Tragic Mountains - The Hmong, the Americans, and the Secret Wars for Laos, 1942-1992

It is a story of courage, brutality, heroism, betrayal, resilience, and hope.

List of contents

Preface

Preface to the Third Printing

Chronology

Part One: The Fight for the Control of Indochina

1. Massacre on the Mekong

2. The time of the Fackee

3. The Rise of the Viet Minh

4. The Time of the Viet Minh

Part Two: Laos: The First Domino

5. The Time of the Americans

6. Camelot and the Land of Oz

7. The Charade of Neutralization

Part Three: Secret War in Laos: The Johnson Years

8. CIA Operations at Long Chieng

9. Widening of the "Secret War"

10. Phou Pha Thi Falls, "the Alamo" Holds

11. Hmong in the Skies

12. Vang Pao Goes to Washington

Part Four: The Nixon-Kissinger Years

13. Men of Courage

14. The U.S. Betrays the Hmong

15. Lima Lima

16. Kissinger and Guerilla Diplomacy

17. Bouam Loung, SKY Border Base

18. War Bloodies the Land of Oz

19. The Siege of Long Chieng

Part Five: "Peace" in Laos: The Communist Takeover

20. The Last Americans

21. Am Ominous Lull

22. "Wipe Them Out!"

Part Six: The Lao Gulag

23. Exodus

24. Chao Fa: Mystical Warriors

25. Holocaust in the Hills

26. The Giant Slays Sin Sai's Soldiers

Part Seven: A New Military Age

27. "A Conspiracy of Silence"

28. "Yellow Rain" and World Councils

29. Wronged by the Media

Part Eight: Wronged in War; Wronged in Peace

30. Burial in Montana

31. Abused and Abandoned

32. Requiem

Appendix

Notes

Glossary

Interviews and Sources

Index

Illustrations

About the author

Jane Hamilton-Merritt was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1969 for her coverage of the Vietnam War, and in 1998 for the Nobel Peace Prize, in recognition of her long-standing efforts on behalf of the Hmong. Tragic Mountains is her account of the historic struggle of the Hmong and of their betrayal by the United States.

Summary

The name Hmong means 'free people' or 'those who must have their freedom and independence'. History records ancient Hmong homelands in China, a fiercely independent culture dating back to 2000 BC, and centuries of oppression. This title tells the story of the Lao Hmong Struggle for freedom and survival since 1940.

Product details

• Authors: Jane Hamilton-Merritt, Hamilton-Merritt Jane
• Publisher: Indiana University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.11.1999
• EAN: 9780253207562
• ISBN: 978-0-253-20756-2
• No. of pages: 622
• Dimensions: 156 mm x 234 mm x 33 mm
• Weight: 930 g
• Series: Indiana University Press (IPS)
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > 20th century (up to 1945); Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political administration