General Vang Pao was born in Laos. Vang Pao joined the anti-Japanese resistance led by Touby Lyfoung at a very young age in 1945 Vang Pao fought as a corporal, sergeant and then as an officer under the French Union Army flag against the Communist Viet Minh until 1954 when the Geneva Conference granted independence to Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.

Vang Pao was named a Brigade General in the Royal Lao Army in 1964. With CIA assistance, General Vang Pao led a fierce resistance to the North Vietnamese and the North Vietnamese Communists from 1961-1973. General Vang Pao left Laos in 1975. General Vang Pao is the founder of Lao Family Community, a Hmong social service organization with offices in several states.

The photo shows General Vang Pao in Laos in the 1960s. Photo by Paul White.