Kou Kiet

Kou Kiet
Part of Laotian Civil War, Vietnam War
Date6 August 1969—30 September 1969
Location
Northeastern and central Laos
Result
Territorial
changes
Kingdom of Laos gains control of the Plain of Jars
Belligerents
 Kingdom of Laos  North Vietnam
Laos Pathet Lao
Commanders and leaders
Kingdom of Laos Vang Pao Unknown
Units involved
Kingdom of Laos Blue Battalion
Kingdom of Laos Auto Defense Choc militia
Kingdom of Laos Special Guerrilla Unit 2
Kingdom of Laos Volunteer Battalion 27
Kingdom of Laos Volunteer Battalion 21
Kingdom of Laos Volunteer Battalion 24
Kingdom of Laos 101st Paratroop Battalion
Kingdom of Laos Mobile Group 22
Kingdom of Laos Mobile Group 23
Kingdom of Laos Less than 30 T-28s
United States Raven Forward Air Controllers
North Vietnam Infantry
North Vietnam PT-76s
Laos Infantry battalions

Kou Kiet (translation: Redeem Honor; also called Operation About Face) was a major Laotian Civil War victory for the anti-communist troops of the Kingdom of Laos. Patterned after prior Operation Raindance, it depended upon extensive air strikes blasting communist units and clearing them from the path of the Royalist offensive. Powered by 150 daylight and 50 night sorties daily, with 50 to 80 day strikes directed by Raven Forward Air Controllers, Kou Kiet ran from 6 August to 30 September 1969. It was successful beyond expectations. After the Royal Lao Government troops achieved their objectives, General Vang Pao insisted on pushing forward while they had the initiative. As a result, the Royalists regained control of the entire Plain of Jars while also capturing a huge stock of munitions from the communist forces. Their triumph came at a huge cost. Even though the Royalists were successful, by battle's end their forces were exhausted and the pool of potential recruits were limited, while the Vietnamese could easily replace their personnel losses.