Hundreds honor well-known Hmong veteran in Fresno

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Family members, friends and dignitaries remembered a Vietnam War veteran in Fresno Saturday and his groundbreaking accomplishments.

Lt. Col. Peter Chou Vang died in Merced this May but hundreds of people gathered at the Fresno Fairgrounds in his memory Saturday.

Vang was one of the first Hmong pilots trained by Americans to serve as a member of the CIA and fight the war in Laos.

He was also one of the first Hmong pioneers to relocate to the Central Valley after the war.

"He came here to be an American and he came because of the American dream, and his kids now are Americans," 31st District assemblyman Joaquin Arambula said. "It's an honor that those who worked and fought for our country have the ability to pursue that dream."

Family members say his body will be laid to rest in Los Angeles.