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Naiskoo Nhia Pao was a gifted and remarkable man who had a way of touching and inspiring each individual he interacted with throughout his life. Whether it was with his family, relatives, fellow soldiers, villagers, clan leaders or political leaders, in each interaction he displayed love, humbleness and sincerity for the well-being of everyone around him.

Naiskoo Nhia Pao was born on June 10, 1915 and grew up in Havtais, Xeev Khuam, Laos. At a young age, Nhia Pao was thrusted into war by patrolling the northern Plain of Jars region alongside General Vang Pao. In 1952, he was elected and served as Phubtoom of Havtias. He eventually was elected and served as a Toj Xeem Phuv Xam between 1960-64. In 1962, he and his family moved to live in Bouam Long. In 1964, Nhia Pov was elected Naiskoo of Bouam Long, a position he held until the end of the war in 1975.

In 1960, Naiskoo Nhia Pao was one of a few men who strategically selected Bouam Long, a massif, and fortified it as a safe haven for surrounding small villages like Havtias. The goal was to secure a safe sanctuary for relocating Hmong villagers during the war. Bouam Long, also known as Lima Site 32, became an important stronghold base camp during the “Secret War” where some of the most epic battles took place-preventing the domino theory fall of Laos where the North Vietnamese needed to seize and secure Bouam Long first, in order to advance to Long Cheng, Vientiane, and eventually Thailand. Under siege, Bouam Long was lit up as aircraft dropped night flares to prevent night attacks from the North Vietnamese. Naiskoo Nhia Pao’s aircraft was once shot down, but he was rescued before being captured. Under Naiskoo Nhia Pao’s leadership, Bouam Long became a fortress for the US and allies from 1960-1975 as it consistently prevailed in every attack staged by the North Vietnamese and only fell when the US pulled out of the war. Despite his fearless leadership, Naiskoo Nhia Pao often credited his survival and successes as “muaj moo” and praised his soldiers for their bravery and unrelenting commitment to
ensuring his safety and the safety of the Hmong villagers and other soldiers.

In 1975, Naiskoo Nhia Pao sought refuge in Thailand and eventually resettled in Kaukauna, Wisconsin in1980 as a political refugee. In the United States, he continued to lead through serving as an advisor and board member to the Hmong American Partnership and participated frequently in community dialogue, cultural practices, and mediation to address external and internal challenges within the Hmong community. Naiskoo Nhia Pao became a US citizen in 1989.

Naiskoo Nhia Pao played a very significant role in stopping and containing the communist movement in Laos. His intellect and actions saved countless lives and gave many hope and safety in the darkest hours of the war. He often engaged in servant leadership and shared his perspective that leaders must “Hlub txhua leej txhua tus sib npaug. Yuav tsum hlub tus hlob tus yau, tus tub tus ntxhais, tus muaj tus pluag, tus ntse tus ruam”. He believed that “Ib leeg txawj ib yam ces peb sawvdaws muaj nuj nqi ib yam,” Naiskoo Nhia Pao Vue.

Naiskoo Nhia Pao breathed experiences, wisdom, love & perseverance. His stories, his calm, his laughter reminded us that the measurement of life is the strength of family. He truly was a KEEPER OF VISIONS, A GUARDIAN OF HOPE.

Putong Neng Mai Vue is the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Zoov Txiab Vwj. Born and resided in Nam Lum (Naj Loob) village, and resided in Nam La (Naj Las) village, Toj xeem Phu Hua Xang( held by his cousin Nkaj Looj Vwj), Moung Vang Xai (Now is part of Xaisomboun province), Xiang Khuang Province, Laos. It isunclear exactly when Neng Mai was born but he would be born around the mid 1930s. Neng Mai has three marriages due to his spouses passing away. His first marriage was to Shoua Lee, 2nd marriage was True Yang, and 3rd is Yeng Yang. Most of his descendants lived in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin with a few residing around the USA and Canada.

Neng Mai was known for his excellent leadership in social justice, compassion, quick thinking and good problem solving skills. He was selected to be the village leader (Nai npab) of Nam Lum and Nam La villages at the age 20. In 1958, he was promoted to be a
putong (phub toom) in the region. Putong is a district justice person (similar to a district judge in the USA) for villages in a Toj Xeem. He held the putong title until the fall of Laos to the Communist regime in 1975.

Neng Mai Vue passed away on November 12, 1993 in Lansing, Michigan. Neng Mai has a total of 13 children. Ntxoov Vaj (Koua), Vam Hawj (Fong), Siv Yis (deceased), Vaj Tsheej(deceased), Mai Yaj (deceased), Kia, Neej Vam (Tswj Keej), Nom Tsas, Kab
(deceased), Yub (deceased), Sai (Zeb), Mee Xiong and Mai Yang Vang.

