Battle for Skyline Ridge Timeline 18 December 1971 to 4 April 1972

Early morning 18 December 1971, on a fog shrouded Plaine de Jars (PDJ) in the Lao NE, 27,000 North Vietnamese main line soldiers (PAVN) attacked defensive positions held by 4,000 Lao, Thai, and Hmong irregulars in the Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA) mountain army. The PAVN had orders to retake the PDJ, destroy the CIA force and occupy the Long Tieng Valley beyond, “at all cost.” General Nguyen Huu An, one of the best PAVN field commanders was personally assigned to command this PAVN operation, called “Campaign Z,” by PAVN General of the Army Giap. He would be fighting Hmong General Vang Pao who commanded the CIA force. Thai General Dhep would lend support.

In two days the PAVN owned the Plaines, with most of the CIA force killed, captured or dispersed into the southern hills.

By 9 January 1972, the two PAVN divisions – supported by tanks and their enormous 130mm field guns - had advance to Skyline Ridge that protected the Long Tieng valley in the north; some of their forward elements occupied the high ground on the ridgeline. Only a thousand Vang Pao guerrillas, some with very little military training, stood in opposition.

Most allied observers thought the end to the military war in Laos was near. There was little hope the ridgeline – and Long Tieng beyond - could be held.

Then on 14 January 1972, two of the major newspapers in Hanoi reported that the PAVN had indeed taken the ridge and occupied Vang Pao’s lair. Laos was theirs.

But it didn’t happen.

For 9 weeks the PAVN attack. For 9 weeks the CIA forces under Vang Pao’s command held. Vang Pao and Thai General Dhep clearly out-maneuvered PAVN General An. CIA Station Chief Tovar and US Ambassador to Laos, Mac Godley, gave strong support to Vang Pao and Dhep and to the two CIA case officers who remained in the valley during the most critical period. US TacAir was lethal. Hmong, Lao, and Khumu guerrilla and the Thai irregulars called, “Tahan Sua Pran,” shows guts and great “hang” for 9 weeks of almost constant combat.

On 4 April General An told what remained of his attack force to retreat. That they had lost 10,000 men and were badly beaten.

The battle culminated the successful efforts by the CIA – on direction of the President of the United States - to start up and run a secret guerrilla army to preserve Lao independence. It was an impressive victory – against all odds - for anti-Communist forces in Southeast Asia.

Much in this story is new, gleaned from more than 700 pages of PAVN after action reports and some recently declassified US Government documents. Most of the CIA participants still alive were interviewed. Air America, the Ravens, Hmong, Thai irregulars, Forward Air Guides, USAID workers, wives, academicians and historians all made contributions.

This is a comprehensive account of one of the CIA’s largest covert operations, and one of its most successful. Throughout this Timeline are rare glimpses of very memorable characters: Kayak, Hog, Hardnose, Dhep, Vang Pao, Tovar, Cher Pao Moua, Red Coat, all the Ravens, all the Air America crews, Father B, Whiskey 02, PAVN Colonel Choung, PAVN General An, “Gabby,” Ambassador Godley, Shep, Tony Poe, Jim Glerum, Vint Lawrence and Bill Lair.

It is a great Never Fully Told Before story from the Vietnam War, where the good guys win.