Photos

This is the war museum in Savannaketh, Laos, from the Veitnam era. More bombs were dropped on Laos then in any other country, in any war, anywhere. Bombs fell constantly for 15 years. American planes landing from Vietnam emptied their holds of bombs, and chemicals before landing, on the countryside. The peasants in the musuem pictures are the victors, the Americans one of the enemy forces in the displays. There is little inside the building, pictures of the communists winning, medals being pinned on heros. Most all the old guns and ammunition have been stolen for scrap. A few bomb casings, odds and ends of the terrible secret war are on display. The USA and it's allies bombed the Ho Chi Minh trail, then dropped defoliant and incendary bombs. Still 30 years later, bomb craters dot the country side, hillsides hide chemical barrels, and unexploded ordinance claim victims. Across the road is an old tank, that was currently being cut with torches for scrap. It also was a museum display. Here is the remains of a downed, US bomber, ravaged by illegal scrap metal removal. It is said, every farmer has his own pile of ordinance, to use to make or fix anything he needs. These girls are enjoying the evening sunset just beginning from their war plane perch. I felt no lingering hatred exists, in this country still so devastated.