Secret War in Laos: Green Berets, CIA, and the Hmong

By: Steven Schofield

Narrated by: Andrew Rowe

Length: 8 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's Summary

The tale of a young Green Beret medic, Vietnam combat veteran with the top secret Studies and Observations Group (SOG) who was recruited by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

Schofield worked five and a half years providing medical support for the Hmong and other Hill Tribes who fought the CIA’s secret war in Northern Laos, and was among the last Americans to leave SE Asia in May 1975.

It was a surreal time and place that would be impossible to even imagine today.

“Schofiled’s book reflects a genuine love for the Hmong and their culture, as well as a vast knowledge of their efforts during our ‘secret war’ in Laos in the 1960s and 1970s. Read and learn some actual facts; not overblown rhetoric from another barstool hero.” (Stephen R. Leopold, colonel, SF, USA, ret.)

“Schofield’s book will be a welcome, informative addition to recent books released on the early days of Green Beret history in Southeast Asia. De Oppresso Liber." (John Stryker Meyer, author of SOG Chronicles, Across the Fence, and On the Ground)

©2019 Steven Schofield (P)2020 Steven Schofield

Excellent

It needs a cover yes but an SF Medic has stories to tell, no? Firefights, injuries in combat, hijinks in off hours, it’s a funny, horrifying, medically sound thrill ride for 90% of it. Only cons for me was that some of the fights seemed boastful (he never loses, I get it’s his memoir). In my memoir I never lost a fight either! On the whole though, excellent book go get it.

1000+ library, 90% military thriller or mil SF

Brought down by himself.

I cannot rate the story because I did not have the patience to get through the forward and chapter 1. . By that time the author had turned me off with his sophomoric assumptions about folks outside of his narrow political perspective. Couple that with a basket of braggadocio and I was unable to get to the content that I was interested in learning.

By far the worst.

Dry and dragged out. Has almost no combat missions in the book. Instead brags about not having any self control and bar fighting every chance he could. Terrible. Not even worth reading for free.

A must read to understand the Vietnam story

A great read for those who must know the daily experience and reality of life and dreams of a professional soldier..

Jane Fonda should read this!

This is a great book about great Americans sacrificing their livelihood for the better of the world. unlike activists like Jane f****** Fonda who just bitch for attention to better themselves. Unlike the men and women who fight and die for those very freedoms to have a platform to complain in the first place. double standards seem to be the foundation for the left to sabotage our great country.

Not a full review

Just want to say that overall very good. The narrator was also very good, EXCEPT for the fact that his mispronouncing several area names was very distracting and made it seem more fictional. I can verify many of the facts and again the narrator was good except for a few mispronunciations that could have been easily corrected with minimal effort.

My experience

The book is rich in combat stories and builds so nicely with the chapters onto captivating hair-raising missions. Sadly it flattens into a monotony of introductions of officers, tribes and places which makes reading to the end for an adrenaline moments-seeking reader such a painful anti-climax to a story that offered so much promise.

Also annoying is how the writer wastes so much space detailing his own personal fist-fights with fellow officers. Just one such would have sufficed. The space could have been used to provide further details on missions that were summarized.

Incredible

An amazing recounting of the life of a special forces soldier. Loas is an often overlooked part of the activities in SE Asia and Secret War shed a ton of light on our non- combat activities there. Yes CAR-15 isn't "c-a-r" and there are some Vietnamese pronunciations that are a bit off, but it doesn't take away from the story or the message. Bravo to all!

Outstanding glimpse into the fringe wars in South East Asia

An important historical notes on a forgotten part of American and Lao history and sacrifice. Excellent editing, production and narration.
This is no BS!

From Inside A Soldier’s Mind:

Incredible, engaging narrative of aa almost unbelievable experience that keeps you on your toes and eager for more. Honestly written and narrated just as it was experienced by our men on the ground and in uniform. Here’s hoping that the Afgan citizens who helped us will have a better fate, and that there are some Steve Schofield humanitarians there to help them