Title
Proclaiming Saturday, October 13, 2018 as Lieutenant Colonel Kou B. Vang Day in the City of Saint Paul.
Body
WHEREAS, Lt. Col Kou Bliaxa Vang was born on May 5, 1955. As a teenager, he was recruited by the United State’s CIA to work as a radio operator and later as an air traffic controller at the CIA headquarters in Long Cheng, Laos, during the Vietnam War; and
WHEREAS, After the United States pulled out of the Vietnam War in 1975, Lt. Col Vang fled to Thailand as a refugee before immigrating to Illinois in 1976; and
WHEREAS, In 1989, he earned his Associates of Arts Degree at the Lakewood Community College; and in 1995, he earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery at the University of Minnesota; and in 1996, he earned his Advance Education in General Dentistry Residency at the University of Minnesota; and
WHEREAS, Lt. Col Vang started his military service in 1998 with Minnesota Air National Guard in Saint Paul and later became the Assistant (OIC) to the Dental Section in the 133rd Medical Group. His duties were to perform initial and periodic dental examinations to ensure dental readiness of the wing members and to educate members on proper oral hygiene to ensure maximum wartime readiness; and
WHEREAS, in 1998, Lt. Col Vang was promoted to Captain; in 2003, he was promoted to Major, and in 2007, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel; and
WHEREAS, Lt. Col Vang has been awarded and decorated with the Air Force Outstanding Units Award, the National Defense Service Award, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, and Air Force Training Ribbon; and
WHEREAS, Lt. Col. Vang has been caring for patients in his Saint Paul, Minnesota clinic since 1998. His service to the community has been impeccable with over 35,000 patients on record; and
WHEREAS, In 2008, Lt. Col. Vang was awarded the Minnesota Dental Association’s Humanitarian Service Award for his devoted service to his patients, which consists largely of lower income families and individuals; and
WHEREAS, From 2004 to 2012, he also served on the Saint Paul District Dental Society’s Executive Council, as well as being an advisor to the Minnesota Dental Foundation; and
WHEREAS, Since 2013, Lt. Col. Vang serves as the Co-Chair on the Trustee Board for the Hmong American Education Fund Foundation; and
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED, that the City of St. Paul honors Lt. Col. Kou B. Vang for his years of service during the Vietnam War and Minnesota Air National Guard; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of St. Paul proclaim Saturday, October 13, 2018 as Lieutenant Colonel Kou B. Vang Day.