. Though if that's the case then the Vietnam War would be correctly name as the Indochina War (because it involves the Indochina countries of Vietnam AND Laos)

[@CarterOnConflict]

Thank you for your insightful comment, you and I could not agree more - in fact, I did a whole video of it, "Vietnam War: How the US Fought the Wrong Conflict." kzbin.info/www/bejne/jIuZk4F4esp9fs0

[@hadrianaugustus3626]

THANK YOU FOR SUCH GREAT VIDEO. 80 MINUTES OR SO, OF WELL-EXPLAINED COLD-WAR ERA CHAPTER. CHEERS FROM ITALY...

[@CarterOnConflict]

I really appreciate you watching, and thank you for posting. Italy - nice............

[@maikervang2662]

my father and his brothers, relatives, and friends were leaders in military during this war. it is sad- lots of trauma that refugees and military officers are still facing every day now.. life was hard back then. we came to USA because of this war.

[@CarterOnConflict]

I appreciate you watching and sharing this with us. What a tragedy, sadness, and hardship. God bless you and your family.

[@benign5011]

Excellent series by Dr Carter. Very smart guy. I like to illustrate the aggressors during that conflict by drawing arrows. The arrows originate in North Vietnam and go to Laos, Cambodia, and South Vietnam. The arrows do not go in the opposite direction. Laos, Cambodia, South Vietnam, and Thailand DID not invade North Vietnam.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Thank you for watching and commenting. You are absolutely correct. And I like your simple but effective illustration - the invasion arrow pointed south. touché. At some point I should do a video on the Viet Minh. in 1946 they began cooperating with the French Surete (secret police) to assassinate all Viet nationalist leaders (their rivals), in some cases sewing them in rice bags and sinking them in the Red River. A bloodthirsty bunch.

[@jerryle379]

​@@CarterOnConflictyou mean the french ? One of my grandmother brother was kill by the french and they dump his body in a river and we never found him and he was a highschool age teenager , love how you western white folk ignore why the war happen and your war crime are

[@longshotny]

​@@CarterOnConflictHey dr. paul t. Carter, respectfully, do you estimate elicit drugs are being smuggled using Air America?

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@longshotny this is a question myself and others have struggled with, and the following is my assessment. I don’t think the CIA and Air America smuggled drugs, because there was no motive. The CIA was flush with cash, and had it occurred someone would have seen it, touched it, smelled it, taken pictures of it. Few things remain a secret, and we just have no hard evidence of it. It’s all ancillary finger pointing. I do believe however that the US government was aware of our allies smuggling dope, and turned a blind eye, you see that going back to the 1950s with the KMT in Burma. Additionally, there was so much cargo being moved, never checked, that undoubtedly our allies put dope cargo - in smaller manageable amounts - on Air America cargo planes. We just didn’t have the resources to check every crate, and simply turned a blind eye either way. That said…an academic study was done (I need to make this available) in the 1970s that no one quotes using new radar technology that showed the Laos opium poppy growing areas were quite small. There was just no land that provided for large scale growing. So the land could not have supported growing the amount of dope that some suggest was smuggled.

[@thunderthao]

Thank you, Dr. Carter, for the video. It is known that Laos was the most bombed country during the Vietnam war, as a result of bombing operations such as Operation Barrel Roll, Rolling Thunder...etc to "target the Ho Chi Minh Trail". My question is, why was Xieng Khouang province, specifically the PDJ the most bombed province, when the Ho Chi Minh trail does not run through the PDJ? Most bombing runs must have been allotted to the PDJ, for Xieng Khouang to be the most bombed province. Is this because the PAVN and Pathet Lao's operations in the Northern provinces of Laos greater than claimed? Do you think the 75,000 PAVN soldiers in Laos during the height of the Secret War in Laos, underestimated?

[@CarterOnConflict]

Dear Thao, I don't know that Xieng Khouang (XK) province was the most heavily bombed province - I don't have statistics - but it would not surprise me. The HCMT is long and runs through many provinces, so the bombing there was dispersed among many provinces. US, Lao, Thai, and Hmong forces were concentrated in XK, and it was a strategic crossroads due to terrain, and the Vietnamese and Thai had fought each other over it since at least 1827. It was considered critical terrain due to its cross-roads location and lines of communication (roads), by both sides. Finally, I don't have evidence that the PAVN strength was greater than 75,000 but it certainly could have been. Keep in mind many were maintaining the HCMT, more than probably most estimates.

