Cha Topson Lee
Cha Topson Lee, a Special Guerrilla Unit Veteran, recalls the chaotic aftermath of the Secret War in Laos.
ABOUT THIS COLLECTION
Like most refugee and immigrant communities, the Hmong American community continues to experience generational gaps. Often times, Hmong youth may not understand how their parents’ or grandparents’ stories are relevant to their lives. While Hmong elders feel that the young are not listening, making them feel invisible and disrespected.
Hmong Museum and the Special Guerrilla Unit Veterans both recognize these challenge. Therefore, the “Unforgotten” project was designed to pair students and young professionals with Hmong Veterans from the Special Guerrilla Unit, to document their untold war stories. Over the course of 2018, Hlee Lee, a local filmmaker, taught participants the art of film making in order to bring the Vet’s stories to life.
The producers captured hours of interviews with each Veteran, then thoughtfully assembled key moments into a few special minutes.
Moua Soua Mouacheupao
Moua Soua Mouacheupao was the youngest of the first group of Hmong medics during the Secret War. He recalls how he visited the most dangerous areas in Laos during the war as he was young and didn’t have a family he had to support.
Song Leng Thao
Song Leng Thao, shares his rise through the ranks in the Special Guerrilla Unit. From the fear they faced to the medal he received. Thao leaves his words of advice for Hmong youth today.
Nha Chang Vang
Nha Chang Vang was lucky to be alive after serving as a Special Guerrilla Unit soldier during the Secret War in Laos. He recalls the day he was shot.
Xai Nou Vang
Xai Nou (Paul) Vang, a Special Guerilla Unit Captain and bodyguard to General Vang Pao during the Secret War, remembers the early days in America as well as, his continued goal to help the Hmong today.
Sa Mao Xiong
Sa Mao Xiong, was in high school in Laos when he decided he could no longer avoid the war and became a Special Guerrilla Unit soldier. He recalls his journey coming to America and how the hills of Santa Barbara reminded him of his home country.
Chong Doua Yang
Chong Doua Yang, recalls in detail a frightening moment as a Special Guerrilla Unit soldier during the Secret War.
Chue Doua Lee
Chue Doua Lee, recalls his life as a young solider which began in 1961. Like many Special Guerrilla Unit soldiers the sudden pullout of Americans left panic and chaos. It was unclear what would happen. He felt there were only two paths: “we couldn’t leave but if we stayed, we die.”
Ly Vang
Ly Vang, was only 9 when she was recruited to become a nurse. Many young Hmong girls left their families to play their role in the Secret War that took place in Laos. However, their stories are rarely heard. In this short film, Vang, shares her incredible journey, from her father’s home to the hard training and work as a Special Guerrilla Unit nurse.
Neng Xiong
Neng Xiong, a Hmong Veteran who fought in the Secret War re-accounts moments in his journey to America. From how he crossed the Mekong River to get to Thailand to his first job in America. Like many Special Guerrilla Unit soliders, Neng was a child, only 15 when he joined the fight.
What is the Special Guerrilla Unit (SGU)?
Known as the “secret army”, these soldier which mainly consisted of Hmong, were recruited by the Central Intelligent Agency (CIA) to conduct covert operations in Laos near North Vietnam where U.S. forces were forbidden by Congress to enter due to the 1954 Geneva Accord. They were lead by General Vang Pao, who was at the time a Major in the Royal Lao Army.
As shared through the stories of the featured SGU Veterans, in the later years of the Secret War due to the massive number killed, they began to recruit children as soldiers, nurses and medics.
2015 marked the 40th year anniversary for the Hmong’s arrival in the America. With each passing year, the number of SGU Veterans are dwindling. There are still so many untold stories of their lives before, during and after service.
This project, Unforgotten, was made possible through a grant from the Minnesota Humanities Center as part of their “Minnesota Remembers Vietnam” program.
A special thank you to the amazing organization, In Progress, for the use of their space and equipment.
A big thank you to our partner the Special Guerrilla Unit Veterans of USA