[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 134 (Wednesday, September 7, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1213]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE LIFE OF PETER CHOU VANG

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 7, 2016

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of 
Lieutenant Colonel Peter Chou Vang who passed away May 4, 2016. He was 
82. Vang Chou was a respected leader in the Hmong American community, 
whose contributions spanned decades.
  Vang Chou was born on April 5, 1938 in the Phac Lac village of Laos 
to Xia Chong Vang and Xay Lo. Vang Chou completed primary education and 
went on to receive his Certificat d 'Etudes Primaires Complementaires 
(French High School Diploma). From an early age he was known as a 
benevolent man, providing for many members of his extended family. Vang 
Chou made the decision not to pursue his education further, due to his 
family's financial hardship and in order to help his mother provide for 
his seven half siblings. At the age of 20 he became a national police 
officer in Laos.
  1961 was an eventful year for Vang Chou. He began his service as a 
first Air Guide officer for the CIA and married his wife May Yang. Vang 
Chous's intricate knowledge of the terrain led to his service as a 
guide for aerial missions during the Vietnam War. His flying career 
included 116 aerial missions. In 1968, he was wounded in battle, 
leaving him partially paralyzed in his right arm. Vang Chou then became 
the commander of the joint operation center at Long Tien Air Base. He 
quickly earned the respect of his Hmong, Thai and American 
counterparts.
  Following the end of the war, Vang Chou and his family arrived in the 
United States as refugees in 1976. The family relocated to Santa Ana, 
California before eventually settling in Merced County. He initially 
found work as a machinist, before joining the program to assist newly 
arrived refugees with resettlement. He was one of the founding members 
of Merced Lao Family Community, Inc.--an organization that was founded 
to serve the Southeast Asian immigrant community. He was instrumental 
in founding similar organizations in California and the Western United 
States. According to historian Noah Vang, he was a significant member 
of the community and played a role in building the strong and thriving 
Hmong community we know today.
  Vang Chou is survived by his wife, May Yang Vang; their children, 
Maly, Wayne, Maykou, Bee and Mayko; twelve grandchildren and three 
great grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me on this day in a moment 
of silence in memory of the life and service of Lieutenant Colonel 
Peter Chou Vang. He will be remembered as a hardworking man, who went 
above and beyond in the service of his community. His leadership and 
dedication to the Hmong community will be missed.

                          ____________________