[@mtha7796]

@@CarterOnConflict Vietnamese and Thai had fought each other over it since at least 1827 ---> Thailand and Vietnam never has a direct fight.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Ah, thank you for this comment. The Viets - long before Vietnam was a nation - did engage Thai forces when the Thai marched as far north as Dien Bien Phu, and burnt XiengZhoungville to the ground. When the Thai sacked Vientiane - twice - it was prince Anovoung, Viet aligned, they fought and eventually captured. For thirty years, upon until about 1850, the Thai conducted a depopulation campaign on the left bank of the Mekong, forcing Laos and Viet settlers into Thailand, and burning towns. The Viets kept encroaching, in the Thai view, to the Mekong, and the Thai settled it by capturing the area and forcing settlers into Thailand. So, there were never war declarations nor nation-state fighting, although according to the Bkk Post, after 1978 when the Viets captured Cambodia and pushed to the Thai border, Thai military and the Viets had small-scale border skirmishes. In any sense, I should have been clearer and thanks for drawing this to my attention.

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@davidpompili7593 please contact me at [e-mail]. I have always wondered who the 5 arty guys in country were, 4 other than CPT Bush. I know of - not like you - your mission. I'm anxious to talk to you.

[@honey8784]

I have been declared an Honorary Hmong . I am called Ken Vang. I travelled with Bill Lair and met a lot of Hmong . I’m proud of my Hmong Brothers. I even met Vang Pao’s wive in St Paul Mn.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Thank you for sharing Ken. I appreciate you watching the video, and telling a bit about yourself.

[@drillsergeant5338]

You can read all about it in my book, "The Secret War in Laos and General Vang Pao 1958-1975" by Billy G. Webb

[@CarterOnConflict]

Thank you Billy

[@tomcampbellchm]

I served in AF intelligence in Utapao (1969) and Udorn (1971). I knew little beyond my day-to-day work. Thank you for this articulate, informative story.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Thank you Tom, thanks for sharing where you served and I appreciate you commenting. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@SlyCave]

my father served 20 years in the USAF, I was born in Udorn Thani......can you tell me more about this because my late father never talked about it and he was a crew chief was a purple heart and a bronze star greetings from Thailand

[@CarterOnConflict]

Thank you for watching. Yes, I can tell you more about it. I cover the Laos War in my free book on the Thai Forward Aid Guides in Laos. I have an article and book, make sure you download the book at chula.academia.edu/PCarter

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@davidpompili7593 I have not heard of Col. Mullet, but I appreciate you sharing his name, and this information. I will find out more, am interested.

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@davidpompili7593 Ah - I know now! Thank you.

[@The_Conspiracy_Analyst]

My father was assigned to VMA-332 in 1962 when they were stationed in Udorn from May14th to July 2nd. They flew their A-4Ds for 20-25 missions per day. Do you have any more information about VMA-332 or Marine Air Base Squadron 16 (MABS-16)? It seems they weren't there for very long -- I take it they transferred responsibility for whatever they were doing to some other squadron. I know Air America was also operating out of Udorn at that time.

[@CarterOnConflict]

First, thank you for watching and commenting. Now, I haven’t heard of this squadron but that isn’t unusual and it doesn’t mean I haven’t any info on them. Let me ask you some questions - where were they home based? This was a short deployment, correct? A marine air unit? The U.S. ramped up forces around this time in Thailand, a temporary surge due to communist aggressions. Many units came, and went. There was a drawdown, if you will. Have you looked on line or Facebook for fraternal orgs in existence of these men? I have found so many old units have FB sites.

[@CheeLee-c4r]

This is a very interesting video, Thanks for sharing

[@CarterOnConflict]

Well thank you so much for watching and commenting, I appreciate it.

[@AK-47-Red-Zone]

My grandfather was a Thai soldier who fought in the secret war in Laos. BC-609

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@AK-47-Red-Zone thank you for sharing - that’s wonderful that you know your grandfathers history. I hope you have gotten his recollections of the war. Thank you again.

[@AK-47-Red-Zone]

@@CarterOnConflict we love American 🇹🇭♥️🇺🇸🪖

[@AK-47-Red-Zone]

@@CarterOnConflict Currently, my grandfather has passed away.

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@AK-47-Red-Zone amen sir…

[@AK-47-Red-Zone]

@@CarterOnConflict 🇹🇭♥️🇺🇸🪖

[@jeffko5683]

Hello Dr. Carter. Keep doing God's work! I am fan of your work.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Jeff, I really appreciate your vote of confidence. Your watching and commenting and sharing keeps me motivated. Thank you so much. More than you know. May I ask, are there any areas of focus or subjects you would like to see more of? I cover - as you know - topics from the Revolutionary War to Indochina to moonshining.