Naikong Blia Yang Vue was born on December 5, 1927, in Samthong, Xiengkouang. He was born to Father, Chai Ser Vue, and Mother, Xia Moua.

Positions he held:

• Nai Npab, Samthong, 1955-1960
• Putong, Samthong, 1960-1964
• Naikong, Long Ceeb, 1964-1975

His children are Pang Chai, Nao Long, Nhia Pa, Va Lue, Blia Xa, Cher Lee, Fong, Ka, Mai Kao, Mai Nyua, Xiong Mee, and Mai Sia

Major Ntsuab Pov Vwj yog nyob zos HavTias (Hoy Hong) Muang Kham, XeevKhuam NplogTeb. Txiv thiab niam yog Txwj Kawm Vwj thiab Ntxhais Lauj. Nws muaj ob tug pojniam: Sua Xyooj thiab Huas Muas. Tag nrho lawv muaj 15 tus menyuam: 4 leej tub, 11 leej ntxhais, muaj 45 tus Xeeb Ntxwv thiab 11 tus Xeeb Ntxwv Xeeb Ntxwv.

Ntsuab Pov Vwj pib ua ThabHam rau Nom Tswv HuavTais Nplog (Royal Lao Army) xyoo 1961 mus txog rau xyoo 1975. Nws nyob qab tswj hwm ntawn General Vang Pao cov ThabHam Phaj 2 (Military Region 2). Nws ua hauj lwm rau ntawm Colonial Txawj Pov Muas nyob rau Pawg 27 Lismasses (LS 32) NpuasLoom. Nws yog tus neeg Soj ntsuam (Detative) nyob rau hauv HoobKas 2(office 2). Tes dej num yog los soj ntsuam cov neeg phem sab hauv thiab sab nrauv. Tsis tas li ntawv soj ntsuam xyuas seb Nyab Laj yuav tuaj tua lub sij hawm twg thiab Xwj cov ThabHam thiab pejxeem Nplog liab kiav los thawj.

Tom qab xyoo 1975 uas CIA tau tawm hauv Nplog Teb lawm. Nws tau raug Nplog Liab coj mus kwm (Education Camp). Nws kuj tau khiav tawm hauv Education camp los nyob havzoo ua (CobFab) tiv thaib lajmeej pejxeem txog ntua rau xyoo 1980. Nws thiaj tau tawm rov los ua pejxeem rau Nplog Liab vim tsis muaj hau kev lawm. Xyoo 1981, nws kuj tau coj ib pab pejxeem rov mus ua noj ua haus nyob rau sab Hav Tais Muang Kham. Nws kuj tau ua tus Tswv Zos xyoo 1981-1984. Thaum lub 2 hli ntuj tim 28, 1984, Tsoom fwv Nplog Liab tau tuaj ntes nws hauv zoo, lawv tau sib tuaj thiaj ua rau Ntsuab Pov tau raug Nplog Liab ntes thiab tua tuag. Nws tau txog tej laj mej pej xeem thiab pojniam menyuab rau tom qab.

Ntsuab Pov Vwj tau ua ib tug Tub Rog thiab thawj coj zoo pub rau ib tsoom peej xeem, kwvtij, pojniam menyuam. Ntau leej neeg tau kawm txoj kev zoo los ntawm nws mus ua lawv lub neej. Thaum nws tau ncaim suav daws mus lawm tej pejxeem,kwvtij, pojniam menyuam,thiab tej phoojywg quaj thiab tshua nws. Vim nws yog ib tug zoo thawj coj suav daws yuav tsis hnab qab nws mus tag ib txhis.

Major Chouader Vue was born on June 6, 1937, in the village of Thamtat, Muang Ngat,
Xieng Khuang, Laos to Bliatong Vue and Ying Lee. He had three wives: Chee Lee, Chia Lee, and Mao
Xiong. Together, they have ten children: five sons, five daughters, and twenty-six grand-children.

ChouaderVue’S military career started when he was recruited into the Royal Lao Army in 1959
and ended in 1974. In 1961, he had his first military training in Houa Hin, Songkhla province, Thailand
as a paratrooper. In 1962 after returning from Thailand, he served under the command of General Vang
Pao in Military Region 2 (MRII) in Long Cheng, South Plane of Jars, Xieng Khuang province. His troops
and he fought many major battles against Lao Communist forces throughout the Northern part of Laos,
Xieng Khuang, Huaphan, and Phong Saly provinces. He was wounded twice: a shot in the left leg, and a
shrapnel in the shoulder.

