The King of Laos with villagers

Photographer

Kuhn, Ernest

Date

• 1968

Summary

• White Hmong women and children paying homage to the King and Queen of Laos at the Sam Thong airstrip. Here King Savang Vatthana is facing away while Queen Khamphoui is being greeted. Gen. Vang Pao (Vaj Pov) (Commander, Military Region II; red tassels) is between them, with Col. Phan Siharat (white suit) behind him. Prime Minister Souvanna Phouma (black beret) is obscured by the King, Chao Saykham Southakakoumane (Governor, Xieng Khouang Province; dark suit, a Phuan) less so. Sam Thong was the USAID refugee operations center for northeastern Laos from 1962 until its fall on March 20, 1970.
• Site: LS-20, Coordinates: TG 7924