Scope and Contents

The collection consists of approximately 7 linear feet of materials documenting James Vinton Lawrence's CIA service during Operation Momentum, the campaign to train and arm the Hmong people to fight against Communist forces. The materials include scrapbooks; audio recordings; slides; photographs; situation reports; meeting minutes; personal writings; journals; training materials and lesson plans; maps; and correspondence. The materials are dated 1962-2017.

Biographical / Historical

Born in New York City on 25 June 1939, James Vinton Lawrence attended Phillips Exeter Academy and Princeton University, where he was an Art History major. Recruited by the CIA, he was sent to Laos in the very early days of Operation Momentum, the campaign to train and arm Hmong and other hill tribesmen to fight against Communist forces. Arriving in Laos in February 1962, Lawrence was assigned by Bill Lair to work under Lair’s lieutenant Pat Landry on training some of the first groups of Hmong soldiers. Lawrence ultimately became one of only two CIA operatives, along with Anthony Poshepny (aka Tony Poe), to remain behind in Laos once the 1962 Geneva Accords were put in force. The accords called for all foreign combatants to leave the country. Lawrence lived with General Vang Pao, serving as a constant companion and sounding board. Living in isolation from the outside world, Lawrence in many ways served as the conduit between the Hmong and the CIA. Given the amount of time he spent with them, Lawrence became an amateur anthropologist and folklorist, asking numerous Hmong leaders and villagers to help him understand their culture. After two tours in Northern Laos, Lawrence was told he would not be allowed to return for a third for his own safety. He was offered a new assignment in Southern Laos, but declined it. He left Laos in February 1966. He died on 9 April 2016.