The Ravens: The True Story of a Secret War (40 page)

The war devoured the young Meo men until there were only children left.
(Pic: AP/Wide World Pictures)

A unidentified American inspects the M-16 automatic rifle of a Laotian boy soldier.
(Pic: AP/Wide World Pictures)

The face of the future - the enemy in Vientiane.
(Pic: Kouba collection)

The writing on the wall.
(Pic: Kouba collection)

A typical party suit worn to the Raven reunions at Randolph Air Force Base in Texas.
(Pic: EAPLS Archives)

Craig Morrison and baby son Trey, born just before he went to Southeast Asia. Beneath the smiles, there were psychological scars that took years to heal.
(Pic: Morrison collection)

The Meo mass for the final American evacuation of the war in 1975. Only a fraction of their number could be taken out by the C-130 and two C-46s (one of which is shown here) manned by ex-Air America personnel.
(Pic: Kouba collection)

Raffish armorers beside the bomb dump in Pakse.
(Pic: Hightower collection)

Thai 155mm battery at KM 21 on the road towards Paksong.
(Pic: Hightower collection)

The road outside of the Raven hootch after the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre.
(Pic: EAPLS Archives)

The aftermath of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre - the Raven hootch.
(Pic: EAPLS Archives)

Pakse control tower.
(Pic: Private collection of Chuck Hightower)

Captured Russian guns lined up on the Plain of Jars after the success of Operation About Face in 1969.
(Pic: Morrison collection)