[@jeffko5683]

@@CarterOnConflict Hello Dr. Carter, One video you made about the POW's not coming home really made me angry. I can't believe that our country did not get all the prisoners of war home. And if there was intelligence about remaining POW's which your video clearly shows why didn't we act on it?

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@jeffko5683 Jeff, great question. The U.S. government lacked the will to do anything about it after we had signed peace agreements and brought our forces home. The Nixon administration just wanted the war to be over with. Our population was tired of war and wanted to move on. Additionally, we had no leverage. What were we going to do militarily, invade Vietnam? We’d just left there. I believe Jeff these are the primary reasons Jeff, and then there are layers of complexity added onto that. We left oriole behind in WWII, and Korea, I think that’s quite documented, and books on it. To top it off, we left folks behind in 1918. I did a very short video on this, with original film and photos. It is a compelling story, please check it out: POW/MIA Part II: The 1918 Russian Expedition kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2S8eoiafKeXfpo. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@jeffko5683]

@@CarterOnConflict Your coverage on Indochina is spot on. I am 52 years old Korean American. I was naturalized and chose to become a citizen in 2017. I was born in a French hospital in Saigon in 71. My dad was a ROK and was stationed there. We left Vietnam and came to the USA in 74. I am thinking about moving to Thailand or Vietnam. We are in an election year and I am afraid that there is going to be blood shed. Our country is much different then when Reagan was in office. There was much more tolerance towards the different parties. Now it's just flat out disgusting and nasty. I'm tired of it. It sickens me. We are tearing are selves apart from within. I am going to make an effort as an Expat to prove that we are not these Imperialists looking to take advantage of these growing countries. The Policy of Winning Hearts and Minds is a good one. There is a New War and that WAR is all about securing supply chains. Vietnam is a technological hub that is now manufacturing semi conductors. Hanoi is in an ideal position after signing that bilateral trade agreement with America.

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@jeffko5683 Jeff, nice to meet you. Feel free to email me at [e-mail] maybe our paths will cross.you have a great story, thanks for sharing it.

[@stevewhitton8671]

I cannot tell you the impact that this story has had on me. #1. I live in Orange County, CA is there any thing that I can currently do to support or volunteer my time to the Moung?? #2: Who is Jerry Daniels? You make it a point to point out his pictures, however, I must have missed what he did over there. (I did go to Wikipedia to look up his amazing contribution)

[@CarterOnConflict]

Steve, thank you for watching and commenting. I would guess the Wikipedia page on Jerry Daniels covers his contribution quite thoroughly, he was of course a CIA operative who bled - if you will - for the Hmong nation. To discover specifics on Daniels, you would have to read more on the secret war in Laos, and there are quite a few books. Today they still consider him like a patron saint. Now…I hate to just direct you to google, but, there are many Hmong organizations in America. There is actually a Hmong daily that my friend writes for out of Sacramento I believe, it is here: hmongdailynews.com/. My suggestion would be to go there and look around. I’m sorry if I didn’t properly answer your question, and the Hmong community in America has grown quite large. This video I did - only about 20 minutes - has done good Hmong equities in it: Laos Secret War Pilot: Lee Gossett kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJzPg4ljn7WJo5I. Thank you again.

[@stevewhitton8671]

@@CarterOnConflict Dr. Carter, you are so kind to reply. I see you have replied to almost everyone who has posted a comment to you. In 1969, I was 21 years old when I was stationed at Ubon, Thailand. I did not have a clue what was going on less than 150 miles from Ubon. I have taken and interest in this history. I have helped a family who lost a family member in the Mu Gia Pass for decades. 3 of the 4 men who perished have been recovered. Now, I am trying to get a helmet back if it still exists. Thanks to guys like you that provide informative content. Thank you so much. ..... Jerry was a smoke jumper.... So, he must have been one of the 1st to be recruited. My wife is from Montana

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@stevewhitton8671 Steve, I see you are invested in the story given your background in Thailand. Good on you for all the work you have done on behalf of others. I have talked to other army and Air Force servicemen stationed in Thailand who of course had no idea what was going on across the border. It was so secretive. By the way…yes, Jerry was a smokejumper. Amazingly, over 100 smokejumpers after 1950 were in CIA service and I have a video on that. I mention Jerry in it of course. I hope you enjoy this and other of my videos Smokejumpers: CIA Clandestine Weapon in Americas Secret Wars (enhanced audio version) kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHa3k4JvmMaqsNE

[@beelao1896]

I had lost my father and two brothers at this war...anyway thank you for sharing this video

[@CarterOnConflict]

My condolences to you sir. A tragedy. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@gianlucapirro9054]

thanks a lot !! really well done :)

[@CarterOnConflict]

Thank you so much, I appreciate your watching and your feedback.

