America has lost war heroes from two different wars.
Youa True Joseph Vang, one of the last surviving Hmong heroes from the Vietnam War, died Wednesday at the age of 83, reports the Twin Cities Pioneer Press.
Just weeks earlier, John Hua Yee, a member of the World War II Flying Tigers, died March 26 at age 97, according to the Denver Post.
Yee served as a translator for Chinese Air Force cadets on American soil. He became a naturalized citizen in 1952.
In the late 1930’s, he joined the American Volunteer Group which became known as the Flying Tigers. He plotted reported sightings of Japanese planes radioed in from farmers. He recalls seeing multiple Japanese fighters falling to the ground, shot down by the Flying Tigers.
“For the first time in the history of the war, the Japanese had been shot down,” Yee told The Denver Post. “That put some joy into the Chinese — by God, we got one of ’em.”
On Friday, the Minnesota House observed a moment of silence for Vang as members of his family watched from the gallery.
The St. Paul leader, pastor and businessman was also known as Lt. Col. Ntsuab Rwg Vaj of the Royal Army of Laos. He lead a guerilla army in what was known as the CIA’s Secret War, working alongside the United States to fight communist forces in Laos.
In 1975 he fled Laos for Green Bay, Wisconsin before settling in St. Paul.
“We’re losing so many of our military leaders now,” State Rep Kaohly Her said. “I think there’s only maybe five or so colonels left, and I want everyone to understand: These men fought for this country. They’re American war heroes.”
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