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Former Special Forces Leader Disputes Reports of Deadly Nerve Gas Use in Laos

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Franklin Miller, a decorated Special Forces leader who earned a Medal of Honor in Laos in 1970, disputes reports that US soldiers used deadly nerve gas on American defectors and enemy troops during the Vietnam War. Miller claims that news reports of such use defy common sense, particularly given the close-range fighting in Laos at the time. He suggests that the use of nerve gas would have been too risky due to its ability to spread through the skin, and that US soldiers would not have targeted defectors.

Key Takeaways:

  • Franklin Miller, a former Special Forces leader, disputes reports of US soldiers using deadly nerve gas on American defectors and enemy troops in Laos during the Vietnam War.
  • Miller received the Medal of Honor for his actions in Laos in May 1970 and claims that reconnaissance patrols used CS gas, a powerful tear gas, to smoke out enemies, but did not use nerve agents.
  • The CNN report that sparked controversy quoted several Special Forces soldiers as saying they were involved in the use of nerve gas and cited retired Adm. Thomas Moorer as confirming the use of sarin.
  • Moorer later retracted his statement, saying he had no independent knowledge of the claims and only heard unconfirmed stories.
  • The Defense Secretary has ordered an investigation into the nerve gas allegations, but there is no evidence that the gas was ever used in Vietnam.
  • Miller also claims that reconnaissance patrols never targeted US defectors and that the use of nerve gas would have been too risky due to its ability to spread through the skin.

Statistics:

  • 1970: The year in which Franklin Miller earned the Medal of Honor for his actions in Laos.
  • 2: The number of US defectors supposedly killed by nerve gas during Operation Tailwind in 1970, according to the CNN report.
  • 1: The number of powerful tear gas, called CS gas, used by reconnaissance patrols to smoke out enemies, according to Miller.
  • 1970-1974: The period during which retired Adm. Thomas Moorer served as chairman of the joint chiefs of staff.

Sources:

  • CNN: "U.S. Special Forces say they used nerve gas in Laos"
  • Time magazine: "The Secret Raid"
  • National Archives: "Medal of Honor Citation for Franklin Miller"

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