Hog’s Exit: Jerry Daniels, the Hmong, and the CIA

Glossary

|| 415 Glossary Terms, Places, People H MONG words are italicized and marked [Hm]; Lao words are italicized and marked [L]; Thai words are italicized and marked [Th]; French words are italicized and marked [Fr]; English words are unmarked. Agency: U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. See CIA. Air America: CIA’s proprietary airline that operated in Laos as the major supply vehicle for both military and civilian needs. Alternate: name commonly used for Long Cheng air base by American pilots because of its designation as Lima Site 20-Alternate. See Long Cheng. baci [L]: a well-wishing ceremony in which strings are tied on the recipient’s wrist to give good wishes, blessings, and protection. black or black ops: clandestine missions run by the CIA. Bouamlong: Lima Site 32 (LS 32); Colonel Moua Cher Pao was the tough commander of this isolated base in northeast Laos. C-130: Four-engine transport plane; largest transport plane that could land and take off at Long Cheng air base. CASI: Continental Air Services Inc. CASI operated aircraft in Laos on a contractual basis hauling cargo and people, mostly for the CIA and USAID. CIA: U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. Other terms referring to the CIA are the Agency, the Company, the Outfit, the Customer, and OGA (Other Governmental Agency); CIA case officers sometimes are referred to as operatives, advisors, handlers, or spooks. Customer: CIA personnel on the ground who worked closely with American aircrews in Laos during the war years. D and D: “drinkin’ and drivin’,” a term used by Jerry Daniels and his cronies. Dean, John Gunther: U.S. ambassador to Thailand, 1981–85; U.S. ambassador to Cambodia, 1974–75; deputy chief of mission, Vientiane, Laos, 1972–74. EAO: ethnic affairs officer, Department of State Refugee Program; a person with an extensive background and relationship with a particular ethnic group. FAC: forward air controller. All Raven pilots were considered FACs and often called “Raven FAC.” An English-speaking Hmong or Lao “backseater” would accompany the Raven FAC as a radio translator between the pilot and indigenous ground force commanders for the purpose of directing air strikes onto targets. The primary aircraft flown was the O-1 Birddog. In MR2 Laos all “backseaters” had the call sign “Robin.” FAG: forward air guide. Hmong radio operators on the ground who directed airplanes to targets. FAR: Forces Armées Royale [Fr]; Royal Lao Army. FLO: field liaison officer. English-speaking Hmong who worked directly for Jerry Daniels/Sky in MR2 Laos. 416 || Glossary GM: Groupement Mobile [Fr]; Mobile Group. Three or four battalions of soldiers made one GM. Helms, Richard: director of Central Intelligence, 1966–73. Hmong: the largest of many highland hilltribe groups living in Laos. Hmong people also live in the mountains of China, northern Vietnam, and northern Thailand. After 1975, thousands of Hmong who had fought against communist troops in Laos came to the United States as political refugees. Hog: radio code name used by Jerry Daniels during the war years in Laos. Intermountain Aviation: a CIA proprietary set up for research and development of air delivery systems to be used in covert paramilitary air operations, primarily in Laos. Intermountain was located at Marana air base, thirty minutes northwest of Tucson, Arizona. IRC: International Rescue Committee; an agency involved in refugee resettlement. IVS: International Voluntary Service. JVA: Joint Voluntary Agency. JVA contracted with the State Department to do in-country screening of refugee applicants. karst: irregular limestone outcroppings common to northern Laos. kheng: qeej [Hm]; Hmong multiple-reed bamboo musical instrument that can communicate with the spirit world through tonal “speaking.” kicker: loadmaster or air freight specialist, the term preferred by Air America. Kickers load and unload cargo on aircraft, “kicking” cargo out when air delivery is required. They spot drop zones, drop loads on target, and are flight radio operators. L: Lima airfield; designation for airstrips generally large enough to accommodate a C-47. LS: Lima Site; designation for aircraft landing sites used by smaller aircraft, often dirt strips in isolated areas. loft: a parachute loft is a facility, usually a large building, used for the inspection, repair, and rigging (packing) of parachutes. Long Cheng (Long Tieng): classified CIA air base and military town in northeast Laos; Military Region 2 headquarters of General Vang Pao; elevation at 3,120 feet with approximately a 4,000-foot all-weather airstrip. Also known as Alternate, 20-Alternate, LS 20A, and LS 98. Marana: air base near Tucson, Arizona. See Intermountain Aviation. Meo: generally...