Lt. Wang Lee Xiong
SGU Veteran
St. Paul, MN
File No.: 00/50
Feb. 2024

Born in Laos in 1950, Wang Lee Xiong grew up in a family where all his brothers were soldiers. In 1969, he was recruited into the CIA-supported clandestine army called the Special Guerrilla Units. Xiong’s company was to safeguard the CIA airbase Long Cheng, also known as 20 Alternate. He was also a military marching band member and performed funeral possessions for his deceased comrades. After the Secret War ended in 1975, he and his family retreated into the jungle of Laos since they were wanted by the communists for aiding the US. He joined forces with the Chao Fao movement to Hmong families from being killed by troops of the newly installed communist Lao Government. With limited resources, life in the jungle proved too harsh and dangerous. In 1979, Xiong, his family, and their group eventually sought their way into Thailand and refugee camps, and in 1989, he made the decision to come to the US. ∆

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