Secret War/Vietnam War

On October 8, 1943 Choua Thao was born in Ban Phoukabaht, Xieng Khouang Province.  

The Vietnam War started on November 1, 1955. The war ended 20 years later, on April 30, 1975. 

In the 1960s the Vietnam War was spreading to Northeast Laos where many Hmong people lived. The Vietnam War was between North and South Vietnam. North Vietnam wanted independence from France and were also communist. North Vietnam was communist and South Vietnam didn’t want communism. North Vietnam allied with Soviet Union, China, and other communist countries. South Vietnam allied with the U.S., South Korea, Australia, Philippines, and other countries that were against communism. The U.S. saw communism as a threat to them, so they helped South Vietnam. 

General Vang Pao led Hmong guerrillas against communist forces in Laos.Through 1975 about 18,000-20,000 men died as soldiers fighting. An estimated 50,000-100,000 people died from fighting, diseases, and starvation. During this time, a lot of nurses were needed to help the injured ones so they could continue their journey and fight for their country.

From 1975-1997 about 138,000 Hmong people escaped and fled across the Mekong river. They went to refugee camps in Thailand. Over 100,000 Hmong people resettled to U.S., France, Australia, French Guyana, or Canada. A majority of Hmong resettled in California, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.