About
May Song Moua
May Song Moua (Niam Ntxhoo) (February 5, 1951 – August 5, 2013) was a remarkable figure whose life exemplified resilience, dedication to education, and leadership within the Hmong community. Born in the northern village of Phou Dou, Laos, she was the fourth of thirteen children to Nhia Chou Moua and Yee Lee. She was a studios person who loved learning and had a 5th grade education in Laos at a time when most girls were not allowed to go to school.
SECRET WAR NURSE
About
May Song’s Nursing Journey
When May Song was only 13 years old, she heard about the recruitment for the nursing program and wanted to enroll but was considered too young. She was persistent time after time to Dee Dick and other leaders to allow her to enter the program. She was finally allowed to enter the program, but she was the youngest and smallest of all the nurses in the program. This low stature became an advantage when she worked with a notorious surgeon who would throw surgical scissors across the room. She once exclaim, “I was able to ducked the scissors and successfully worked with the surgeon when no one else wanted to or could work with him.”
She began her journey as a nursing aide at Sam Thong Hospital and furthered her training in nursing at Vientiane and Vang Vieng. Following the fall of Sam Thong, she relocated to Ban Son before settling in Vientiane, where she continued to advance her skills at Sisavavong Hospital. Over several years, she gained expertise as a charge nurse, delivery nurse, and surgical nurse, demonstrating her commitment to nursing amidst the continued fighting in the Secret War.
May Song’s spoke several languages, including Hmong, Khmu, Lao, and English which enabled her to work with these ethnic communities. Her decision to pursue nursing during a period when it was unconventional for Hmong girls to do so reflected her forward-thinking mindset and desire to support her family and community. She witnessed firsthand the hardships endured by the Hmong during the Secret War and their subsequent discrimination in mainstream Lao society.
After the War
Life in the UNited States
In 1973, May Song married General Vang Pao, becoming his youngest wife. Their relationship was a true love story that was the result of her being a nurse. Their relocation to the United States after the Communist takeover of Laos in 1975 marked a new chapter in their lives. Settling initially in Montana and later in California, May Song Vang became a prominent leader in the Hmong American community, particularly in California’s San Joaquin Valley.
Her advocacy for education was a cornerstone of her legacy. She actively encouraged Hmong youth to pursue education, emphasizing its pivotal role in achieving success. Notably, she played a pivotal role in establishing the Vang Pao Elementary School in Fresno, named in honor of her husband, and founded the General Vang Pao Foundation to support underprivileged Hmong families.
May Song’s leadership and benevolence extended beyond her community engagements. Her contributions were recognized by the Fresno Bee, which hailed her as a “pioneer for women in her home country of Laos” for her educational achievements and nursing career during turbulent times.
She passed away in 2013 after battling cancer, leaving behind a legacy of resilience, compassion, and advocacy. May Song’s life story continues to inspire generations within the Hmong community and beyond, embodying the spirit of determination and service to others.