About
Chao Beeson
When Chao (Cos Xyoo) was 12 years old, she and her family were among the thousands of villagers displaced by the fighting during the Secret War, becoming refugees in their own homeland. Despite these hardships, a turning point came for Chao when she was recruited to join the public health program at Operation Brotherhood—an organization funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) that provided medical and public health services in Laos. During the 1960s, Operation Brotherhood served as the primary healthcare provider in the country, operating hospitals and establishing a nursing school, which opened in 1961. A second cohort of nursing students began training in 1962. Chao, along with several other Hmong girls, was recruited for the program; however, she was the only one who ultimately enrolled in the nursing school. Many of the other Hmong girls were either discouraged or prohibited from continuing in the public health program, let alone pursuing a nursing career.
SECRET WAR NURSE
About
Chao’s Dedication to Nursing
At just 14 years old, Chao was initially hesitant about pursuing nursing. Yet she persevered through a rigorous and hands-on curriculum that included training in laboratories, X-rays, pharmacy, gynecology, obstetrics, and public health. Through the program, she became a skilled midwife, often delivering babies on her own in remote villages. Chao took pride in this rare and life-saving ability and felt deeply grateful for the strength and guidance that helped her succeed during these solo deliveries.
By the time she was 15 or 16, Chao had passed both written and practical exams, completing four years of training that included extensive fieldwork in areas like Sam Thong and other isolated communities. She went on to become one of the first nursing supervisors and instructors in Sam Thong, mentoring others—including Chee Ngiateng and May Song Moua, who were among her students. Her responsibilities spanned everything from critical care to the physically demanding task of helping transport wounded soldiers—sometimes through knee-deep mud during the rainy season—who had been flown in from the front lines.
One of the most harrowing decisions of her career came when she was faced with a stillborn birth from a deceased mother. In order for the family to accept both bodies for traditional Hmong funeral rites, she had to surgically remove the child. Chao relied on her medical training to make the decision, despite the risk of cultural stigma and the belief that such an act could bring a curse. In doing so, she believed she was offering dignity to both mother and child, honoring their lives and helping the family find peace.
After the War
Chao’s Story
In 1967, Chao was offered a rare opportunity to further her nursing education in the United States, with support from Dr. Walden and Dr. Westermeyer—American physicians working with USAID. She enrolled in a postgraduate nursing program at the University of Minnesota, where she specialized in surgical care. After five years of advanced training and experience in the U.S., Chao returned to Laos as a highly skilled and successful nurse.
In Vientiane, she defied social expectations—owning her own home at the age of 25, an extraordinary accomplishment for an unmarried Hmong woman at the time. A year later, she returned to the United States and married John Beeson, an American.
Chao continued her nursing career in the U.S. for over four decades, ultimately retiring as the only Hmong nurse from the Secret War era to have practiced extensively in America. Throughout her journey, she faced cultural barriers and personal sacrifices, yet remained steadfast in her commitment to nursing. Her life stands as a powerful testament to resilience, determination, and the life-changing impact of healthcare in both war-torn and peacetime communities.