Lue Xiong's Memorial Fund

On behalf of the Xiong family, we'd like to announce the passing of our father, grandpa, and war hero.

[Wa] Lue Xiong was born on June 5, 1944, in Laos. He was born to a family of two older siblings (an older brother and sister). They lost their parents to illness when Lue was two, sister was six, and brother was eight years old. The siblings lived as orphans (living with an uncle) until the older brother was old enough (approximately fourteen years old) and capable of being ahead of household for the younger siblings.

As a teenager, Lue was recruited by the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) under the leadership of Major General Vang Pao. General Vang Pao led the Secret Guerrilla Unit (SGU), consisting primarily of Hmongs and other ethnic hill tribes. The SGU's main objective was to rescue American pilots who flew from Long Cheng and fend off communist troops in the surrounding (rain forest) of Laos. Many Hmongs built village huts and lived near the airbase.

After the U.S. withdrew its troops from Vietnam on March 29, 1973, fighting continued in the Laotian rain forest. In 1975, the Pathet Lao (communist troops) started to make major headway towards Long Cheng. General Vang Pao and the SGU realized that they could no longer defend the Long Cheng airbase. Some evacuated Long Cheng by aircraft, and many had to evacuate by foot. Lue and his platoon had to evacuate by foot into the surrounding rain forest.

In a war where many died or were severely injured, Lue was one of the few that had survived without any major injuries. After the evacuation of Long Cheng, Lue temporarily left his wife and five children for fear of retaliation from invading communist troops. Lue and his fellow soldiers sought refuge in the jungles, where small skirmishes continued with the communist forces. He heard of a path to Thailand (a neutral country) and communicated with his wife and children that he'd come back for them.

After the evacuation, Lue's wife and children followed Lue's older brother along with his wife and children to go live in a communist village (in Laos). In early 1979, Lue, along with a fellow soldier, left their wives and children behind in Laos. The plan was to find a safe route for their wives and children to cross and leave Laos via crossing the Mekong River to Thailand.

One day, in the middle of the night, they discreetly came to take their wife and children to head for Thailand. Along the way via foot, they witnessed people who've stepped on land mines and had passed away. At the Mekong River, Lue hired Thai boaters to transport his family across to Thailand. Four older children had survived the journey, the youngest child did not make it.

By chance and luck, Lue and his family arrived in Ban Dua, Thailand. Later, they were transferred to Ban Vinai, Thailand. There they received sponsorship from Lue's wife's brother, who was living in San Diego, California, at the time. Lue and his family emigrated to San Diego in late 1979.

After the birth of another child in San Diego, Lue and his family moved to Fresno, California. Lue and his wife had three additional children in Fresno. During his new life in America, Lue helped his family assimilate to the American culture. Lue continued to show a lot of generosity. Being one of the first Hmong arrivals in America, Lue helped his son-in-law, older brother's sons, and older brother immigrate and assimilate to a new life in America. Throughout his life, Lue has supported his clan and the Hmong community in Fresno.

Lue survived battles with the Pathet Lao, the refuge in the rain forest of Laos, the crossing of the dangerous Mekong River to Thailand and back to Laos, then back to Thailand again. However, he was too ill to survive his bouts with various health issues. Lue took his last breath at the age of 77 on March 10, 2022, in Fresno, California. He is survived by his older brother and sister, wife, three sons, four daughters and dozens of grandchildren.

We want to send off our dad, grandpa, war hero the traditional Hmong way. As you may or may not know, a traditional Hmong funeral is very intricate and expensive. Any donation will be appreciated and remembered. Peb yuav nco nej tshav ntuj mus ib txhiab ib txhiv, nyob tsis dauj ua ncauj li ncos, nyob tsis tseg lau mog....