U.S CIA’S SPECIAL GUERILLA UNITS (SGU) – Morse Code Operator-Lieutenant
Lt. Chong Soua Vue (Vu, Sou), retired, was a Morse Code Radio Operator in the CIA’s
Special Guerilla Unit (SGU) during the Secret War of Laos. He was born on September 13, 1945, in the
village of Thab Taj, Moung Nya, Laos, in the year the Japanese lost control of Indochina. His father, Pa Cheng Vue, Putong of Xa Nya (1953-1960) was a well-known and skilled silversmith, a masterful bambooreed pipe, Qeej, player, and a renowned Txiv Xaiv singer at funerals. He married Yia Vang, oldestdaughter of Col. Waseng Vang of Military Region 2, SGU. He had five brothers (Capt. Soua Ying Vue, Maj.
Wa Khue Vue, Capt. Xai Pao Vue, and Xai Doua Vue), two sisters (Khou Vue and Mao Vue), two step-brothers (Jer Blianeng Vue and Tong Seng Vue), and four step-sisters (Mee Vue, Choo Vue, Jou Vue, and Yer Vue).
On January 29, 1961, he was among the 500 Hmong soldiers selected to receive Intensive military
training by American military operatives in Huahin, Songkhla Province, Thailand. After completing
training, he returned to Vientiane, Laos on June 30, 1962. On October 16, 1962, he was assigned to
station in Moung Nya with Team #22. On October 17, 1964, he was transferred to Long Cheng, the
military headquarter of General Vang Pao’s SGU army when the 1260m-long runway was completed. In
1968, he took an assignment in Phu Xem near Fong Sa Li where he nearly lost his life in a heavily fought
battlefield. After the signing of the Vientiane Agreement in September 1973 giving the communist
control of Laos, he returned to civilian life and settled in Roob Vaub Kib (Turtle Hill). After his father
passed away on May 17, 1974, his father-in-law, Col. Waseng Vang recruited him back to work in Long
Cheng. On May 14, 1975, the United States abandoned the Hmong people and the SGU men and their
families fled Laos or went into hiding to avoid persecution. He and his family went into hiding in the
jungle of Laos for 3 years and continued to fight communist Laos. Starved and losing hope, he escaped
with his family to Thailand on December 30, 1977 and were placed in the United Nation’s temporary
refugee placement site. On February 8, 1978, he and his family were transferred to Nong Khai Refugee
Camp. On February 14, 1979, he and his family Immigrated to the United States. He lived with his family
in Dallas, Texas (2/14/79 – 8/15/79); Lawton, Oklahoma (8/16/79 – 6/24/81); Tulsa, Oklahoma (6/24/81
– 9/1/85); Lacrosse/West Salem, Wisconsin (9/1/85 – 10/01/16); and Maplewood, Minnesota (10/01/16
– 06/10/2018).
He and his wife have 43 children and grandchildren. Their children are: (1) Xe Vue and Pastor
Phengzoo Lee, (2) Attorney Chue Vue, (3) Attorney Fue Vue and Qe Yang, (4) Koua Vue and Nao Lee, (5)
Sy Vue and Pao Leepalao, (6) Coua Vue and Ger Lor, (7) Maria Vue and Mark Vang, and (8) Amy Vue.
