In 1954, when France finally gave up all claim to Laos, she left behind a country at war. Communism was on the move. Leaders of North Vietnam, the Soviet Union, and the People's Republic of China saw Laos as a natural part of their domain. Since the King of Laos was not sympathetic to Communist ideas, they persuaded one of his sons, a prince of Laos, to be their entry into the country. With his help, they were able to send their soldiers in to take the country by force if necessary.
The King of Laos looked for help to the United
States. The U.S., worried about the spread of
Communism, offered its services--its money and its
advisors, but not its soldiers. They began by
helping refugees that had been forced to give up
their homes. USAID was responsible for resettling
them. In the final years of the war, Yong Kay Moua
was one of those who worked for USAID,
distributing the food, pans for cooking, medicine,
clothing, blankets, tools, and shelter needed by the
victims of war.
When the U.S. entered the Vietnam War, the role of the U.S. in Laos grew dramatically. The Hmong, a people of Chinese descent who lived in the mountains of Northern Laos, became special allies of the United States. Route 6 (the "Ho Chi Minh Trail") ran directly through their countryside, and it was the principal supply route of the Communists. The Hmong, known as excellent soldiers, were recruited to form a 'Secret Army.' American military personnel trained them and paid them; in return, the Hmong were to make the regular transport of supplies impossible. They were to keep the Americans informed and fight a guerrilla war that Americans were not equipped for. The Hmong were convinced that a war between the U.S. and the Communists would easily be won by the superpower Americans. They were not prepared for the American decision to back out of the conflict.
In the beginning, the Hmong had asked in all innocence, "What can we expect at the close of this war?"
They were told that if the Americans won, the Hmong would win with them. If the Americans lost, they would be responsible for the Hmong tribes. The unwritten contract was sealed with a handshake. It was believed that the Americans could never lose because they were "king of the earth!"
In 1975, when the Americans announced that they were leaving Laos and Vietnam, the Hmong met again with the same Americans to try to decide their future. The question was raised: "What do we do now?" The answer: "I don't remember. Where is your contract? If I don't see a contract, I can't know whether I said that or not."
The Hmong persisted, because at that time, the Thai government was unwilling to accept Hmong refugees--they lacked both food and space. According to an officer present, the American finally accepted the responsibility of his country. Forty thousand families of soldiers and employees of USAID would be admitted to the U.S.; the rest were to remain in the refugee camps until the first Hmong could become sponsors for the others.
Today, as refugee camps in Thailand are being closed and refugees unable to come to the U.S. or France are being forced to return to their Laotian homeland, the struggle continues. Many of the Hmong introduced in this book have found new lives in the United States. A large number have also died. Others, like the Colonel, have returned to Laos to carry on the struggle. The final pages of this book contain a directory giving information on those whose present situation is known.
As for Houa and Kay Moua, they, along with their families, have continued their leadership roles in Wisconsin. They are still working to help their people find greater security and happiness. At the same time, they believe it is also important for their people to keep alive the culture and the traditions of the Hmong. They want their children to have a past as well as a future. And they want others in the world to understand the culture that they bring to the American melting pot of nationalities.
For information on ordering this book, please
contact: