Recently, on my boss’ recommendation, I watched the heartbreaking PBS documentary “The Hmong and the Secret War,” directed by Lar Yang and Lue Vang. It opened my eyes to a chapter in history of which I was completely unaware — so much so, in fact, that after a first viewing, I read up on the subject and watched it again for better comprehension.
The Secret War was a clandestine CIA operation in Laos from 1962-1975. Its aims included combating North Vietnamese troops entering the country along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, which had been aggressively expanding throughout Laos. The resident Hmong were similarly motivated — they viewed the influx of North Vietnamese soldiers as an invasion of their homeland. Seeing an opportunity, the CIA approached the Hmong with a proposal: We supply you with arms and you use them against the invading North Vietnamese.
The response from Vang Pao, commander of the Hmong Army, was: “These are our hills. These are our mountains. The enemy has come. If you give us arms, we will fight them. If not, we will flee.”
In the ensuing years, the Hmong not only engaged the North Vietnamese soldiers but protected U.S. military assets, supported U.S. pilots and cared for wounded U.S. combatants. Sadly, after the U.S. withdrew from Laos in 1975, the Hmong were left hanging in the wind. When the communist Pathet Lao gained control of the country, they savagely persecuted the Hmong for having helped the Americans. As many as 100,000 Hmong died trying to escape to Thailand, many while trying to cross the Mekong River.
From Thailand, over 30,000 Hmong were able to immigrate to the U.S. Lamentably, the soldiers among them were denied veteran benefits, despite having fought on the U.S. payroll.
The CIA denied any involvement in Laos until 1994. By that time, well over 100,000 Hmong immigrants had come to the United States and were living among American neighbors who knew nothing of the tragic events that drove them to their new home.
Let us then resolve to love our Hmong neighbors and to learn more about the perilous journey that brought them to America.
“The Hmong and the Secret War” is available on demand.
Submitted by Jeff Zoerner
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