Wangyee Vang Explained

Colonel of the Army
Wangyee Vang
Birth Name:Wangyee Vang
Birth Place:Xieng Khouang, Laos.

Wangyee Vang is a Hmong-American community leader, educator and elder from Fresno, and the Central Valley, of California.

Veterans' assistance

Vang is the founder and National President of the Lao Veterans of America Institute, a national non-profit organization headquartered in Fresno, California, which serves Hmong-American, and Lao-American, veterans and their families. In the United States, Wangyee Vang has engaged in refugee and veterans' advocacy, education and training projects as well as efforts to integrate Indochinese refugees into American society and provide them access to social services.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

During the North Vietnamese invasion of Laos and in its aftermath, Wangyee Vang served in the "U.S. Secret Army" in the Royal Kingdom of Laos during the Vietnam War and was trained as an officer in Vientiane, Laos in the Royal Lao Army. He rose to the rank of Colonel. Colonel Wangyee Vang also received military and professional training during the Vietnam War in the Kingdom of Thailand and France. He speaks Hmong, Lao, French and English.[7]

Citizenship for Lao and Hmong veterans

Wangyee Vang played a major role in Washington, D.C., and with the Lao- and Hmong-American community, along with his brother Cherzong Vang, in the research, development, advocacy, passage and implementation of the Hmong Veterans' Naturalization Act of 2000. The legislation was introduced in the U.S. Congress by U.S. Representative Bruce Vento and Senator Paul Wellstone and signed into law by President Bill Clinton.[8] [9] [10]

Laos Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery

In May 1997, Wangyee Vang played a key role in establishing the Laos Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery to honor Hmong and Lao veterans, and their American advisors, who served in defense of the Kingdom of Laos and U.S. national security interests during the Vietnam War.[11]

In 2013, Wangyee Vang's brother, Cherzong Vang, of St. Paul, Minnesota, was eulogized at national veterans' memorial services at the Laos Memorial in Arlington by Lao and Hmong veterans and their former military and clandestine advisors.

Humanitarian and refugee assistance

As National President of the Lao Veterans of America Institute, Wangyee Vang has worked to support Indochinese refugees, including Lao and Hmong refugees, and asylum seekers, fleeing persecution by the communist government in Laos after the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. He has been outspoken in opposition to the forced repatriation of Hmong and Lao refugees from the Royal Kingdom Thailand back to the Marxist government in Laos that they fled.[12] [13]

Veterans' burial honors

Vang supported burial honors for Lao- and Hmong-American veterans who seek to be buried in U.S. national veterans cemeteries administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.[14] The measure is currently pending in Congress.[15] [16] [17] [18]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Refugee Services Directory, Fresno County, California, Official website (26 January 2015) http://www.co.fresno.ca.us/departmentpage.aspx?id=34025
  2. California Companies List, California Secretary of State Companies Listings, http://www.californiacompanieslist.com (24 January 2015), Lao Veterans of America Institute, http://www.californiacompanieslist.com/the-lao-veterans-of-america-institute-1nw87/
  3. Vang, Wangyee, Lao Veterans of America Institute, Charitable Organization Annual 990 Reporting, Tax Exempt World, http://www.taxexemptworld.com, http://www.taxexemptworld.com/organization.asp?tn=1341299
  4. Costa, Jim, U.S. Congressional Record, U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., "Recognizing the Lao and Hmong-American Community"(12 December 2014) http://gov.mtopgroup.com/art1/record/delta/2014/12/12/extensions-of-remarks-section/article/E1840-1
  5. Smith, Philip, Washington, D.C., (14 December 2014), Lao Veterans of America, Inc. http://www.laoveteransofamerica.org
  6. [Doualy Xaykaothao|Xaykaothao, Doualy]
  7. LaGarretta, Raina, Elk Grove Citizen Newspaper, (Sacramento, Elk Grove, California), (15 November 2011), "Stand Up, Speak Out: Cocal Combat Veterans Remember Service, Coming Home" http://www.egcitizen.com/articles/2011/11/15/news/doc4ebc6a46a1068423998216.txt
  8. Sean, Madigan, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Minneapolis, Minnesota, (31 March 2000) "Hmong citizenship bill clears House committee."
  9. Smith, Philip, Washington, D.C., (14 December 2014), Lao Veterans of America, Inc. http://www.laoveteransofamerica.org
  10. Webb, Tom, Knight Ridder / Tribune News Service (29 May 2000) "After a decade of trying, Hmong veterans win a citizenship boost."
  11. China Weekly News (28 May 2013) "Laos, Hmong Veterans of Vietnam War Honored at National Ceremonies"
  12. Agence France Press (AFP), (10 May 2009) "Hmong lobby US for emergency aid in Thailand" http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Hmong+lobby+US+for+emergency+aid+in+Thailand-a01611877732
  13. Science Letter Publications (30 June 2009) "Congress Appeals to Obama Administration, Thailand: Stop Hmong Returns to Laos."
  14. Business Journal (California), (08 February 2013), "Murkowski, Costa introduce Lao and Hmong veterans bill" http://www.thebusinessjournal.com/news/government-and-politics/4920-murkowski-costa-introduce-lao-and-hmong-veterans-bill
  15. Doyle, Michael, McClatchy News (28 October 2009) "Hmong, Lao veterans seek burials in national cemeteries" http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2009/10/28/77920_hmong-lao-veterans-seek-burials.html
  16. Business Wire, Businesswire.com, Washington, D.C. (28 July 2010) "Laos, Hmong Veterans of Vietnam War Honored by Congress with National Burial Bill." http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Laos,+Hmong+Veterans+of+Vietnam+War+Honored+by+Congress+with+National...-a0232906561
  17. Business Wire, Businesswire.com, Washington, D.C. (07 February 2014) "Laos, Hmong Veterans Burial Honors Bill Introduced in U.S. Senate" http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130207006579/en/Laos-Hmong-Veterans-Burial-Honors-Bill-Introduced
  18. Simon, Richard, Los Angeles Times (27 February 2014) "Hmong vets suffer setback in quest for burial at U.S. cemeteries" http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-vietnam-war-hmong-20140227-story.html

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