MN SR243

Colonel Xay Dang Xiong was born December 12, 1943, in Laos and was recruited by the CIA in 1961 for guerilla warfare training due to his leadership skills and military excellence.

He was promoted to Colonel in 1973 and commanded over 4,500 soldiers, protecting U.S. radar installations and intercepting North Vietnamese supply lines during the Secret War in Laos (1961-1975).

After the war ended, he fled to Thailand as a refugee and in 1975 was commissioned to assemble a team to establish Ban Vinai, a haven for Lao refugees.

He resettled in France in 1977 and moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1982, where he devoted his life to training community leaders, promoting education, and establishing the Lao Hmong Veterans of America.

The Minnesota Senate commemorates his life and legacy as a man of principle, valor, and integrity, recognizing his lasting positive impact on the Hmong community.