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Honoring the life of Col. Moua Sue and proclaiming Monday, February 5, 2024, as Col. Moua Sue Day in the City of Saint Paul.
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WHEREAS, Colonel Moua Sue is the oldest son of Col. Cher Pao Moua and Chi Xiong, born on October 10, 1939, in Ban Nam, Xiengkhouang, Laos; and
WHEREAS, Col. Moua Sue attended primary and secondary school in Lat Bouak, an area north of his hometown and west of the Plain of Jars, which at the time was a Communist Lao command center; and
WHEREAS, Col. Moua Sue graduated from Lat Bouak Secondary School in 1959 and continued his education at Lat Huang College, where he received an associate degree in radio broadcasting in 1961 and began working at the Lao National Radio Station as a bilingual Hmong and Lao radio broadcaster; and
WHEREAS, Col. Moua Sue was recruited by the United States Central Intelligence Agency shortly after beginning his broadcast career and underwent formal intensive military education and training in Thailand before he was sworn as an army officer of the 403rd Battalion of the Lao Royal Army in Boualouang, Luang Prabang, Laos; and
WHEREAS, General Vang Pao assigned Col. Moua Sue to First Military Duty at the Lao Ta military post in Luang Prabang as an army captain in 1963, where he was promoted to the rank of Major after two years and relocated to a military training base to command new, brave recruits of Hmong and Lao soldiers to defend the democracy and freedom of Laos from 1965 to 1970; and
WHEREAS, Col. Moua Sue furthered his military knowledge, tactics, and strategies by continuing his military combat experience and education at the Administrative Military School in Long Tieng, Xaisomboun, Laos and the General Military Institute in Vientiane, Vientiane, Laos and was promoted upon completion to Lieutenant Colonel in 1970; and
WHEREAS, Col. Moua Sue returned to Boualouang after his promotion and became the commander of a newly formed military unit known as the GM-24 Strike Force Regiment, operating to defend the Phou So mountain top against the largest Communist Lao soldier group in Luang Prabang province; and
WHEREAS, his experience and success in military combat on the battlefield and in training and education development led to his recognition by the United States Central Intelligence Agency in 1972, where he was again promoted, this time as the Chief of Military Staff to the Special Guerrilla Unit led and commanded by General Vang Pao; and
WHEREAS, Col. Moua Sue reached the highest military rank of Colonel in 1973 and became the commander in charge of the 11th Brigade Unit of the First Strike Force Division located directly within the frontlines and battlefield along the northern borders of Laos and Vietnam; and
WHEREAS, despite the fall of Laos to the communist regime in 1975 and the withdrawal of the United States from the Vietnam War, Col. Moua Sue fled to the Ban Vinai Refugee Camp in Thailand, and rather than immediately immigrating, chose instead to stay behind and work closely with infamous CIA Agent Jerry Daniel to aid in the immigration process for thousands of Hmong and Lao refugees hoping to resettle across the United States, Canada, France, Australia, and many more countries; and
WHEREAS, after living a fulfilled life as a public servant who helped to relocate a majority of Hmong and Lao refugees at the Ban Vinai Refugee Camp, Col. Moua Sue made the decision to reunite with his family in the United States, settling first in Georgia with his beloved wife and children before moving to Minnesota by the end of 1985; and
WHEREAS, Col. Moua Sue resided in Saint Paul, Minnesota for 39 years with his wife, children, grandchildren, and family and friends when he passed on February 5, 2024, at 85 years old; and
WHEREAS, Col. Moua Sue’s celebration of life took place at the Twin Legacy Funeral Home - East Chapel in Saint Paul on Saturday, March 23, 2024 - Monday, March 25, 2024; now therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council honors the life and service of Col. Moua Sue to the United States Central Intelligence Agency, the Special Guerilla Unit, and the Royal Lao Army, as well as his life of passion and dedication to the well-being and survival of the Hmong culture and community in Minnesota, the United States, and across the globe; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council hereby proclaims Monday, February 5, 2024, as Col. Moua Sue Day in the City of Saint Paul in recognition of his legacy as a war hero and leader.