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

As a two-tour Vietnam Marine veteran, I read everything I can on the war and have for years. Tragic Mountains is a monumental book. The Hmong were wonderful people in Indochina who supported Americans and freedom and paid a terrible price doing so. This book is an outstanding contribution to our history and that of the Hmong and the lying, two-faced communist North Vietnamese. It is also a book about brave Americans and Thai's laying it all on the line while the leadership in Washington and Saigon were selling them out. Betrayal? You bet. Lots of it.

Read this book more than a decade ago as a teenager and I still find it interesting and emotional to read, especially because my grandparents and parents went through it! I finally bought it because we discovered that my mother in law’s picture was in the book and that was very meaningful! Loved it and will read it over and over again! :)

Love it

A well written and solidly researched book. I wish it was more widely read. The Hmong were among the best allies we have ever had. Competent, brave and honest. We screwed them due to a lack of political will. I can't imagine we are having a hard time convincing people to trust us these days. Well worth the read.

The true story of an episode most Americans know literally nothing about and most people who think they know don't really know the truth. The CIA 'tricked" the Hmong into the war, right? Oh except the Viet Minh invaded their homelands in 1954 and there was a war going on before any US military showed up. Read on.

Very Informative about the Hmong Culture.

Great book, allows for one to learn about what many don't know about the Hmong.

love

Well done book.