About
Chee xiong ngiateng
Chee Xiong Ngiateng (Cib Xyoo) grew up in a time where traditional Hmong beliefs discouraged girls from pursuing education, fearing it would only benefit their future husbands’ families. Despite these cultural barriers, Chee’s older brother, Ntsuab Pov Xyoo, recognized her potential and supported her education from an early age. She was able to start school in the 1st grade, which also meant walking long distances daily, often enduring harsh weather conditions to school in the distant town. Yet, Chee’s passion for learning fueled her determination to get an education.
SECRET WAR NURSE
About
A Hmong Nurse’s Dedication
By the time Chee completed 4th grade in Laos, she was already drawn to the world of nursing. In 1964, at just 14 years old, she began volunteering at Sam Thong Hospital before formally enrolling in the nursing program. Under the guidance of nursing leaders and mentors like Choua Thao and Chao Song (Cos Xyoo), Chee underwent rigorous training, quickly finding herself in the surgical ward of Sam Thong Hospital, the epic center of the Secret War era. The intensity of the war and the work of the ward left little time for rest or meals, yet Chee thrived in her role, finding fulfillment in nursing despite the hardships. It was her escape from the traditional norms. She worked as a nurse from 1965 to 1969.
Initially, she was choosing nursing over marriage, refusing a suiter who later would become her husband. Chee postponed her union with Lee Pa Chay until 1967, when they wed after his arrival to work with USAID in Sam Thong. Despite expectations that marriage would lead her away from nursing, Chee persisted, continuing to work as a nurse even after marriage—a rarity among Hmong women of her time.
Chee’s dedication and skill were recognized when she received a prestigious medal from Prince Sayvongsavanh of Laos.
What’s Chee Doing Today
Momoirs and Legacies
After the communist takeover of Laos in 1975, Chee and her family immigrated to the United States in 1976. Despite the many challenges of starting over in a new country, she pursued a healthcare career that spanned 37 years before her recent retirement.
A true trailblazer, Chee has also authored two memoirs that chronicle her remarkable journey—from her early days as a wartime nurse in Laos to her life in America after the Secret War. Her writing stands as a powerful testament to her resilience, professional dedication, and deep commitment to preserving her heritage.