[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 116 (Wednesday, August 1, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1377]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                  HONORING SECOND LIEUTENANT YER VANG

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. JEFF DENHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, August 1, 2012

  Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and honor the 
life and service of the late Second Lieutenant Yer Vang. Second 
Lieutenant Vang served the United States of America honorably during 
the Vietnam War.
  Yer Vang was born on February 2, 1960, at Ban Long Xai, Muan Long 
Xai, in the Xieng Khouang province in the Kingdom of Laos. He attended 
Ban Na Elementary School. In March of 1972, when he reached the age of 
twelve, he was recruited to train at Muang Cha Military Training 
Center, located in the Xieng Khouang province.
  Upon completion of his military training, Yer Vang was assigned to 
work as a water supplier and a mail carrier at the 228th Battalion 
Headquarters. On January 1, 1973, he was transferred to the 2281st 
Company Infantry Division of the 228th Battalion Special Guerrilla 
Units (SGU), 1st Strike Division Infantry of the United States Secret 
Army. Yer Vang fought in the Vietnam War with this unit through May of 
1975. During this tenure of his service, he took part in many important 
missions advanced by the United States Secret Army and was promoted to 
the rank of Second Lieutenant.
  After the communist takeover of Laos in May of 1975, Yer Vang's unit 
was stationed south of the Plains des Jarres. Unable to be airlifted to 
a U.S. Airbase in Thailand, Yer Vang had to flee his position and go 
into hiding in fear of being persecuted by the ruling government. He 
remained in hiding until June of 1979, when he passed through the 
jungles of Laos by moonlight and crossed the Mekong River to safety in 
Thailand.
  Yer Vang was a political refugee at Ban Vinai Camp in Thailand for 
twenty years. On January 31, 1990, he came to the United States and 
began his life in Fresno, California. Once resettled in Fresno, Yer 
Vang attended Fresno Adult School, where he graduated in 1993. He 
worked at a local Pizza Hut for two years, before he was hired as a 
teacher's aide for Fresno Unified School District in August of 1995. In 
1997, Yer Vang was selected to be a board member of the Lao Veterans of 
America, where he served as Treasurer from 1997 through 2000 and 
Secretary from 2005 through 2012.
  Second Lieutenant Yer Vang passed away on June 24, 2012. He is 
survived by his wife, whom he married while in the refugee camp in 
Thailand. The couple has thirteen children: three sons and ten 
daughters.
  For his military service, Yer Yang was awarded the Bronze Medal from 
the King of Laos, the United States Special Forces in Laos Medal, and 
multiple commendations and citations from the United States Congress. 
He was also honored by the United States Congress with the Vietnam 
Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Vietnam Veterans Medal.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in posthumously honoring Second 
Lieutenant Yer Yang for his heroic service to the United States of 
America and extending our deepest condolences to his family. His legacy 
serves as an example of excellence, and his contributions to our 
country will not be forgotten.

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