The year was 1964, and the Vietnam War raged.
Eisenhower’s domino theory drastically influenced American policy in Asia, with the belief that if smaller nations around Vietnam were permitted to fall to communism, then all of Asia would soon follow.
With this policy in mind, America shifted its focus to Laos.
Next Door Neighbors
Neighboring Vietnam is Laos, a country that the North Vietnamese used as a land bridge to ship communist insurgents and supplies into South Vietnam.
If these resupply lines could be stopped, not only would it keep communists out of essential gear, but fewer American men would be getting shot at.
So the key to stopping the threat — mobilize the people in the mountains of Laos.
A Secret War
The Hmong people had long been persecuted.
Accused of being “collaborators” with the West, communists took every chance they could to kidnap, torture, rape, and murder the Hmong wherever they found them.
Knowing there was a natural animosity between the groups, the CIA began Project Momentum — a secret plan to train and equip the Hmong people to fight.
The plan was a wild success, with approximately 18,000 fighters trained to destroy resupply trains throughout the region.
One Hmong man, Vang Pao, showed incredible promise throughout the region, leading effective attacks against communists everywhere he went.
The Exit
But then America pulled out of Vietnam.
Left without American money, training, and arms, the Hmong gradually whittled away to nothing.
Many fled their homes to seek asylum in the United States, while others retreated to the jungles to continue to wage war.
These brave men saved thousands of our fathers and grandfathers from death in the jungles of Vietnam — yet they were left alone.
But stacked against the military might of the North Vietnamese, the Pathet Lao army, and the Chinese, the Hmong gradually were ground down to nothing.
The survivors ceased their warfare against the communists and began a life of “bugging out,” doing the best they could to live off of the land while in hiding.
The Purge
When communists officially took over the country, a genocidal policy was incorporated against the Hmong people.
Communist-backed newspapers throughout the country began to advertise that the Hmong would be “exterminated to the last root.” And that’s exactly what happened.
Mao Zedong’s policies of terror were the rulebook by which Laos began to operate.
The Hmong ran and ran…and ran.
They hid where they could, but the soldiers were too many, and the technology employed against them improved more and more.
However, many of them still live in hiding in the jungles of Laos today. But despite the war being long over, they are still being slaughtered.
This is a new style of article for Pew Pew Tactical, if you liked it — let us know in the comments! If you didn’t enjoy it…well phooey. To catch up on previous Pictures from History, click on over to our History Category.
11 Leave a Reply
Yes I loved the article although it saddened me deeply the way our so called leaders continue to abandon or alies that fight and bleed with us , only to hunted down to Extinction. .
Please keep articles like this coming. They show that your not just a "Gun Magazine "
Articles like this are why Pew Pew Tactical is much more than just a gun shop.
Yes, the abandonment if the Hmong was one if the most shameful consequences of the US withdrawal from Vietnam. When we Left Afghanistan, like many who knew the truth about Vietnam, I was once again enraged and ashamed. One would think our "Leadership" would not repeat the same errors, but damned if they didn't do the same flawed withdrawal all over again.
Good summary Aden.
Well written piece about a shameful chapter of US history. I am impressed that your site has the moxie to publish this. More please, and keep including them in the newsletter
That same evil is back again and the new front is Ukraine. Hopefully this time we will not abandon our allies and live up to our ideals.
No worries, the Russians are putting an end to that evil. Bakhmut fell today to the liberators.
Commie present
Russia is not communist, say something else.
I always enjoy these articles. Was it pure coincidence that this one was initially posted on Ho Chi Minh's birthday?
From 1889 the Communists have never relented. Now with the global 'Belt & Road' moving through South/Central America, Asia, Africa and even Europe we have more influence from the CCP. Unfortunately Marx/Engels doctrine has gained momentum here.
Great article Aden on this lost history about the Hmong. Being Hmong myself it’s good to hear that others are still keeping this part of history alive and not forgotten.
Keep up the history on PewPew