Wa Chong Vang was born in Xieng Khouang, Laos, in 1952. His father was General Vang Pao, Hmong leader and commander of the Royal Lao Army’s Military Region 2. Wa Chong spent most of his teens studying at Vientiane, the capital of Laos. As the Secret War escalated, Wa Chong went several times to the battlefield. In 1974, he was picked to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY. He left the academy early to assist with the resettlements of his Hmong people, who were torn and escaped from the war in Laos into the refugee camps in Thailand. Today, as a civilian leader, Wa Chong continues to help and devote his time to his community.