About
Zoua Lo Her
Zoua Lo Her’s life is truly remarkable. Born on September 15, 1949, in Soneneua, Laos, she faced immense challenges from a young age. After her mother’s passing, Zoua’s family endured hardship, and she became the eldest daughter in a large family of 10 siblings. Her father’s opium addiction, stemming from medical treatments for combat wounds, added to her burdens.
SECRET WAR NURSE
About
Life as a Refugee and Former Special Guerrilla Unit nurse
At just 12 years old, Zoua was among the first group of Hmong girls recruited and trained at the Sansouk Military Hospital in Samthong, Laos. Her dedication, hard work, and guidance from both Lao and American physicians led her to become the head of the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit by age 16. Remarkably, she was one of the first Hmong women who could read, write, and speak English, serving as a nurse during the American Secret War in Laos during the 1960s and 1970s.
In 1967, Zoua married Cher Tou Her, and despite starting a family, she continued her nursing work, assisting Hmong soldiers and their families affected by the medical consequences of America’s Secret War in Laos. By age 19, she was even instructing other young Hmong girls to become nurses themselves.
After the War
Zoua’s Story
In January 1976, Zoua’s family fled Laos as refugees of the Vietnam War, settling in Bonduel, Wisconsin. There, she worked as a nurse’s assistant in a nearby hospital, serving her new American community. Tragically, her husband passed away from cancer on September 20, 1980, leaving her a young widow with five children, two aging in-laws, and a high-school-aged brother-in-law to support. Despite these immense challenges, Zoua remained resilient and became the head of her household.
Zoua never stopped pursuing her beliefs. She managed to carve out a living that met not only the needs of her immediate household but also those of a broader extended family. More importantly, she continued working for the community. Her career transitioned from health care to health and human services to community advocacy. Eventually, she earned a position as the Director of the National Refugee Women and Development Project, based in Washington D.C., where she assisted Hmong refugees settled across the country during the mid-1970s and 1980s. Zoua Lo Her took on leadership roles, helping with various social and economic integration programs.
She was among the elite Hmong leaders who gathered in Washington, DC, as founders of the Hmong National Development, Inc. Along the way, she was part of a 4-member community development team, including the Mayor and city council members. They represented the city of Wausau at the National Municipal League’s “All American City” competition in Baltimore, MD. Zoua’s heartfelt presentation on the positive experiences of Southeast Asian immigrants and the openness of the broader community played a key role in Wausau winning the “All American City” award in 1983-1984. In November 1983, she was appointed by then-Governor Tony Earl to his Asian Advisory Council, which included Asian professionals from academia, business, and clergy. Unbelievably, she also found time to be an entrepreneur and was the first to open an Asian gift and grocery store in Wausau.
On January 24, 1986, at the age of 36, Zoua Lo Her passed away. Reflecting on her story, it’s evident that she was an exceptional person. What she achieved in her 36 years on this earth was enough to fill multiple lifetimes. Zoua Lo Her and Cher Tou Her left behind five orphaned children who were raised by Dr. Joseph Westermeyer and his wife. Dr. Westermeyer came to Laos to train Zoua Lo Her and the first group of Hmong nurses in the 1960s. Dr. Joseph Westermeyer, aged 86, of St. Paul, MN, passed away on February 27, 2024, closing an important chapter of Hmong history that began in the 1960s.
Zoua Lo Her’s journey from her Hmong village in the highlands of Houaphanh Province to Vientiane, the capital city of Laos, where she studied and trained as a nurse at the age of 12, exemplifies her remarkable determination and resilience. Her legacy lives on through the lives she touched and the impact she made.