[@andersfant4997]

Extensive, balanced and interesting. Maybe the US should not have honored the Geneva accords. Troops in Laos could have shown China, Russia that America was commited in the region. Reduced exposure and dependence of the Hmongs (less casulties). The trajectory of the Vietnam War would have been very different, no Ho chi min trail-as you discuss, no Tet, no need for a Lam Son 719. Lima site 85 could still be in use🙂 but now monitoring China. Laos is today a puppet to China, this could have been avoided. One can object to many things in Thai society, the lack of real democracy, how the old guard dont accept the young generations hope for a more transparent, equal society. But the difference with Laos (and Cambodia) is huge. Western infuence has been a path to success.

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@andersfant4997 amen Anders on the difference between Laos and Thailand, and that is THE key point folks should know. Western influence versus the communist debacle that has left Laos a poor colony of China. As always, I appreciate you watching and your thoughtful commentary.

[@user-7I9gdym4j]

The Geneva Accords were violated. America did not lose this war, Ho Chi Minh and the Pathet Laos lied through their asses, and forcibly took over when America forces left SE Asia. America should have re-entered the war, but public support for the war was no longer there.

[@low-keyrighteous9575]

I've watched and read all I can on the Vietnam war that it's made me want to go visit many places I thought I never would. I feel it would be incredibly intense for me to go walk the jungles or ho chi Minh trail I've read or watched so many Americans walked in the 50's,60's and 70's . I feel I would be feeling so much nostalgia for some weird reason. I hear Vietnam is a big tourist area now and even preserve and allow tourist to walk through a vc tunnel . WOW

[@CarterOnConflict]

Thank you for your comment. There are videos veterans have posted on KZbin, returning to Vietnam, and it probably would be an intense experience for you. Yes, the Vietnamese have an area you can visit at Chu Chi (I’m probably spelling it wrong) where they talk about the war, show how they made shoes, etc., where many VC tunnels were, and they have expanded one, made it larger, so we westerners can crawl through it. I did so. About 20 meters in length. Thanks again for watching and your comment,

[@GeeDonTMinD]

This is what the US don’t want you to see. It’s not in history books. But these Hmong Americans were the true heroes in Vietnam war.

[@CarterOnConflict]

They are indeed true warriors, and they have become great Americans. Who in the US doesn’t want to see this? I am my viewed so. We are proud of the Hmong. Can you elaborate please? Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@lancesay]

love this video... at 1:14:09, paul i was wondering if you or any reader may know the location of lumpini refugee transit center in bangkok. i would appreciate anyone who know the location of this camp. we stayed there for five days before coming to america and all i can tell be researching it's less than 300 hundred yards from the usa embassy in bangkok and it used to be an old thai military camp?

[@CarterOnConflict]

Please send me an email at [e-mail] so I will have your email address. I’m friends with the old American refugee workers and will shoot them an email now.

[@words1238]

where all my Laos lovers at!?🙌

[@searl1]

Just curious... is "Lau" the correct pronunciation of the word "Laos"?

[@CarterOnConflict]

It is. For some unknown reason the French added the "s." No one in Laos, Thailand, or Southeast Asia responds to "Laos" other than officials dealing with foreign entities. The country (PDR - Peoples Democratic Replublic of Lao), the people, the language, are all "Lau." Thanks for asking.

[@gilmueller4803]

Fantastic job. Thanks for the scholarship

[@CarterOnConflict]

Sir....Jomtien is not the same without you...thank you so much for watching and your comment.

[@SirAnanab]

Thanks so much for the insights. What I haven’t been able to figure out is if the MACVSOG Green Berets or higher ups knew of the secret war and interacted with personnel fighting on their side across the border. Like the Hmong. MACVSOG members don’t mention the secret war in Laos in interviews. Yet they would routinely pull large numbers of Viet army and Pathet Lao into firefights. Forces on the US side in the secret war like the Ravens must have been aware of the teams across the border so as to avoid blue on blue.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Thank you so much for watching and commenting. The SOG participated largely through insertions, from the Vietnam side, onto the Ho Chi Minh trail, as I understand it.

