Battle for Skyline Ridge: The CIA Secret War in Laos

Name: Battle for Skyline Ridge: The CIA Secret War in Laos
Brand: Dream Books Co.
SKU: DBV.1612007058.G
Price: 4.77 USD
Availability: InStock

$4.77

Product variants

Quantity

Pickup available at Bookstore (Hours: Open Everyday, 8 am to 4 pm)

Usually ready in 24 hours

The first complete account of the secret battle of Skyline Ridge, 1972, when a ragtag Laos-Thai army supported by the CIA threw back a vast NVA army. In late 1971, the People's Army of Vietnam launched Campaign "Z" into northern Laos, escalating the war in Laos with the aim of defeating the last Royal Lao Army troops. The NVA troops numbered 27,000 and brought with them 130mm field guns and T-34 tanks, while the North Vietnamese air force launched MiG-21s into Lao air space. General Giap's specific orders to this task force were to kill the CIA army under command of the Hmong war lord Vang Pao and occupy its field headquarters in the Long Tieng valley of northeast Laos. They faced the rag-tag army of Vang Pao, fewer than 6,000 strong and mostly Thai irregulars, recruited by the Thai army to fight for the CIA in Laos. By the time the NVA launched their first attack, 4,000 Tahan Sua Pran had been recruited, armed, trained and rushed in position in Laos to defend against the impending NVA invasion. They reinforced Vang Pao's indigenous army of 1,800 Lao hillstribe guerrillas. Despite the odds being overwhelmingly in the NVA's favor, the battle did not go to plan. It raged for more than 100 days, the longest in the Vietnam War, and it all came down to Skyline Ridge. As at Dien Bien Phu, whoever won Skyline, won Laos. Against all odds, against all WDC expectations, the NVA lost, their 27,000-man invasion force decimated. James Parker served in Laos. Over many years he pieced together his own knowledge with CIA files and North Vietnamese after-action reports in order to tell the full story of the battle of Skyline Ridge. Table of Contents Preface 1. Origins 2. Enter Vang Pao 3. Spanner in the Works 4. Test of Concept 5. Air America 6. Geneva Accords 1962 7. The Secret War Takes For 8. Relegated to the Shadows 9. LS 36 and LS 85 10. The Mighty Ravens 11. 1968 12. About Face 13. 1970 14. Royal Thai Army's 13 Infantry Regiment 15. The Tahan Suz Pran 16. Campaign 74B 17. St Valentine's Day Massacre and the Thai Irregulars to the Rescue 18. Back to the PDJ 19. PDJ Fight 20. Phase I Skyline 21. 14 January 1972 22. Phase II Skyline 23. VP's End Around 24. Hill 1800 25. Sam Thong and CC Pad Falls 26. Final Show Down at CC and CB 27. So What Happened? Epilogue Sources Notes Index
ASIN: 1612007058
VSKU: DBV.1612007058.G
Condition: Good
Author/Artist:Parker Jr, James E.
Binding: Hardcover

Note on Condition

Most of the items in our store are used. The item's condition grade is indicated near the bottom of the product description. If you have any questions regarding specific details of an item, please contact us. We use the following rating scale:

Books:

Used - Very Good: Item may have minor cosmetic defects (marks, wears, cuts, bends, crushes) on the cover, spine, pages or dust cover. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may contain remainder marks on outside edges, which should be noted in listing comments. Item may be missing bundled media.
Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. Gently used ex-library books with library stickers and markings may be classified as good. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.

CDs/DVDs/Discs:

Used - Good: Case may be damaged or come repackaged. Disc may have up to 1.5cm marking but is in great working condition.
Used - Acceptable: A product with extensive external signs of wear, but is in great working condition. The case may be damaged. The cover art, liner, notes, or other inclusion may be marked, or one or all of these items may be missing.

Shipping & Returns

Shipping: Most orders are shipped within 2 business days.

Returns: We want you to be completely satisfied with your purchase. If you're not, you can return your order within 30 days of purchase for a refund.