CAMP; CONTINGENT ARRIVES; OFFICER CUTTING LOCK OF HAIR FROM EACH MAN, MEN RECEIVE KIT, HAVE HAIRCUT.




Initials ERW/VS/PW/SS



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Background: WITH THE PATHET LAO PUTTING FURTHER PRESSURE ON GOVERNMENT FORCES IN LAOS, THE ROYAL GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO INSTITUTE COMPULSORY MILITARY SERVICE FOR ALL CLASSES OF SOCIETY INCLUDING ADMINISTRATIVE WORKERS. ON MONDAY (12 AUGUST) THE FIRST CONTINGENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE CONSCRIPTS BEGAN THEIR TRAINING AT THE KINAIMO CAMP AT VIENTIANE.

THE GOVERNMENT HOPES TO RAISE TEN CONTINGENTS, EACH OF 370 MEN, TO SERVE IN THE VIENTIANE PROVINCE.

MOST OF THE REBEL ACTIVITY HAS BEEN OCCURRING IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTRY, MAINLY ALONG THE SEDONE RIVER. ROYAL LAOTIAN TROOPS HAVE FREQUENTLY BEEN INVOLVED IN SEVERE CLASHES WITH REBEL FORCES AND HAVE CLAIMED MAJOR ENEMY CASUALTIES. ALTHOUGH THE ENEMY UNITS HAVE NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED, NORTH VIETNAMESE TROOPS WERE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN IN THE AREA.

AS EACH OF THE NEW SOLDIERS ENTERED THE KINAIMO CAMP, MAJOR-GENERAL KOUPRASITH ABHAY CUT A LOCK OF THEIR HAIR AND PLACED IT IN A LARGE BOWL, A SYMBOLIC LAOTIAN TRADITION.

SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, THE NEW RECRUITS LOST CONSIDERABLY MORE HAIR AS THE ARMY CARBERS GAVE EACH MAN THE ACCEPTED MILITARY HAIRCUT.