[@SirAnanab]

Thank you for answering. It wouldn't suprise me if MACVSOG personnel had no clue of Long Tieng, the Ravens and Vang Pao even when operating inside Laos. I learned of those matters when I was doing a peace corps year in northern Laos 2008/9 and have been fascinated with the Laotian Civil War and Spec Ops during the Vietnam war ever since. @@CarterOnConflict

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@SirAnanab oh wow, you have experience in Laos! Okay, well, that makes watching the video and your comments even more special. You know I have a video on the Ravens here on my channel, I hope you watch. I have one also called Missionaries, Montagnards, and the Green Beret. Thank you again for sharing. I’m headed back to Laos (plain of Jars) on 10 Dec by the way. Really appreciate your comments.

[@SirAnanab]

I shot you an Email :) @@CarterOnConflict

[@user-7I9gdym4j]

​@@CarterOnConflict I applaud you for your bravery. Hmong Americans dont dare speak about the secret war when they are visiting Laos. It would automatically make them a target.

[@vanmalaphongsavan1331]

Excellent Clip to telling story the truth of the truth: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly.....Good or bad were better than Ugly....Thank you for your story....1964-1975's survivor....

[@CarterOnConflict]

I really appreciate you watching, and I think you know much about the war, so that you approved is exceedingly gratifying for me. Thanks for posting as well.

[@vanmalaphongsavan1331]

@@CarterOnConflict, Exactually, I was working with Mac-1976 in Thailand, and well know in Laos back home, Pop Buel was came visited me when I was preparing to journey to the USA. I was in LS-20A from 1965-1969 move back to work in VT's AAM's station. escaped to Thailand Nov 19, 1975. If you're in the North keep me post we cam have a chance a cup of coffee or seafood dinner. I came visit Anapolish, MN last May, 2022. visiting old friend there. I still keep continue doing following Mac Thompson's foot step to build elementary school in Laos PDR.

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@vanmalaphongsavan1331 This is very fascinating, I think I have actually heard your name and your contribution to the war. Thank you for sharing, and I will try to meet you!!!!

[@vanmalaphongsavan1331]

@@CarterOnConflict , Excellent to know that...very busies with my memoir book, creating Lao Elementary language for Lao of the villages.+ writting book, the good, the bad and the ugly of the Laos's style history...

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@vanmalaphongsavan1331 you are doing noble work, God Bless you!

[@10actual]

Read: "The Ravens, CIA's Secret War In. Laos". Title may not be exact. Very informative and interesting. The French (Vichy) were actually allies with the Japanese. Indo China was "returned" to France after WWII because the Allies want the French as allies in the event Russia invaded Europe.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Very good recommendation Truman, I agree, thank you for your post!

[@rossmac8743]

amazing stuff thank you

[@CarterOnConflict]

Thank you Ross

[@user-tm7je5ij8s]

I read that the character Col. Kurtz in the movie Apocalypse Now was loosely base on Tony Poe.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Thank you for watching and commenting. I hope I have other videos that enjoy. I read something similar as well….not sure how true it is though.

[@ahmongus]

More correction: The Hmong and Thais were not FACs. They were FAG which stands for Forward Air Guide. FACs on the other hand were the Ravens which stands for Forward Air Controller.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Yes, please see my video on the Thai Forward Air Guides: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqTKnpakndyHq6s Of course, as you know, FAGs were forward air controllers but given a different name to differentiate them from airborne FACs.

[@enriquegacel6285]

The crazy thing is Every country/ group of ppl America has fought since WW2, we originally supported. North Korea/.Korea and the the countries in Southeast Asia.were all given military aid against Japan. We gave Iraq military aid against Iran. We supported the Mudjihadan in the 80s. The list goes on and on. Don't be surprised if we end fighting Ukraine down the road.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Good observation, how true this is!!

[@Go4Broke247]

The Contra that USA secretly supported in Nicaragua and many parts of Central America, and South America also.

[@danielherrera5496]

Thank you proffesor, very interesting

[@CarterOnConflict]

Daniel, I am humbled and appreciative you watched and commented. Thank you. Paul

[@pollydor07]

Before 1970 H mong trained Thai mercenary trained at PS 18 Pak Se province Laotian too on the edge of Me Kong river Laos side near Thai border Ubon Province . 1970 Khmer Republic Army sent to trained there first Recon Team battalion 2nd my battalion 15b.i 201 bc and later 102bc . After finishing training went to vacation in PP for 1 month then returned back to PS 18 black Panther Rangers boots camp . All regroup boarded on CHINOOK HELICOPTER CH 53 CH 47 took off from Pak Se dropped off on Attapeu hills west of Ho Chi Minh trail Laos 1970 . I stayed up there 3 months NVA attacked us every nights

[@vajhuamsibluag]

Around 1:25, the buildings behind these officials were Samthong Hospital, viewing towards south. The girls in white dresses were the nurses. In the picture, Vang Pao, Souvanaphouma, the one in black suit is Touby Lyfong. At 13:50, I know the man on the right side, looking from front. He used to work for USAID in Samthong and then moved to Ban xon until USAID was gone from Laos in 1975.a At 33:00 ++, this pilot and I attended First Grade in Phakhao.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Thank you for sharing your insights, and God Bless!

