Page 10 - Colonel Philip Conran - Vietnam War
P. 10
THE SECRET WAR
DATE: 1962-1975
FORCES: Unknown
LOCATION: Nkhon
Phanom, Royal Thai
Airforce Base
CASUALTIES: Unknown
The Royal Thai government's desire to avoid publicity led
to the formation of a policy to downplay the United States'
presence and not draw attention to its tactical air units in
Thailand. American news agencies, such as United Press
International and Associated Press, were prohibited from
filing stories about American military activities.
Attacks on US bases and personnel were suppressed and
any personnel wounded during military action in Thailand
did not receive recognition of or awards for their wounds.
Military information officers were instructed that no
mention was to be made of operations from Thai facilities,
no names of bases were to be mentioned and no mention of
operational activities were to be released.
USAF combat sorties from Thailand flown into both North
Vietnam and South Vietnam grew as the Vietnam War
expanded in the 1960s.
Although the existence of the so-called "Secret War" was
sometimes reported in the U.S., details were largely
unavailable due to official government denials that the war
even existed. The denials were seen as necessary
considering that the US had signed agreements specifying
the neutrality of Laos.
