Laughter in the Shadows by Stuart Methven

Author:Stuart Methven [Methven, Stuart]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, Military, Nonfiction, Retail
ISBN: 9781612515762
Google: XY6WAgAAQBAJ
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Naval Institute Press
Published: 2014-01-02T05:00:00+00:00

The Funeral

The eleven-year search for the “perfect” sandalwood tree for the king’s sarcophagus was over and a propitious date for the funeral chosen. The prime minister and his cabinet had arrived from Viensiang along with foreign dignitaries and ambassadors, including Averell Harriman, representing President John F. Kennedy. The ceremonies and rituals lasted for three days, culminating in a funeral procession of honored guests, each applying a torch to the funeral pyre.

Besides representing the president, Harriman had another mission. Following further incursions into Cham by the North Vietnamese, President Kennedy had gone on American television. Standing in front of a map of Asia, the president pointed to Cham and announced that here the United States was “drawing the line” against communist aggression in Southeast Asia. The Cham in Luang Prabat, including the group at Le Cercle, told me they were proud that the American president on television had singled out Cham.

The euphoria was short-lived. The “line” turned to sand, and Harriman was sent to Cham to work out an agreement with the other signatories to support a “neutral” Cham.

Colonel Nelson and I didn’t know about Harriman’s special mission when we escorted the former governor to the palace to have dinner with the king. We took advantage of the long walk to urge Harriman to put pressure on the Pentagon to send a battery of 105 howitzers to Luang Prabat for the defense of the capital and to back up Cham units elsewhere in the region.

Harriman nodded as we walked, which led us to believe he would support our request. Harriman’s “nods” were deceptive. When we arrived at the palace gate, Harriman pointed to his hearing aid. He said he had deliberately turned it off because he knew we were going to ask him for support to the Cham army in the north. However, he had been sent to Cham by the president to negotiate a cease-fire, which he intended to do. He said he was sorry, but the defense of Luang Prabat was not on his agenda.

Harriman got his cease-fire, but it didn’t hold, and the domino that was Cham tottered, then fell.

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