Bounleuth Saycocie
Encyclopedia
Colonel Bounleuth Saycocie (born September 1, 1931) was a Lao
military and political figure of the Vietnam War
, which is also known as the Second Indochina War.
followed by the Lao Military Academy (Army Officers School) at Dong Hene, Savannakhet Province. He also studied at the French Army Staff College (Ecole d'Etat-Major) in Paris
and at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth
, Kansas.
From 1960-1962 he was a lieutenant colonel and served as Military Attache to the Royal Lao Embassy in Washington D.C. He was promoted to colonel in 1962 and served as Chief of Special Cabinet (Military Affairs) of the Ministry of Defense until 1964. From 1964-1966, he was Chief Logistics Officer of the Royal Lao Army
in Vientiane.
A loyal support of Phoumi Nosavan
, he conspired with him
to attempt a coup
in February 1965. U.S. The coup failed and Bounleut took refuge in Thailand
where he remained until 1968, when he moved to France.
Along with Phoumi, he is said to have assisted in drafting the plan for Thao Ma
's attempted coup in August 1973.
After the Lao People's Democratic Republic was established by the communist Pathet Lao in 1975, Bounleuth became involved in anti-communist political and military activities organized against the communist Lao government and their Vietnamese mentors.
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
military and political figure of the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, which is also known as the Second Indochina War.
Biography
He was born in Muang Hinboune, Khammouan Province and attended the Lycée Pavie in VientianeVientiane
-Geography:Vientiane is situated on a bend of the Mekong river, which forms the border with Thailand at this point.-Climate:Vientiane features a tropical wet and dry climate with a distinct monsoon season and a dry season. Vientiane’s dry season spans from November through March. April marks the...
followed by the Lao Military Academy (Army Officers School) at Dong Hene, Savannakhet Province. He also studied at the French Army Staff College (Ecole d'Etat-Major) in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth is a United States Army facility located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, immediately north of the city of Leavenworth in the upper northeast portion of the state. It is the oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, D.C. and has been in operation for over 180 years...
, Kansas.
From 1960-1962 he was a lieutenant colonel and served as Military Attache to the Royal Lao Embassy in Washington D.C. He was promoted to colonel in 1962 and served as Chief of Special Cabinet (Military Affairs) of the Ministry of Defense until 1964. From 1964-1966, he was Chief Logistics Officer of the Royal Lao Army
Royal Lao Army
The Royal Lao Army was the armed forces of the Kingdom of Laos. Its predecessor was the National Laotian Army - NLA of the French Union, created in 1947 from 'maquis', or guerrilla units gathered by French commandos. It was created in 1954 after the French granted Laos complete autonomy...
in Vientiane.
A loyal support of Phoumi Nosavan
Phoumi Nosavan
Phoumi Nosavan was a Lao military and political figure of the Vietnam War . Nosavan was of Chinese descent....
, he conspired with him
to attempt a coup
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
in February 1965. U.S. The coup failed and Bounleut took refuge in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
where he remained until 1968, when he moved to France.
Along with Phoumi, he is said to have assisted in drafting the plan for Thao Ma
Thao Ma
Brigadier General Thao Ma was a Hmong Lao military and political figure of the Vietnam War . From 1959-1966, he was commander of the Royal Lao Air Force.In memory of theRoyal Lao Air Force andtheir Commander, 1959-66...
's attempted coup in August 1973.
After the Lao People's Democratic Republic was established by the communist Pathet Lao in 1975, Bounleuth became involved in anti-communist political and military activities organized against the communist Lao government and their Vietnamese mentors.