The Secert War

In the shadows of the Vietnam War, the CIA conducted a secret war in Laos that relied on Hmong soldiers to prevent the threat of communism from spreading deeper into Southeast Asia. Some Hmong sided with the Royal Laos government backed by the United States, with other Hmong sided with the Communist Pathert Lao nationalists supported by North Vietnamese and the Soviet Union.​​​​​​​

Hmong General Vang Pao, a courageous and powerful leader, worked in tandem with the CIA to conduct covert operations in Laos. Vang Pao led a Hmong army financed and trained by the American Central Intelligence Agency. In this "secret war" in Laos, thousands of Hmong men and boys were recruited by the CIA to help with rescue missions and other guerrilla operations.​​​​​​​