Chouader Vue received many trainings in Thailand. He first trained at Houa Hin in 1961,
Phitsnoulauk in 1973, and Phou Khao Kheoui, Laos. In 1968, he also had a special training Etat-major
(Administrative staff) in Longcheng. Chouader Vue held many positions from group leader (Nai Mouat)
to Battalion Commander (Nai Kongphan). From 1959 to 1974, he attained a rank of Sergeant to Major.

When the secret war in Laos ended in mid 1974, CIA withdrew from Laos and stopped its sup-
port. An agreement to end the war in Laos was signed between Royal Lao government and Pathet lao (Lao Communist) party. Therefore, Colonel Chongkoua Vue, the commander of Battalion 209, offered
Chouader Vue to end his military service in exchange for a civil position as Nai Kong. He accepted and
assumed the name Nai Kong Chouader Vue. At the end of 1975, Chouader Vue escaped to Thailand to avoid persecution from Lao Communist and became a refugee. His family immigrated to the United States of America in 1980 and resided inAkron, Ohio. He was employed as a machinist with B&C Machine. In 1989, he passed away due to a stroke at his residence in Tallmadge, Ohio. He left behind three wives, ten children, twenty-six grand
children, relatives and friends across the country.

U.S CIA’S SPECIAL GUERILLA UNITS (SGU) – Morse Code Operator-Lieutenant

Lt. Chong Soua Vue (Vu, Sou), retired, was a Morse Code Radio Operator in the CIA’s
Special Guerilla Unit (SGU) during the Secret War of Laos. He was born on September 13, 1945, in the
village of Thab Taj, Moung Nya, Laos, in the year the Japanese lost control of Indochina. His father, Pa Cheng Vue, Putong of Xa Nya (1953-1960) was a well-known and skilled silversmith, a masterful bambooreed pipe, Qeej, player, and a renowned Txiv Xaiv singer at funerals. He married Yia Vang, oldestdaughter of Col. Waseng Vang of Military Region 2, SGU. He had five brothers (Capt. Soua Ying Vue, Maj.

Wa Khue Vue, Capt. Xai Pao Vue, and Xai Doua Vue), two sisters (Khou Vue and Mao Vue), two step-brothers (Jer Blianeng Vue and Tong Seng Vue), and four step-sisters (Mee Vue, Choo Vue, Jou Vue, and Yer Vue).

On January 29, 1961, he was among the 500 Hmong soldiers selected to receive Intensive military
training by American military operatives in Huahin, Songkhla Province, Thailand. After completing
training, he returned to Vientiane, Laos on June 30, 1962. On October 16, 1962, he was assigned to
station in Moung Nya with Team #22. On October 17, 1964, he was transferred to Long Cheng, the
military headquarter of General Vang Pao’s SGU army when the 1260m-long runway was completed. In
1968, he took an assignment in Phu Xem near Fong Sa Li where he nearly lost his life in a heavily fought
battlefield. After the signing of the Vientiane Agreement in September 1973 giving the communist
control of Laos, he returned to civilian life and settled in Roob Vaub Kib (Turtle Hill). After his father
passed away on May 17, 1974, his father-in-law, Col. Waseng Vang recruited him back to work in Long
Cheng. On May 14, 1975, the United States abandoned the Hmong people and the SGU men and their
families fled Laos or went into hiding to avoid persecution. He and his family went into hiding in the
jungle of Laos for 3 years and continued to fight communist Laos. Starved and losing hope, he escaped
with his family to Thailand on December 30, 1977 and were placed in the United Nation’s temporary
refugee placement site. On February 8, 1978, he and his family were transferred to Nong Khai Refugee
Camp. On February 14, 1979, he and his family Immigrated to the United States. He lived with his family
in Dallas, Texas (2/14/79 – 8/15/79); Lawton, Oklahoma (8/16/79 – 6/24/81); Tulsa, Oklahoma (6/24/81
– 9/1/85); Lacrosse/West Salem, Wisconsin (9/1/85 – 10/01/16); and Maplewood, Minnesota (10/01/16
– 06/10/2018).
He and his wife have 43 children and grandchildren. Their children are: (1) Xe Vue and Pastor
Phengzoo Lee, (2) Attorney Chue Vue, (3) Attorney Fue Vue and Qe Yang, (4) Koua Vue and Nao Lee, (5)
Sy Vue and Pao Leepalao, (6) Coua Vue and Ger Lor, (7) Maria Vue and Mark Vang, and (8) Amy Vue.

Lt. Colonel Chong Koua Vue was born on February 14, 1932, in Kong Kah Chaoh, Kha Mouah Province, Laos. In 1955, Chong Koua was appointed Taseng of Thamta,
Mouang Nyat.

