Teb Chaws Vam Meej - The Land of Promise

Photo By Master Sgt. Lynette Hoke | Tech Sgt. Soua Yang and Airman First Class Andrew Ming Lo of the 133rd Airlift Wing.  

ST. PAUL, MN, UNITED STATES

11.17.2016

Story by Tech. Sgt. Lynette Hoke 

133rd Airlift Wing

For a few Hmong Minnesotans and military members, the passion for family has found them with their proud military service.

"I joined the Air Guard aside from active duty over other branches because I personally, am a very family

oriented person," said Airman First Class Andrew Meng Lo, a Knowledge Operations Manager at the Minnesota Air National Guard 133rd Airlift Wing. "I really wanted to pursue my dreams and be with my family through every step along the way. That way if anything ever happened where they or I were to be present, I could share that moment with them."

Lo is one of a handful of Hmong members within the 1,200 person unit in St. Paul. Tech Sgt. Soua Yang, an Aircraft Hydraulic Systems Craftsman at the 133rd Maintenance Group joined the guard after his active duty service to live closer to his family.

"The military has helped me with just about every aspect of my life, my overall fitness, my education, and a better understanding of the world with greater respect for my country," said Tech. Sgt. Yang.

Joining the military has helped many find purpose, strength and greater motivation than they could on their own. For Yang and Lo, the experience has helped them achieve personal goals and exceed some of their peers.

"Being the oldest of five, I've lived my life feeling obligated to my family and to try to be the best I can be for them, and that has distracted me a lot from my own goals, dreams, and desires," said Lo, a native of St. Paul. "The military has shown me how I can succeed as an individual and start doing things for myself. I now have a better understanding of how the world works after being in the Guard for only a year, compared to some of my other high school classmates."

Sense of belonging to family may come easy for the typically large Hmong families. Belonging to your culture and heritage may not be something so easily assimilated for some people. The military has given these two Airmen a renewed sense of purpose.

"Growing up I've always felt a little lost with little to no sense of belonging even though I was born and raised in Massachusetts," said Yang, a native of Brooklyn Park. "This was mainly due to the fact that the Hmong people had no true country of ethnic origin, it was hard trying to explain to others where Hmong people came from."

"I remember being mad whenever I would watch the Olympics and see everyone carrying their national flags, but the military has brought me a long way since then. It has taught me to love and accept this country that I do so honorably serve and I am now more proud than ever to carry the U.S. flag on my back."

"Being in the military has given me a purpose in life, before joining, I had no goals or passion for anything of any sort," said Lo. "My time away at BMT taught me how to live for myself, and not in the need of other people."

• Date Taken: 11.17.2016
• Date Posted: 02.03.2017 19:35
• Story ID: 214855
• Location: ST. PAUL, MN, US
• Hometown: BROOKLYN PARK, MN, US
• Hometown: ST. PAUL, MN, US