The War That Never Ended

The War That Never Ended explores the lasting human cost of the Vietnam War through the lens of the 80 million unexploded ordnance (UXO) that still permeate the landscape in Laos. These bombs are as deadly today as they were more than 50 years ago and have resulted in more than 50,000 deaths or injuries since the war ended.

While serving on active duty in the U.S. Air Force, Dr. Pilato was stationed at Udorn Air Base, Thailand, near the Laotian border. She was the first Air Force woman officer assigned to manage an Officers’ Club and the first to manage one on a fighter pilot base in Southeast Asia—a groundbreaking role that gave her a rare, firsthand perspective on the war and its human cost.

She wrote a memoir, Angel’s Truck Stop: A Woman’s Love, Laughter, and Loss during the Vietnam War that retells the challenges, conflicts and choices she confronted. While researching her book, she became aware of the devastating and ongoing impact of unexploded ordnance in Laos. She began donating 10% of her book sales to UXO removal efforts,

In 2023 she launched the NO MORE UXO in LAOS Project in partnership with MAG (Mines Advisory Group), an international nonprofit dedicated to clearing landmines and unexploded bombs in post-conflict countries around the world. She committed to raise $50,000, enough to clear an area the size of 25 football fields! And, has exceeded the goal every year since raising more than $150,000 to date.