General Vang Pao Decision Showed “Unacceptable Disorganization and Callous Insensitivity”
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Jim Costa(D-Fresno) sharply criticized the Department of the Army's treatment of a burialwaiver request for Hmong General Vang Pao to be interred at Arlington NationalCemetery in a letter addressed to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. Secretaryof the Army John McHugh issued a rejection of the burial waiver on February 4,2011, the first day of the Hmong General's well-attended funeral.
"Since the Army was made aware of the funeral, the timingof the announcement showed both unacceptable disorganization and a callousinsensitivity to the General's family and the tens of thousands of funeralattendees," Costa wrote to Secretary Gates.
Costa also reiterated his deep disappointment in the Army'srejection of the burial waiver, which was requested by the family andsupporters of General Vang Pao.
"In 1981, General Vang Pao set an example to his fellowcountrymen by becoming an American citizen in the adopted country heloved. Without a doubt he deserved to be buried alongside the same menwith whom he fought shoulder to shoulder, American soldiers," Costa wrote.
The Administration has yet to respond to a February 8, 2011,request by Costa and three other members of the House of Representatives tooverturn Secretary McHugh's decision.
The text of the letter is laid out below:
February 16, 2011
The Honorable Robert Gates
Secretary of Defense
1300 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301
Dear Secretary Gates:
This letter serves to express mydisappointment in the manner that your department handled my recent request fora burial waiver for Major General Vang Pao in Arlington National Cemetery. As you well know, General Vang Pao led the Royal Lao Army during thesecret war in Laos, fighting against the People's Army of Vietnam incooperation with the CIA and US military forces. Commanding tens of thousandsof Hmong men and women, Vang Pao conducted direct missions against communistforces. In 1981, General Vang Pao set an example to his fellow countrymenby becoming an American citizen in the adopted country he loved. Withouta doubt he deserved to be buried alongside the same men with whom he foughtshoulder to shoulder, American soldiers.
Beyond the principal rejection ofthe overall request, I was also disappointed that your department chose torelease the Army's denial decision just as the General's elaborate funeralbegan in Fresno California. Since the Army was made aware of the funeral,the timing of the announcement showed both unacceptable disorganization and acallous insensitivity to the General's family and the tens of thousands of funeralattendees.
Lastly, Secretary Gates, I'd liketo express my dissatisfaction with the level of communication that my officeand I received during the waiver request process. Calls to yourDepartment and the Secretary of the Army's office went unreturned and officialswere not forthcoming with information about the waiver process andprocedure.
It is my hope to continue workingwith your department in a productive manner to address the many needs ofCalifornia's San Joaquin Valley. Unfortunately the Hmong people and Iwere let down by both the underlying decision in this matter, and in the waythis process was handled. Thank you very much for your time and we lookforward to hearing from you regarding this matter.
Sincerely,
/s/
JIM COSTA
Member of Congress