Talk:Thailand in the Vietnam War

Some comments
While Thailand's active participation in the Vietnam War deserves to be covered, an article titled "Thailand in the Vietnam War" should probably provide a broad overview that also includes the country's very significant role as an ally giving support to the United States' operations (and receiving large amounts of financial aid in return). This is already partly covered in United States Air Force in Thailand (parts of which should probably merged here). The book In Buddha's Company: Thai Soldiers in the Vietnam War could probably serve as an interesting source for on-the-ground views, but I rather question the conclusions the author draws in this NYT opinion article. (Today at least, Thailand's direct participation is virtually unknown.) --Paul_012 (talk) 16:07, 1 February 2018 (UTC)

Third largest contributor?
The Article states that they were the 3rd largest contributor of men in the Vietnam war after the US and South Korea. The Source states it as well.

However the article then goes on to state that 40,000 men served. Along with listing the casualties.

Australia had nearly 60,000 men serve along with suffering more casualties. So either the number of men is incorrect or the fact that they were the 3rd largest contributor of men is incorrect. The source that claims they are the 3rd largest is a book you can get on google. However I don't own it so can't see the pages. This "3rd largest" statement comes after a statement saying that there were 12,000 Thai soldiers in Vietnam. Because in 1968 they sent a division sized unit over there. Now this would have made them the 3rd largest force in 1968. The Australians had a Brigade made up of various battalions. In 1969 the Royal Thai government pulled out their division. Took them a while but it shrunk. Also that 40,000 number was just a number of how many that volunteered. Not all of them went to Vietnam. Thai Forces operated heavily in Laos against the Pathet Lao. There were of course North Vietnamese forces in Loas too.

2407:7000:8407:F78:251D:8A0B:8307:369 (talk) 14:01, 7 November 2018 (UTC)

Thai mercenaries in Laos
Hello, all,

Not noted in the article are the Thai mercenaries supplied to Vang Pao's Secret Army in Laos. There were as many as ten infantry battalions at a time serving on the Plain of Jars; there were also several artillery battalions. Then there were the Thai mercenary pilots in the Royal Lao Air Force.

The Thai military suffered more casualties in Laos then they did in Vietnam.

Georgejdorner (talk) 22:19, 5 September 2019 (UTC)

A further question, referring to above talk entry:

If ten battalions of mercenaries are added to Thailand's numbers, does that make them indisputably third in number of soldiers committed?Georgejdorner (talk) 23:05, 17 September 2019 (UTC)