Vang, Chongjeh, 1945-

Vang (b. 1945) was born in Xiangkhouang province in Laos.

In 1961, he became a Special Operations Team soldier with the American CIA. After training for six months in Thailand, Vang spent two years teaching Laotian, Thai, and Hmong soldiers the fighting skills he'd learned. From 1964 to 1969, Vang served as an air traffic supervisor at CIA Headquarters in Long Chieng (Laos). He was transferred to Vientiane (Laos) in 1969 as a representative of General Vang Pao. After the Americans left Vietnam, Vang continued to receive payment from the CIA in secret until 1975, when he fled to Thailand. Vang lived in the Ban Vinai refugee camp in Thailand for sixteen years before immigrating to Madison (Wisconsin) in 1991. He now lives in Waunakee (Wisconsin).

From the description of Oral history interview with Chongjeh Vang, [sound recording], 2003. (Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center). WorldCat record id: 556187866