Born in Pon Sor, Mouang Nqa District, Laos in 1954, Xang X. Vang was able to attend school at a young age. In his teens, he went to Vientiane to learn and study English. In 1971, he joined the army. Since he knew English, he was recruited as a Forward Air Guide (FAG). He spent the next two years in the frontline guiding air support for the troops on the ground. After the ceasefire treaty in 1973, he returned home to Mouang Cha to help his parents with farm life. After the U.S. left Laos in May of 1975, he moved from Mouang Cha back to his old village Pon Sor. For the next 5 years, he stayed low profile to avoid being captured by the communist regime. Yet, he knew that other villagers would spread words of him being a former U.S. ally fighting against the communist forces during the war. In 1979, he left Laos for Thailand. In April of 1980, he departed and sought refuge in the U.S. He and his family landed in Montana, and then relocated to Fresno, California. In 2021, he retired to Minnesota to be with his children and grandchildren.