Codename Mule: Fighting the Secret War in Laos for the CIA

At the same time the Vietnam War was being broadcast into the living rooms of Americans across the country the CIA was conducting a large-scale secret war in northeastern Laos that few heard about. Agency case officer Jim Parker's five years of combat and immersion in Southeast Asian culture had a lasting influence on him and his family. His dramatic, provocative reminiscence of those years is the first account by a participant to portray America's involvement in Laos and the people who served there.Jim Parker and his fellow CIA operatives did phenomenal work in Laos supporting the Hmong people and their fight against the Pathet Lao & the NVA communist invaders. They trained and equipped the Hmongs who acquitted themselves well against the 70,000 NVA forces over a ten year period...even piloting US T-28 trainers rigged as close air support aircraft. Gen Vang Pao the Hmong leader was also key to the success they had. Most importantly, their display of heroism and professionalism tied down tens of thousands of NVA that otherwise would have been committed to the fight in South Vietnam. Signed and inscribed by the veteran author.James E. Parker, Jr., was one of the first American soldiers into Vietnam, and he was the last to leave in 1975. In between he married, graduated from UNC, and joined the CIA. His first CIA assignment was upcountry Laos, where he led Hmong hill tribe guerrillas against two divisions of North Vietnamese soldiers. After para-military work in Laos/Vietnam, Parker went on to serve undercover in the CIA's Directorate of Operations, retiring in 1992. His books include Last Man Out: A Personal Account of the Vietnam War and Covert Ops: The CIA's Secret War in Laos. James spent years of research and work on Battle for Skyline Ridge; he sadly died while the book was in production. That book was finally completed and published in 2022. Title: Codename Mule: Fighting the Secret War in Laos for the CIA Author Name: Parker, James E Location Published: Naval Institute Press: 1996 Binding: hardcover Book Condition: Excellent Inscription: signed and inscribed by the veteran author Pages: 219 Categories: Special Forces & Unconventional Warfare, Guerrilla Wars & Resistance Movements, Signed Books, Vietnam War 1960-1975 Seller ID: 2060