Title
Proclaiming March 23, 2019 to be Major Tougeu LeePalao Day.
Body
WHEREAS Major Tougeu LeePalao was born on July 20, 1930 in Xieng Khouang, Laos; and
WHEREAS Major LeePalao started his military training in 1953 under the French forces and later served under General Vang Pao in the Special Guerilla Units, where over 100,000 Hmong were recruited and trained by the U.S. CIA to fight against the Communist Pathet Lao and North Vietnamese Army; and
WHEREAS In 1962, Major LeePalao earned the rank of Lieutenant, and in 1963, he attended military cadet school in Pham Qhom and received training to become a military officer; and
WHEREAS After he graduated, he was sent to Bana, LS 15, Zone 2A, where he oversaw forces of A.D.C; and
WHEREAS In 1966 after receiving the rank of Captain, he was sent to oversee forces of A.D.C in Hav Tooj Kuj in northern Laos, also known as LS 184, Zone 12B, in Moos Tshaj province; and
WHEREAS In 1967, General Vang Pao asked Major LeePalao to return to Long Cheng where he was given the task of instructing and training the following forces: SGU, BOC and MTT, in the CIA training camp center (LS 113) in Moos Cab; and
WHEREAS In 1969, the training camp center was relocated to Long Cheng (LS 20), and Major LeePalao was the Commander in Chief, Assistant Director, and Chief Trainer of the camp until 1975, where his last military rank in the US-Lao Army was that of Major; and
WHEREAS, after moving to Minnesota, he became co-founder of the Hmong Cultural Center in Saint Paul in 1993 where Major LeePalao dedicated many years to teaching Hmong culture, customs and traditions to our younger generations: and
WHEREAS, Major Tougeu LeePalao was an active member of the community advocating and improving the lives of all Hmong Americans and continued to impact the cultural and social fabric of Saint Paul and the entire United States; and
WHEREAS, Major Tougeu LeePalao encouraged all community members to participate actively in social, cultural, educational, economic, and political aspects of life in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Major Tougeu LeePalao’s legacy will forever be honored and celebrated by the community for his leadership, bravery, and sacrifices; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Saint Paul proclaims March 23, 2019 to be Major Tougeu LeePalao Day and to afford an opportunity for people to recognize his service and sacrifice.