Figure 1.--The caption for this 1970 press phot read, "Wounded Laotian Boys: Two wounded Laotian boys lie on cots in a Laotian military hospital at Sam Thong, Laos, Monday. The base at Sam Thong is 35 miles southwest of the Plain of Jarsand has received most of the casualties, such as these boys, from that area." The photograph was dated February 23, 1970."

Pathet Lao forces launched several major offensives against South Viet Nam (early 1970). News of expanding U.S. involvement in Laos and Cambodia was made public when 1969 Senate transcripts were released (March-April 1970). Senators McGovern, Hughes, Cranston, Goodell, and Hatfield explained plans to introduce an "end the war" amendment which would cut funds for military operations in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia (May 2, 1970). South Vietnam responded with incursions into Laos to cut the Ho Chi Minh Trail (early 1971). The North Vietnamese fell back to safer areas deeper into Laos making the country another battleground of the Vietnam War. One of the most important battles of the Vietnam War was fought in Laos. More than 20 North Vietnamese battalions assaulted positions held by some 10,000 Lao, Thai, and Hmong defenders. The action was not well reported in the press at the time. This was in essence a battle over the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The first battle for Skyline Ridge began over the Long Tieng base (March 20, 1970). Long Tieng was an important Laotian military base located in Xiangkhouang Province. It was a town and airbase through which the Central Intelligence Agency could supply the Laotian Army and disrupt the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The CIA referred to it as Lima Site 98 (LS 98) and Lima Site 20A (LS 20A). The North Vietnamese took the higher ground and fired down on Long Tieng. Reinforcements arrived to hold the position and the North Vietnamese retreated (March 26). The North Vietnamese assessmled a larger force and planned a renewed offensive (Winter 1970-71). New supply trails were opened through Sam Neua and Xieng Khouang provinces. About 8,500 North Vietnamese troops attacked the the mostly Hmong defences at Long Tieng. The North Vietnamese began pounding Long Tieng with 122- mm rockets and mortar rounds (February 1971). When weather conditions improved, Thai battalions reinforced Skyline Ridge (April 1971). The North Vietnamese withdrew again. The North Vietnamese renewed the Battle for Skyline Ridge (December 17, 1971). Equipped with Soviet-made long-range 130-mm guns that outranged the Thai artillery, the North Vietnamese opened up on all Thai positions simultaneously. The Thai guns only had a range of 9 miles, compared to 16 miles for the Soviet artillery. This was followed by North Vietnamese tank and infantry assaults which penetrated the defenive kines around the Skyline Ridge bases. By the next morning. The northernmost position fell first. The North Vietnamese began to shell Long Tieng (December 31). An infrantry assaul began a few days later. An estimated 19,000 North Vietnamese troops attacked 10,000 Hmong, Thai, and Lao defenders. A radio message announced thamessage was sent via radio that Skyline Ridge had fallen to the Lao Patriotic Armed Forces (January 12). The North Vietnamese attempted to desguise their involvement in Laos. Skyline Ridge had not, however, fallen. With Amerucan airpower in support, the Hmong, Thai, and Lao defendeders in some of the most intense fighting of the War retook their positions. The North Vietnamese remewed the battle (Match 1972). The fighting continued into April. When thry failed again they finally withdrew and cnd instead redeployed their troops for the final offensive against South Vietnam.

Sources

Leary, William M. "The CIA and the 'Secret War' in Laos: The Battle for Skyline Ridge, 1971-1972," The Journal of Military History Society for Military History (1995).

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Created: 10:13 PM 4/3/2011
Last updated: 10:13 PM 4/3/2011