“Last flight out of Long Cheng, May 14, 1975”
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When I flew into Phou Khan and saw my people below, my tears came. That there were still so many people left behind [in Laos]. I knew that if they went [to Long Cheng], there were no more airplanes left. I was really leaving behind my country. When General Vang Pao boarded the plane, he didn’t say a word. We knew that we were leaving our country behind. We were becoming refugees. 

I had said to the General when we were leaving, ‘This country is the Laotian country. If we fight against the North Vietnamese right now, the Laotians are going to advertise and blame us for not liking their policies. At that time, it doesn’t matter if you’re [pro-democracy] Laotian, Laotian communists - they’re going to kill us as well. This country belongs to the Laotians. Let’s get out. If the [pro-democracy] Laotians see that their country is really falling and they fight for their country, then at that time we will return. 

The General was very heartbroken. I saw that everyone was very heartbroken. But the General and I did not speak a word to each other. 

(Photo courtesy Mr. Chong Neng Vang)