Mrs. Der Yang Kong
Wife of a SGU Veteran
North St. Paul, MN
File No.: 20/50
May 2024

Der Yang Kong was born in the village of Na Leng in Xieng Khouang Province, Laos, where her parents were farmers. At age 10, she dreamt of marrying someone who believes in God because she was not interested in someone who still practiced Hmong traditional beliefs. She met Sia Ge Kong, who was baptized, while on a military tour to her village. While stationed there his company was attacked multiple times. He survived the attacks, and corresponded to Der that if she did not go with him back to the CIA airbase Long Cheng then they would never see each other again. In 1968, they married and returned to Long Cheng. She was also devastated by the casualties, displaced families, and orphans who had lost parents due to the Secret War. On May 14, 1975, Laos crumbled into the enemy’s hands. Der and her family immediately fled into Thailand to seek safety. Soon, they immigrated to Texas, to begin a new chapter. In her first job in the new country, she was making $2.25 an hour. In 1979, Kong and her family moved to Minnesota to be closer to their extended families. ∆

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