“Guarding ammunition” 

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I was a soldier for almost seven years… Then, I was at the airport [in Long Cheng] and the General [Vang Pao] told my uncle that he needed a guard for the ammunition storage unit. My uncle replied there was no one that was educated, except the only one was his brother’s son and asked if the General wanted me. My uncle took me to meet the General at his house. The General said, ‘Hey, kiddo, what grade are you in?’ I responded that I was not very highly educated and told him what level of education I finished. Then he said that was good enough and for me to go to the airport the following day so I could be introduced to the Thai and the Americans and guard the ammunition unit there. The following morning, I met him there and the General told them that I was the Hmong officer that he sent to work for them. My job as a soldier was to guard the ammunition for General Vang Pao. Each day I made three reports. One report was to the General. Another one was to Colonel Lee Toupao, the chief of staff [for Military Region 2]. The third report was sent to the CIA case officers because they must have knowledge of how much ammunition and magazines were sent out and available so they know how to restock the supplies.