Original version

BBC World Service Australasia

The Documentary

Documentaries

Factual

Investigating global developments, issues and affairs.

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service East Asia

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

The Documentary: The CIA's Secret War in Laos

Discussion & Talk

News

1920-Pig-pen_02.jpg

02/12/2017 GMT

The CIA's Secret War in Laos

BBC World Service - The Documentary, The CIA's Secret War in Laos

A son uncovers his father's double-life as a CIA spy in a covert mission in 1960s Laos

A son uncovers his father's double-life as a CIA spy in a covert mission in 1960s Laos.

Radio producer Peter Lang-Stanton thought his father was a paper-pushing bureaucrat in the State Department. Then one day, his father revealed his double- life as a spy. Much of his father’s past was a lie; he never fought in the Vietnam War, as he said. Instead, he was involved in a covert mission in 1960s Laos under his codename: Pig-Pen.

Peter Lang-Stanton’s father died soon after revealing these secrets, leaving family mysteries and unanswered questions. In this story, a son searches for the truth about his father’s role in one of the largest clandestine missions in US history. Through deep interviews with ex-CIA and a former Laotian soldier, Peter Lang-Stanton tells a story of lies and half-truths, of pride and regret. He uncovers tales of his father’s heroism and rumours of misconduct in this personal detective story of grief, identity, and inter-generational responsibility. 

Producer: Peter Lang-Stanton and Nick Farago.

(Photo: Pig-Pen circa 1969 Photo courtesy of Peter Lang-Stanton)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Documentary

The CIA's Secret War in Laos

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Australasia

About BBC World Service