The family of United States Air Force Sergeant David S Price finally laid him to rest after more than 50 years of waiting. Price was stationed at a CIA base in Laos when it was overrun by communist forces in 1968. The site was destroyed to hide US involvement in the region, which was part of the Secret War waged illegally in Laos. This year marks the 60th anniversary of Operation Barrel Roll, a US bombing campaign in Laos that saw the country become the most heavily bombed per capita in history.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is the first to visit Laos, attending the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus. The visit comes as Southeast Asia seeks security assurances amid tensions with China. Operation Barrel Roll was a secret part of the US’s Cold War anti-communist efforts in Southeast Asia, with more bombs dropped on Laos than in all of WWII.
The legacy of the US bombing campaign continues with unexploded ordnance (UXO) still affecting the country. Around 30% of bombs dropped did not detonate, causing casualties even today. The battle against UXO is ongoing, with US funding aiding in clearance efforts. However, it may take up to 200 years for Laos to be free of UXO. The political landscape in Laos was also shaped by the Secret War, leading to the ruling Lao People’s Revolutionary Party controlling the country with limited accountability.
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