[@txiabneeb]

Just wanted to chime in on some of the key words: 1. Vietnam War: most of SE Asians that I know referred to as the American War in Vietnam; 2. Vietminh is in the French War in Vietnam and 3. Viet Cong were the one in the American War in Vietnam. Thanks Doc.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Thank you for watching and your comments - great points.

[@armedhippie]

Thank you.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Thank you for watching, I appreciate it

[@czapsak1]

🤔 Great Job Sir ! . .The Truth, The whole Truth, and Nothing but the Truth. ❤

[@CarterOnConflict]

I really appreciate you watching, and your comment sir.

[@ahmongus]

The photo of Matthews, VP and Kong Le was not taken in 1959 as captured. I have the negative given to me by the photographer.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Great negative to have!

[@jamestakacs]

First, a wonderful program. Thank you. You know what the bottom line is? The NVA was not willing to lose. We were not willing to win. There is your difference. If we would have used the Vietnam strategy in WWII a free Europe would have been no more and Asia would all be speaking Japanese. I don't want to imagine what our fate would have been. If we would have used the WWII strategy in Vietnam , the NVA would have ran to the negotiation table. Whether it was North Vietnam. Laos or Cambodia we needed to go in with full force. Like the man said, we should have gone into Laos and destroyed the trail. Cut off the NVA. The other issue was America was fighting for the future of South Vietnam. South Vietnam was not fighting for the future of South Vietnam. How many different governments did the South have while our soldiers were there? Like a dozen or so, right? Their soldiers did not want to fight. The South wanted to sit on the sidelines and let America fight the good fight. The drugs and the black market was insane. Our soldiers for the most part didn't know why we were a million miles away from home fighting for people who did not want to fight for themselves. We had troubles at home with the war. Then when our soldiers came home we treated them like garbage. We had scores of MIA's. Thankfully we had Senator Robert Smith of New Hampshire to fight for the MIA's. McCain and Kerry who were in the war offered nothing. McCain is hopefully rotting in hell. We say we don't leave anyone behind. McCain believed that until he came home and got into politics. Then he forgot. How many never came home because of us as a society.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Sen Robert Smith was a good one. Thank you for watching and your comments.

[@GnoixGenp]

Thanks for the info. I’ve always wondered why the US never sought to stop the Ho Chi Minh trail as it was a serious issue for the Vietnam war. Imagine having your entire flank in a battle constantly harassed and never doing anything about it It is sad how easily the US could have won both the Secret war and Vietnam war but Washington’s worry about looking bad to the world prevented them and ultimately caused both wars to be lost (yet they were willing to send young Americans to die for small hills in the jungle)

[@CarterOnConflict]

Bingo - you nailed it. Norman Hannah in his The Key to Failure says policy makers suffered from a malady called the Self Enforcement of Truth. If somehow the US would show the world how the Viets were violating the sovereignty of Laos, things would automatically correct themselves. How naive. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@schoolssection]

We tried (at great loss of life) to stop or at least slow HCM trail traffic

[@NathanDudani]

nEvEr

[@herptek]

​@@schoolssectionIt would have had to involve taking permanent positions by ground forces in Laos and/or Cambodia.

[@rosesprog1722]

