Major Wangmeng Lee Collection
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Major Wangmeng Lee was born in 1944 in Sam Neua Province, Laos. In his early years, he attended school. When the Secret War broke out, he joined his brothers and cousins to fight agains the communist NVA. Since they lived in Sam Neua, they defended and protected the U.S. bombing radar that was installed at Phou Pha Thi, Lima Site 85. By 1968, the NVA sabotaged the radar. Major Lee, his troops, and their families were forced to leave their villages to Xieng Khouang Province.

In Long Cheng, Major Lee continued fighting the enemy. He almost did not survive an attack by about 10,000 NVA troops against his 1,000 soldiers. When the war ended, he was flown out of Long Cheng to Thailand. He stayed at the refugee camp for three years, and him and his families resettled in Iowa. Major Lee worked and volunteered his time to help his community. In Iowa, he co-founded a Hmong center to house their stories and artifacts. He now lives with his wife and children in Minnesota.

St. Paul, Minnesota
2023