MARATHON, WI (WSAU) — A presentation about a man’s trips to Laos and Thailand was used to talk about Hmong history.
The Marathon County Historical Society held one of their History Speaks presentations on Monday afternoon in Marathon. The presentation titled, “The Hmong: From Laos to Ban Vinai Refugee Camp” was presented by Rick Lohr.
Lohr, a former educator in the Wausau School District, spoke about his trips to the Ban Vinai Refugee Camp in the late ’80s and early ’90s and Hmong villages in Laos in 1999 and 2000. Lohr used the experiences he had on those trips to talk about parts of Hmong history that many Marathon County residents wouldn’t know.
One of the main things Lohr wanted to educate residents on ways that the Hmong people had contact with the United States several years before anyone immigrated to the country.
“They cooperated in our war basically in Vietnam. [They] rescued a lot of our pilots and harrassed the Ho Chi Minh trail and were allies of the West. And when we pulled out, they were left in enemy country.”
Following the Vietnam War, the Hmong people were left without a home, making them refugees. Lohr believes it’s important that residents understand the Hmong lost everything to help the United States in Southeast Asia.
“They became refugees, in which case you lose your country, usually culture. Basically, you’re in a refugee camp waiting to see what will happen to you. As the Hmong came to the United States, it’s important for them to know their past. But I think it’s important for every citizen to as well.”
For those who weren’t able to make the presentation, Lohr says the most important thing people should know is the secret war the Hmong fought in Laos. “Hmong soldiers fought a long war from 1962 to 1975 against the communists.
“And lost a generation of men in doing so. Most of them lost their villages, became refugees living in Laos. And then after the Communists took over they had to flee and go to Thailand losing everything in the meantime. And so when they come to the US it’s to start anew.”
Lohr suggests that anyone interested in Hmong history visit Jim Harris’ museum in the Wausau Center Mall by the old J.C. Penny anchor store. The museum highlights artifacts Harris has collected over the years visiting Laos, learning about Hmong culture and history.
