Sia Ge Kong was born in Laos in 1948. At the age of 13, he was recruited to join the CIA’s Secret Army, known as the Special Guerrilla Units. As a soldier in the Secret War, he spent most of his time in combat and provided aerial supply drops to those at the frontlines. He also started a small business to support his family. When Laos collapsed into communist control, he and his family left the country to Thailand. In 1976, they came to the U.S. as refugees.