That's the official version, nothing to do with the truth. In Laos the CIA's Air America was buying Vang Pao's heroin and giving him weapons to protect his production and in Vietnam it is the Vietnamese who defeated the French, not the communists. The elections of 1956 were cancelled by Col. Lansdale of the CIA, Diem's handler because Ho Chi Minh's nationalists were going to win and Vietnam would have been reunited, cancelling the war the US military industrial complex wanted to fight. The US military were never given what was needed to win, that war was meant to last, that's where the profits are so in the name of corporate profit margins and shareholders bank accounts, millions of Vietnamese, Laotians and Cambodians were butchered in ways that defy comprehension, the CIA financed its black operations, Pol Pot was handed a whole country, a president was assassinated and 58,000 young American victims were lied to, to get them to go across the world kill other innocent victims, and die in the process. One of the worst crimes against humanity ever perpetrated. FACTOID: 100,000 Vietnam vets committed suicide since the end of that war, almost twice the number of those who died in combat, a record.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Thank you for your comment, and feedback. I actually agree with many of your assessments, some I do not (and that's okay). I cannot find any evidence that the CIA was buying VP's heroin and selling. And, VP didn't leave Laos with suitcases full of money, or swiss bank accounts (like the Afghan president). He was in fox holes directing arty fires until the end. And there was no motive (the first thing police look for in a crime). The CIA was rolling in barrels full of cash. But yes, the Vietnam War, as executed, was one of the worst crimes against humanity, and war profiteers abounded in - like in our last two wars. As far as the Viet Minh, in 1946 they began collaborating with the French Surete to assassinate Vietnamese nationalists who were rivals (such as Huyen Phu So, founder of the Hoa Hao, a religious sect of over a million members in the southern Delta). It was largely the Viet Minh who defeated the French because they had assassinated most of the nationalists leaders. Viet Minh death squads were sewing nationalist leaders in weighted rice sacks and drowning them in the Saigon river, and the Chinese funded the VM. Certainly it was the nationalist spirit that triumphed. In 1954, 900,000 Viets went south to escape the communists and it is assessment by several (to include Eisenhower) that Ho would have won an election, but many disagree and evidence from people on the ground in 1954-56 (such as Rufus Phillips) say that isn't the case. Southerners were quite relieved when Viet Minh units went north in 1954 after Geneva (taking 20,000 southern males with them). They were a brutal, terrorist regime. We must not forget that.

[@rosesprog1722]

@@CarterOnConflict Ah wow, thank you for that superb response, when discussing contentious topics like this agreeing to disagree is always a winner. I wasn't aware of the deadly fight between the Viet-Minh and the nationalists but I have a question: If they collaborated with the French to eliminate the nationalists, how could they then turn around and beat the French because the nationalists had been decimated? : ) As to heroin, the best book I found about it is: "Whiteout, the CIA, Drugs and the Press" by Alexander Cockburn and Jeffrey St. Clair (1998) It even reveals that it was the French who had created the whole infrastructure, the CIA merely took over when the French left, fascinating stuff. Now, honestly, a good part of what I know comes from the famous 13 part PBS Series "Vietnam, A Television History", from interviews with L. Fletcher Prouty, Edward Lansdale, Averell Harriman and pretty much every video I could find but I didn

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@rosesprog1722 thank you for your input both times. Often there is more to agree with than disagree and that may be the case here, because much of what you said I agree with. Now, I don't know if I can answer your question, I will try. You are correct that the Viet Minh had the nationalist cause on their side. It was the opposing party leaders (Hoa Hao, et al) that they assassinated. This is actually well documented. So, there was really no rival leaders after a few years to challenge the Viet Minh leadership mantel. They definitely rose to the top by killing off rival parties and sect leaders. Then, being communist, they cast their lot with the Chinese who actually had already begun militarily training the Viet Minh before WWII was over, and giving them armaments and guns (which their rivals didn't possess). Since the Viet Minh was the only viable party left to claim the nationalist banner, the peasants (if you will) followed them as all were so anti French. Now, I must tell you, I have not read the book you mention and I have just purchased and downloaded it!!! So....excepting it.....ha....I have found so many claims about the CIA running drugs, but when I scratched the surface on each claim....there was never any real evidence. No one could point to anything substantive. And, its impossible to keep a secret it seems, everything always comes out. Beyond that - try not to repeat myself - the US Govt. and CIA have indeed turned a blind eye to drug running, read The Secret Army by Gibson regarding the 1950s. And, in Laos, I'm sure there were unscrupulous fiefdom lords who took advantage of CIA flights, but I just doubt (I will read your book) that institutionally the CIA sponsored such as they were swimming in money, and this Vang Pao just really never seemed interested in money and he came to US fairly broke (as I understand it). Anyway...that's about all I can address. Ok, another book you must read - Why Vietnam Matters by Rufus Smith. He was on the ground 1954-56. I have the PDF if you want, email me [e-mail]. Hey, check out some more of my videos (click on my head), as we can disagree gentlemanly if the case may be! I always entertain other thought.

[@rosesprog1722]

@@CarterOnConflict I am gathering my files on Vietnam, I have quite a few, watching your other videos and I will e-mail you later today or tomorrow. Cheers.

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@rosesprog1722 that sounds good!!

[@davidmurphy4676]

Thank you for this information . How can I continue to glean more other then youtube ?

