Vang Pao

General Vang Pao was a prominent military leader and influential figure in the Hmong community. Vang Pao's military career began in the French colonial army, where he demonstrated his exceptional leadership skills during the First Indochina War. After Laos gained independence in 1953, he rose through the ranks of the Royal Laotian Army and became a major general, the highest-ranking officer of Hmong origin. Before the USA approached him, he was already fighting lowland Laos communists for control of Laos. The strategic importance of Laos became immensely significant because Ho Chi Minh Trail, the supply line from communist North Vietnam to the South Vietnam guerrilla Viet Congs, ran through surrounding countries like Laos.  However, because the USA had promised not to send its troops beyond Vietnam, it needed indigenous allies.

As the CIA-backed Secret Army leader made up of Laos’ ethnic minority Hmong people, General Vang Pao commanded a formidable guerrilla force that played a crucial role in disrupting supply lines and defending against communist advances. His strategic brilliance and charismatic leadership earned him respect both within the Hmong community and among his American allies.  It is said that General Vang Pao’s Hmong were put “into this meat grinder, mostly to save U.S. soldiers from fighting and dying there.” In all, approximately 35,000 Hmong soldiers died fighting for American causes in secret.

Following the fall of Saigon in 1975, Vang Pao led thousands of Hmong refugees to seek asylum in the United States, where they mostly settled in Central California or in Minnesota. He himself settled in California and became an advocate for his people, working tirelessly to support Hmong communities and promote their welfare.  He has acquired a king-like status in the Hmong community, and his picture hangs in many Hmong houses.

Ironically, Vang Pao was charged by the US government in 2007 for plotting to overthrow the Laotian government under the Neutrality Act, a security clause that prohibits actions on domestic soil against foreign governments with whom Washington is at peace. The case drew outrage in the Hmong community and was later dropped. General Vang Pao remained a symbol of resilience and determination throughout his life. He played a significant role in preserving Hmong heritage and culture, fostering educational opportunities, and establishing healthcare services for Hmong communities. Vang Pao's efforts were not limited to the United States; he also worked to improve the lives of the Hmong people in Laos and Thailand. Vang Pao passed away in 2011.