Family biography:

Major Vang Kai Yang was born in December of 1942 in Than Luang (Thab Luam), Mouang Nya District, Xieng Khouang, Laos. In 1960, he enlisted as a Special Guerrilla Units soldier in the Secret War in Military Region 2, under the command of General Vang Pao. This war was the fight against the communist Pathet Lao and North Vietnamese Army.

From 1961 to 1970, Major Vang Kai was a 2-stars Lieutenant commanding Company 3 (Koos Laib 3) at the Outpost 10B in Mouang Ngat. From 1970 to 1971, he became a 3-stars Lieutenant and relocated to Mouang Cha, Mouang Oo, and Long Cheng serving under Battalion 205. In 1971, he attended military training in Sai Long (Xais Loo). From 1972 to 1973, he became a 4-stars Major and was promoted as the commander of GM 22, Battalion 10B, serving under Colonel Toulong Yang, who was the Regiment Commander.

From 1973 to 1975, Major Vang Kai was the commander for Battalion 3, serving under Colonel Blong Thao, who was the Regiment Commander. In the spring of 1975, he joined the Royal Lao Army.

When the communists took control over Laos in 1975, Major Vang Kai went into hiding in the jungle for five years. In 1979, he escaped to Thailand with his family as a political refugee and lived in the Ban Vinai camp. From 1980 to 1987, he served as the Chief of District No. 6 (Nai Khet) in the camp.

Major Vang Kai immigrated to California, USA in 1987, and resettled in Minnesota in 1997. From 2004 to 2007, he served as the President of Lao Veterans of MN, Inc. He is an active community leader and expert in Hmong culture and traditions. He has taught “Txiv Xaiv”, the chosen master of ceremony for memorial services, to hundreds of students and in 2016, published a book called “Hmoob Vam Koob Txiv Xaiv.”