Skip to Main Content

The Her Family

Trying to survive meant living in constant fear and being faced with difficult choices.

Aired 10/03/2017 | Rating TV-PG

America's Secret War: Minnesota Remembers Vietnam

The Her Family

Clip: Special | 3m 7sVideo has Closed Captions

Trying to survive meant living in constant fear and being faced with difficult choices.

At the end of the Secret War, Hmong women and children often surrendered to the Pathet Lao—but trying to survive in Communist villages meant living in constant fear and being faced with difficult choices. Khou Yang was newly pregnant, a sure sign that her husband was hiding in the nearby jungle. She feared that the Pathet Lao would hunt down and kill her husband if her pregnancy was discovered.

Aired 10/03/2017 | Rating TV-PG

America's Secret War: Minnesota Remembers Vietnam is presented by your local public television station.

Distributed nationally by American Public Television

America's Secret War Preview

Video has Closed Captions

Hmong testimonial of the CIA's Secret War in Laos and escaping a brutal communist regime. (1m)

CIA

Video has Closed Captions

CIA operatives worked hand in glove with the Hmong and General Vang Pao during the Secret (3m 16s)

The Domino Theory

Video has Closed Captions

The CIA recruited Hmong people to fight as surrogates of the U.S. armed forces. (6m 31s)

Dr. Mai Na Lee

Video has Closed Captions

As the Secret War ended, Hmong people were hunted by the Communist Pathet Lao. (8m 3s)

Ganghis Khang

Video has Closed Captions

Ganghis Khang talks about the poor living conditions of Ban Vinai Refugee Camp (1m 39s)

Lee Pao Xiong

Video has Closed Captions

Having grown up in Long Tieng, Lee Pao Xiong was no stranger to war even as a child. (4m 56s)

Long Tieng

Video has Closed Captions

Among the hardest hit by the Secret War were the Hmong people of northern Laos. (3m 17s)

Nhiacha Vang

Video has Closed Captions

Nhiacha Vang relives a punishing battle in which he was critically injured by enemy fire. (4m 59s)

Xai Nou Vang

Video has Closed Captions

Many Hmong men and boys joined General Vang Pao's troops to escape poverty. (4m 26s)

Providing Support for PBS.org

Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship

America's Secret War: Minnesota Remembers Vietnam is presented by your local public television station.

Distributed nationally by American Public Television

Sign in with Email

or

Continue with GoogleContinue with FacebookContinue with Apple

By creating an account, you acknowledge that PBS may share your information with our member stations and our respective service providers, and that you have read and understand the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Are you sure you want to remove null from My List?