Tragic Mountains: The Hmong, the Americans, and the Secret Wars for Laos, 1942-1992 [Hardcover]

Jane Hamilton-Merritt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1993

This volume examines the Hmong's struggle for freedom and survival from 1942 to the present.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The Hmong, a mountain people of Laos, were U.S. allies during the Vietnam war. A noble, friendly folk with a 4000-year-old culture, they are the object of a genocidal campaign by the communist Laotian and Vietnamese governments. In this bitter, tragic and disturbing saga, Asian scholar/journalist/photographer Hamilton-Merritt documents the horrible suffering endured by the Hmong since they were abandoned by the U.S. in 1975. Her collection of eyewitness testimonies establishes that the Laotian-Vietnamese forces have field-tested chemical and biological toxins by using Hmong villages as targets (the "yellow rain" dismissed by the Western media as bee dung). The situation is especially urgent because those thousands of Hmong who succeeded in escaping to Thailand are now being forcibly repatriated to their homeland, where they face extermination as a despised minority and former "running dogs of the imperialist." Hamilton-Merritt's impressive study, one hopes, will lead to the belated U.S. recognition of responsibility for the plight of the Hmong. Photos.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

In a sideshow to the Vietnam War, the United States and North Vietnam fought a secret war in Laos, with the Hmong people the valiant allies of the Americans. In the end they were deserted by the United States. Some came to this country, but many stayed in Southeast Asia, either as unwelcome refugees in Thailand or subject to imprisonment and genocide (including "yellow rain" attacks) in their native land. The author, a journalist with intimate knowledge of the Hmong, uses hundreds of interviews and her own experience in relating their wartime struggles and frustrated efforts to have their postwar tragedy recognized by the United States and the United Nations. This is an important story, little acknowledged--let alone reported--in the world press. Highly recommended.
- Kenneth W. Berger, Duke Univ. Lib., Durham, N.C.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 580 pages
• Publisher: Indiana University Press; Reprint. edition (January 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0253327318
• ISBN-13: 978-0253327314
• Product Dimensions: 14.5 x 9.4 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #786,533 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #59 in Books > History > Asia > Laos

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Accurate or not; It was a part of history lost, May 2, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Tragic Mountains: The Hmong, the Americans, and the Secret Wars for Laos, 1942-1992 (Paperback)

This book by Jane Hamilton-Merritt may not be to a point accurate but it was written in her own point of view as of how we, the Hmong, were drawned into war as foot soldiers for the Americans. I was not borned yet to live through this coverted war but for me alot of my uncles, including my father, were actual soldiers so it touches me deeply when i read this book. I know that with the growing population of Hmong nowadays in America the one main question on a Caucasin American's mind is "Why are these Asians migrating to America and living next door to me?" Well to answer that question they would have to read this book to find out why. As for myself, being a first generation in America, after reading this book it have been brought to my attention how much i have yet to learn about my own history during the Vietnam War. To those that only know that the Vietnam War was about US fighting communist of North Vietnam will have to definitly read this book to fully understand all of the war. I give props to Jane Hamilton-Merritt for her studies and researches into these peaceful hilltop tribes that were told to leave their everyday lives to join forces with an ally that in the end totally deserted them when they evacuated Southeast Asia. My heart and soul goes out to all those who have lost their lives, family members, and love ones so that I and all the first generation Hmong young adults in America could have a better life here. For those who still ponders on why we the Hmong are being here in America; this book is for you to read and understand that the Hmong people contributed in a much bigger way in the war than anyone could have imagined. This book is highly recommended by me for everyone to read whether you are Hmong or not.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST READ BOOK FOR THOSE LOOKING MORE FOR THEIR CULTURE!!!, April 28, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Northfield, MN, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tragic Mountains: The Hmong, the Americans, and the Secret Wars for Laos, 1942-1992 (Hardcover)

Even though I have many things I need to do for school, night after night, I could not resist reading a chapter of this book, then two, then three chapters. The details and specifics incorporated in this book are overwhelming and it is those details that touch your heart, especially because those details are so horrible and at the same time true. What happen to us during the Vietnam War is not known to many outside of the Hmong. By reading this book I gained a much greater appreciation for my own culture. I know that I should probably know something of this and that I have my relatives to go to if I want to hear stories of this nature. But it is hard for me to ask them that and they are busy and so am I. It certainly made an impact on my life, and I will devour any other books about us. I find myself thinking why I am not a sociology major instead of a chemistry major. Never did I know the true involvement of the Hmong in the CIA's actions in SE Asia. A MUST READ!!!!

15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Candlestick Fac analysis, July 16, 2001

By 

Alexander A. Vivona Jr. (Aurora CO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tragic Mountains: The Hmong, the Americans, and the Secret Wars for Laos, 1942-1992 (Paperback)

Jane Hamilton-Merritt's research and reporting is outstanding.After serving as a Candlestick fac (NKP 1969-1970),I have spent the last three years reading about these poor people who gave so much for the American aircrews.. I spent a two week'Sabbatical" at 20 alternate and was shocked by the yound age of V.P.s troops.Ms. jane has portrayed it brilliantly....Her work is phenomenal and should be required reading for the war colleges She correctly questions why any country would sign a treaty with the United States.. The genocide which we have supported by "sticking our heads in the sand" is grievous.I retired early from the USAF since I lost confidence in our government.Indeed even the services spent a great deal of their time trying to absorb each other's missions,rather than dealing with the losing battle in SEA in the 1970s.. The administration never told the American people that we were actually fighting against Russian and Chinese advisors leave alone that we were in Laos for almost ten years. .Every congressman should also read about this stain on our moral fiber .Somehow,there are more important things in this life than being reelected .Thank you and Bless Ms. Hamilton-Merritt for trying to wake up Washington. The best treatise ever on our Laotian allies !