His career in the military emerged in 1956 when he was a lone civilian leader (Taseng) who’ve fought and prevented the Pathet Lao-Communist from intruding into the village where he served. The Lao government heard of his bravely and honored him with a medal of honor. In 1958, as the war spread to all part of Laos, the Lao government created a special military group called, MA-KEE 1001 (ADC Military Group) which required the region to be headed by Taseng Chong Koua. This special unit was operated under the direction of Colonel Vang Pao of Region 2. In 1961, while still in his military capacity, he was promoted to Naikong to oversee Mouang Mok, Mouang Nyat, Naj Xoom, Naj kiam, Naj Kees and XamXauj.

In 1967, Chong Koua was promoted to Lieutenant, commander of Battalion 205. That same year, he was chosen to attend a special military and leadership strategic training in Long Cheng.

Upon returned, he was promoted to Captain in 1968, and then to Major (Commandant) in 1970, overseeing GM 25, Lima Site 360. It was at this time that General Vang Pao changed the name ADC to SGU (Special Guerilla Unit).

And in 1972, Chong Koua was promoted Lieutenant Colonel, overseeing Naj Hiab, Lima Site 360. Battalion 209.

In 1967, Chong Koua was promoted to Lieutenant, commander of Battalion 205. That same year, he was chosen to attend a special military and leadership strategic training in Long Cheng. Upon returned, he was promoted to Captain in 1968, and then to Major (Commandant) in 1970, overseeing GM 25, Lima Site 360. It was at this time that General Vang Pao changed the name ADC to SGU (Special Guerilla Unit). And in 1972, Chong Koua was promoted Lieutenant Colonel, overseeing Naj Hiab, Lima Site 360. Battalion 209. Lt. Chong Koua was assassinated on November 16th, 1974. in Long Cheng, in a dispute over power.

Captain Pa Vue Vue (Paj Vws Vwj) was born in Mueng Nya (Moos Nyaj) to
Pa Tou Vue (Paj Tub Vwj) and Zoua Lee (Zuag Lis) around the winter of 1947. He had three
brothers who all passed away during the Secret War. As the youngest of four he learned to
be patient, kind, and helpful to his parents and cousins. He excelled in school and soon
became a teacher in his home village of Meung Nya. His reputation as a patient, but
effective school teacher led his cousin Lieutenant Colonel Chong Koua Vue (Txooj Kuam
Vwj) to insist that he move to Meung Mok (Moos Mauj) to teach at the military base. He
began teaching the younger children 4-7 years old, then the next year he was promoted to
teach the 8-12-year-old students. That year he met Houa Vang (Huas Vaj) and they began
a courtship for one year, after which they wedded as husband and wife. In the years that
Houa could not conceive, Pa Vue Vue never criticized her, but always loved her. They did
eventually have two daughters, Mee (Mim) and Pa (Paj).

Lt. Col. Chong Koua Vue asked Pa Vue to stop teaching and join the army to support the
fight against communism. He went to train in Thailand for six months, and then in Meung
Cha (Moos Cab) to finish out the year. He came back at the rank of Sergeant (Xosxoom).
He oversaw the flights in and out of Long Cheng (Looj Ceeb). At times he would also go on
supply drops to support the troops and Hmong villagers who had been raided by the
North Vietnamese Army.

In January of 1973, the Paris Peace Accords was signed. General Vang Pao was instructed
to close the CIA-backed, Hmong Base of Long Cheng. Major Cher Tong Vue was an officer
in Long Cheng; he wanted to go back to Meung Mok where Lt Col Chong Koua Vue was

stationed and governing. General Vang Pao asked that they work this out between them-
selves “since they were cousins.” According to those who witnessed the events, not long

after Major Cher Tong Vue arrived at Moua Sue’s (Muas Xwm) house, he yelled out, “You
two bastards are going to die! (Neb ob niag tsov tom yuav tuag laud!” Captain Pa Vue who
was the bodyguard of Lt Col Chong Koua, moved to calm down the situation. Suddenly
gunshots rang throughout, and within seconds both Captain Pa Vue and Chong Koua were
dead. Pa Vue Vue was only 26 years old. He left behind his widow, Houa Vang, who ended
up in the Chao Fa (Caub Fab) resistance army at Mount Thalava (Phu Tas Las Vav) for three
years where she lost her youngest daughter Pa. Their daughter Mee survived and now has
four daughters of her own.

Capt. Pa Vue Vue was an honorable soldier who left the esteemed profession of teacher to
fight for his country. His untimely death came as a result of a dispute that has scarred the
Vue family for generations. His widow Houa would like the younger generation to value
family and life above status and titles.