Vietnam 50 Years Later: Leng Wong, one of Minnesota's first Hmong refugees

Minnesota is constructed by immigrants who’ve enriched the state with variety and innovation. A kind of teams is the Hmong community.

Minnesota is residence to the biggest Hmong inhabitants within the nation, and it began practically 50 years in the past when the Vietnam War ended with the fall of Saigon.

Months after the autumn, Leng Wong fled his residence of Laos months after serving as a navy officer within the Lao Armed Forces through the Secret War, a clandestine operation the place the CIA recruited and trained thousands of Hmong men to combat on behalf of the U.S.

“Flew missions into totally different elements of Laos, and I flew in American navy operative, translate for them, discuss to troops on the bottom and relayed it to the American troops,” Wong mentioned. “I used to be touring with so they might relay it again to the bottom or the headquarter and name for assist.”

Leng Wong within the early 80s, and in 2025.

Leng Wong/WCCO

Wong served for 10 years, till the bitter finish was inevitable. He knew it was now not secure for him to remain.

“They known as us traitors, so they do not like us,” he mentioned. “It was so chaotic that we actually did not have time to assume a lot about it apart from learn how to survive.”

He and his household escaped on one of many C-130 cargo planes the People had despatched to assist evacuate refugees.

“Simply the garments on our again. There was actually nothing that we may convey with us,” he mentioned.

They flew to Thailand, the place they’d keep for the following 9 months. Then, information got here of a sponsor.

“There was loads of uncertainty, what I’d be dealing with in a brand new land,” Wong mentioned.

He arrived at Minneapolis-St. Paul Worldwide Airport, within the bitter chilly, on Feb. 7, 1976.

“I used to be having bother catching my breath as a result of it was so chilly, and we’re not used to that kind of chilly in our residence nation,” he mentioned.

Frigid, and international, Wong was usually met with a chilly shoulder. He says his largest limitations at first have been language and tradition.

“Initially, we have been confronted with some resentment from the neighborhood as nicely, pondering that we have been right here taking away companies,” he mentioned.

vietnam-leng-wong-updated-pkg-final-web-le-phillips.jpg — Leng Wong’s household

Leng Wong

Even so, Wong nonetheless felt the necessity to assist others identical to him. He made it his intention to enhance the lives of different Hmong individuals who could be following in his footsteps.

“I used to be in a position to talk and translate for folks, so I would be busy day and night time,” he mentioned. “We might be on the hospital, the clinic, on the airport.”

Wong would spend years working for refugee packages with Lutheran Social Companies and the state, serving to folks discover jobs and dealing with employers to create these jobs.

He’d additionally advocate for coverage adjustments in assist of refugees, all whereas touring throughout Minnesota, and ultimately throughout the nation, to interrupt down limitations and to coach others on the Hmong folks.

Nowadays, Wong owns a number of industrial buildings throughout the Twin Cities, and in addition has his sights set on constructing extra reasonably priced housing for all Minnesota households.

“I do not assume I will ever retire. I feel I’ll proceed to advocate for our neighborhood and to work and contribute again to our neighborhood, in addition to the neighborhood at massive,” he mentioned.

Wong is a humble servant, perpetually grateful for the brand new land, and its individuals who accepted him.

“Minnesota’s been good to me. It is at all times chilly, however the folks in Minnesota are heat hearts,” he mentioned. “We all know that is the place we belong now, however we nonetheless have part of our coronary heart on the opposite aspect of the world that we all know we belong there, too.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dang Her and his household have been the primary Hmong immigrants to come back to Minnesota in November 1975, according to the Minnesota Historical Society. Leng Wong’s household got here as the primary Hmong refugees in February 1976, in response to the Hmong American Partnership.

This story is a part of Pauleen Le’s documentary “Vietnam 50 Years Later: Reflection on a War that Changed Minnesota.”

Be a part of WCCO on Wednesday, Might 7 at 5 p.m. for a particular screening at Concordia School in St. Paul — hosted by the Heart for Hmong Research: