Ms. Ka Ying Vang
Secret War Survivor
St. Paul, MN
File No.: 12/50
March 2024

Ka Ying Vang was born in 1936 in Xieng Khouang, Laos, into a big family. As a teen, she took on many household responsibilities since her father was mostly away for civilian duties. She married Lee Pao in 1965, who was already a soldier for the CIA’s secret army. In August of 1970, her world turned upside down as her husband was killed at the frontline, leaving her to single-handedly care for their children, all under the age of three. She lost her two young children afterward as well. When the war concluded in 1975, Vang went with others in search of an escape route to Thailand. In October of 1976, they arrived at the refugee camp on the Thai side. Later, she immigrated to the US, arriving in Colorado, and later moving to Minnesota. ∆

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