Customer Reviews

Covert Ops: The CIA's Secret War In Laos

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I served as Chief of Security for Air America in Thailand and Vietnam from 1967-1975. I enjoyed "Mule's" book very much. For those who shared Jim Parker's experiences you will relive old memories. For those who could not be there you will find the details fascinating. I would encourage you to read this one.

this is a seldom told and largely unknown aspect of the vietnam war. an amazing story of fighting the NVA to a virtual standstill with meager supplies and masterful tactics. a must read for anyone who thinks they know anything about the war in southeast asia.

Having served in the North of Thailand myself, I read with great interest Jim Parker's account of the war that was lateral to us and just across the border in Laos. I enjoyed the book, found it very interesting, and like Parker's style of writing. Humerous in places, personal, descriptive. Well done.

I was in SE Asia for six years during the so-called Vietnam War, which was being conducted in North & South Viet Nam, Cambodia, Thailand and Laos. I knew some of the men fighting/serving in each of those countries. The great majority of the long timers were tough as cobs but with hearts of gold. Jim's adoption of two Thai orphans was one piece of evidence of that gold. But he also cared for the Hmong and his fellow Americans. For those people who have never been in a war, this is a must read to learn about Americans on the front lines taking care of their own and their allies, and how the beauracrats/politicians back in Washington and Vientiane really did not care about anyone except their own success.

I found this jewel to be more than a diamond in the rough. Parker's carefully crafted personal diary of those men and women who served our country silently, but with incredible valor and tenacity, particularly in a time of confusing events and conflicting values in our own country, is the best evidence of the "other side of the story" about our involvement in SouthEast Asia and those who served there with honor. It brought to the front the noble cause and the selfless courage of those who gave sacrifice, some the ultimate sacrifice, in a political and military conflict that ended with our withdrawal and the fall of the governments so many had fought to save. It was a book so compelling that I could not put it down as I disembarked from my flight, reading it even as I stood at the baggage return.

For patriots, veterans, historians, and the adventuresome this jewel of a book is a must read.

I've read and re-read this book many times over the years and shared it with many of my friends and team mates. These true life stories, from our forgotten heroes in another war, serve as valuable "special warfare" lessons for today's world and those future conflicts. I hope we can get some more of their valuable lessons on paper, from these forgotten heroes, before it's too late, so we build from their experiences and not repeat any of their mistakes.

I left Laos shortly before Parker arrived, having flown from the same areas and worked with the same people he so eloquently and warmly describes. I have never read anything that covers U.S. involvement and the plight of the Hmoung, the details and the human stories, so well. A great read!

Thanks, Mule

This is a well written view of the action in Laos just before the pull out. This is a good background read before some of the later books like "When Broken Glass Floats" by Chanrithy Him.

James Parker's call sign was to become 'Mule' and by chance it was the most fitting call sign he could have. The book provides many interesting insights into how the CIA's secret war was waged. Parker's telling of it unfortunately has the charm and emotional engagement of a desk-jockey's post-action report. What another reviewer calls fluff to fill the pages are rather the anecdotes that Parker tells of his mates and his 'normal' life which fall squarely into the 'you-had-to-be-there' category and which would only be funny, curious or interesting from one combat comrade to another. What struck me the most from the book as a combat veteran myself, is that Parker's experiences led to no questions, no second thoughts, no introspection and certainly no remorse for the incredible death and destruction that this the largest CIA covert war ever caused. That one might not have such feelings at the time I can understand fully. But with more than 20 years between the experiences and the writing it is amazing to me that there are not even more than two or three sentences in the book which attest to any flinching from the human tragedy that any war, and certainly this secret war, entailed. Although Parker seemed genuinely upset that the US government just ended the mission and turned its back on its Hmong allies, whom Parker seemed to truly respect and even love, his seemingly casual acceptance of this decision and continued decades of work for the agency in other theaters provides a wonderful albeit frightening insight into the psyche of people like Parker. He was apparently indeed a CIA 'Mule' to the end.

This is a very well written account of CIA ops. Not only about the fighting, but also the human side of the "secret" war in Laos.