About
May Lee Soung
May Lee Soung was born during the harvest months in 1957 in Xiang Koung Province. Raised by her single mother after her father took a second wife and abandoned the family, May Lee faced struggles growing up. Poverty was a constant companion, and there was never enough to eat. Tragically, she lost two sisters—one to suicide—leaving only her and her brother.
SECRET WAR NURSE
About
Life During the War
May Lee’s life took a turn when her mother’s sister took them in, leading her to Sam Thong. At the age of 11, having completed third grade, May Lee joined the nursing training program. Until then, she hadn’t dared to dream of a better life. That changed when she met Choua Thao, who encouraged her to aspire for more. Grateful and indebted to Choua Thao, May Lee felt “very loved.” Choua Thao even welcomed May Lee’s mother and allowed her to work at the hospital, cooking for the staff.
Training, living, and working at Sam Thong hospital transformed May Lee’s life. She believed in the impact of her work—helping others and supporting her mother. It was all she knew, and she wanted to excel. Yet, working in the emergency unit was both difficult and traumatizing. May Lee witnessed war injuries, amputations, and severe wounds. The nurses handled everything—IVs, wound care, dressings—while the doctors briefly appeared for surgeries and then left the care to them.
One of May Lee’s most traumatic memories involved a relative as an injured patient. She cried, knowing he wouldn’t survive. The hardest part? “Cutting into your family member,” she recalled, tears streaming down her face. Even now, she dreams of the faces of those they cared for, running from war through dark jungles, only to wake up in her bed in the US.
After the war
May Lee’s Story
In 1976, May Lee married her husband, and her family left Thailand. Initially resettled in California, they later moved to St. Paul, Minnesota. In the US, May Lee continued her work in healthcare as a medical assistant. She has one daughter and two sons.