[@CarterOnConflict]

Great question David. I just started an academia page where I provide for free my writings on the war - you can start here, I think you'll find several of my works with bibliographies will be helpful: independent.academia.edu/PaulCarterPhD

[@DeDe-dq6kj]

Laos and Cambodia owe their independence to vietnam. Of course they would stay out of the way and let vietnam use the land for their trail.

[@NeejAsmeskas]

Mr. Carter, Wonderful! How may I meet you?

[@CarterOnConflict]

Glad you enjoyed :-) You may email me at [e-mail]

[@TerlunGalu]

The Americans took my grandfather. They didn't even care about the corpses of the Thai soldiers who saved their lives in Hell Valley. My mother and grandmother would return to Chiang Lom to remember him every year. Sadly, Americans often abandon their fellow soldiers.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Well I’m sorry to hear this. Thank you for sharing. Where is Hell Valley?

[@TerlunGalu]

@@CarterOnConflict He died at Phu Pin, Ban Chiang Lom, Luang Prabang. A fellow Thai soldier who survived led us to visit his grave. The soldier who survived has now died. We brought his bones back and buried them near my grandfather's grave. Old machine gun nest at the foot of the mountain

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@TerlunGalu thank you for sharing and of course it is sad to hear of these family tragedies of war. So your grandfather was a Thai soldier? What year did he die?

[@rainforestist]

As lao who fled the country feel sad that at the end Vietnam has dominated laos

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@rainforestist yes. God Bless you.

[@charlesthao5816]

Thank you for sharing your video. It is a well document of the secret war start and ended. But now we are an American citizen, we do want to have some opportunities served our great country and people. I truly hope that our Government haven't gotten about us the Hmong.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Thank you sir, many of us have not forgotten!

[@sandydaraseng1947]

Iam escape From Laos Thailand 1975 I’m came to USA 1979

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@sandydaraseng1947 God Bless - thanks for watching and sharing!

[@armunro]

Great video. I don't agree with war or want to glorify it as it is a terrible thing. The Americans tried to do the right thing, keeping to agreements, etc. But who can ever understand the communism mentally or what they were trying to achieve. Most communist countries now are very capitalist where money is king (Vietnam being an example).

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@armunro your perspective is one I agree with Armunro. And if you go to Laos and Cambodia today, one will see they are still paying a price for adopting a failed system. And so true, they are all capitalist now with a dictatorial security state! Thank you for watching and commenting, I greatly appreciate it. Here is my list of videos and I hope you find others you like: youtube.com/@carteronconflict?si=8blRpCBZ1hbHVy4f

[@thailee4355]

Laos is the most bombs in the world and Hmong pilot don’t know how to drive a car but they can fly the T28

[@khamvong70vong12]

Texas USA 🇺🇸

[@postcrisp]

Who is the best... guage the most 'fervant servants' to" the Great Experiment in the freedom of Democracy " Small typo@12:35-40. Many thanks.

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@postcrisp thank you!

[@falconmoose5435]

Thank you for the education. 366 Security Police Squadron DaNang 1971. Perimeter guard. Close in security on OV 1s and 10's too. As F-4s. Got to do close in on a SR-71 too after an emergency landing. I was trusted......LOL! I was 20. Whoopie....be the first one on your block....

[@CarterOnConflict]

I appreciate hearing from guys who were there - in the fight in Southeast Asia. When you guys enjoy a video, then I’ve met the standard I am trying to achieve. Frankly, your approval. You guys walked the walk, were there. You know BS from reality regarding the war. Pretty cool you were so close to those birds. Those SR-71s look humongous! And intimidating. Also, I have other Second Indochina War videos. Please review, and find some you like. Thank you for supporting my channel, I appreciate it.

[@handsomeman-pm9vy]

The pusszzy was good, and the dope was far out man.

[@nengvang7273]

We ( Hmoong ) thank you for secret war in laos. GVP region 2...

[@CarterOnConflict]

Thank you for your service sir!

[@bayoustateoutdoors9650]

The US knew that a block at the beginning of the Ho Chi Minh trail would win the war…..but didn’t do it

[@CarterOnConflict]

You are correct sir. Thank you for your comment (and for watching). I hope you enjoy other of my videos. Thank you again.

[@capitalist4life]

Over 50 years later, the company is still providing arms and training to proxy groups around the world. I guess it’s been a fairly effective method for them.

[@DillardDenton-qu4winds]

If the living unknown could now reveal themselves it's just a little to late, happy thoughts

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@DillardDenton-qu4winds indeed - thank you for watching and commenting.

[@nathanroberts355]

Cia had secret air america airline in Laos