RESUPPLY EFFORTS FOR KONG LE AND MEO FORCES IN PLAINE DES JARRES AREA

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005765027
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: June 24, 2015
• Document Release Date: December 21, 2011
• Case Number: F-2011-02134
• Publication Date: May 2, 1963

CENTRAL NTEtLIGENC~ AGENCY
Office of,:' urrent In l].igence
2 May 193"
SUBJECT: Resupply Efforts for Kong Le and Meo Forces
. in Plaine des Jarres Area
1. Complaints by Kong Le and Meo commander Vang
Pao that they are receiving insufficient support from
Vientiane--as cited in our' morning report of 1 May--
would seem to reflect the typical impatience of field
commanders with those supporting them rather than an
actual case of inadequate supply in the present sit-
uation. Problems of supply and coordination in the
fluid political and military situation in Laos can be
expected to cause fluctuations of morale on the part
of both Kong Le and Vang Pao, and to give rise to com-
plaints that they cannot do all they feel is expected
of them. Nonetheless, the over-all attitude of both
Kong Le and Vang Pao is good. Kong Le's confidence
is mirrored in his perhaps overly sanguine current
plans to retake positions recently lost to the Pathet
Lao. Reports from Meo units in the Plaine des Jarres
area indicate that Vang Pao and the Meo units under
his command are also in high spirits.
2. At the outset in early April of the current
crisis in the Plaine des Jarres area, the Kong Le
forces were in a desperate position as regards ammu-
nition, POL, food, and other supplies. This situation
has since been largely ameliorated. Most of the re-
supply to Kong Le's forces is being handled by the
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
APPROVED FOR
RELEASEL DATE:
12-Dec-2011
 Lao Army, largely by airlift to Muong Phanh in Royal
Lao Air Force aircraft under General Phoumi's control.
Some supplies are also in the process of delivery
overland from the Lao Army's 2nd Military Region head-
quarters at Paksane.
3. To overcome the problem of ammunition short-
ages for Kong Le's heterogeneous collection of bloc
weapons, General Phoumi has undertaken an exchange for
US equipment from Lao Army stocks. This exchange,
however, is not yet far along.
4. Aside from supplies, Phoumi has airlifted to
the Plaine des Jarres area in Royal Lao Air Force
planes two regular Lao Army infantry battalions (the
9th BI and the 24 BI) as well as a number of armor,
communications, and other specialists. Most of these
Lao Army troops have remained in rear areas, although
some elements have been committed to forward positions
in support of efforts by Kong Le forces to reoccupy
various posts.
5. While Phoumi--with the tacit approval of
Souvanna--is thus backstopping the Kong Le neutralists
with both men and materiel,,he is not in a position
to send in as much as both Kong Le and Vang Pao would
probably like. Phoumi has been encouraged by Ambas-
sador Unger to make the Lao Army's assistance as un-
obstrusive as possible. Moreover, the distribution
of supplies to Kong Le's far-flung forces is a major
logistics problem--and this largely explains why in-
dividual units under Kong Le are experiencing shortages
of both food and ammunition on a fluctuating basis.
Phoumi, however, expresses the view that Kong Le's
position is solid, and the two men apparently are
now working in close accord.
S. Vang Pao's Meo forces, whose supply situa-
tion has never been so critical as was that of the
Kong Le forces, have also had additional weapons and
ammunition airdropped to them recently.
7. During initial planning on 12 April between
.Vang Pao and Kong Le, it was agreed that Meo guerrilla
 forces would be used to strengthen Kong Le's defense
position in the Plaine des Jarres and Xieng Khouang
areas. Since 12 April some 4,500 Meos have been in-
volved in movement and limited operations designed
to strengthen Kong Le's military posture.
Ithe Meos pass needed arms
and ammunition to Kong a units. This method of re-
supplying Kong Le forces through Meo_hannels
insures that arms and ammunition reach Kong Le front-
line units- These
an nave supp,e-
mented support provided Kong Le by Phoumi from Lao
Army stocks.
to suspend) ammunition re-
supply flights scheduled between 27 and 30 April be-
cause Souvanna Phouma and the International Control
Commission were to be visiting the Plaine Des Jarres
area. However, it was agreed
that if major Pathet
ao action took place during this temporary suspen-
sion against either Meo or Kong Le units, resupply
flights on an urgent basis would be considered. Am-
munition and weapons resupply :alights are scheduled
to resume on 2 May.
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