How do you make history?
From growing up in a mountain village in Laos, to serving as a child soldier during the Vietnam War, to making a new home in Eau Claire, Wisconsin as a refugee in the 1980s, Joe Bee Xiong’s journey connects many places and people. He served on the Eau Claire City Council as the first Hmong American elected to public office, and his active participation in building cultural bridges in his community made him a role model.
Meet Joe Bee Xiong
Questions to Consider
When Joe Bee came to the United States, he learned new ways of living, but it wasn’t so easy for him to feel at home. Have you had an experience where you were in a place where the ways of doing things or languages spoken were new to you? How did you feel? What did you do to learn about them?
Some people did not understand why Hmong people were coming to the United States, and would say hurtful things or treat them badly. In Eau Claire, Joe Bee tried to increase understanding by sharing about his culture with other people, and learning about others’ cultures as well. What do you know about the people and cultures in your community? What are some ways people can get to know or understand each other better?
During his career in Eau Claire, Joe Bee held several leadership roles in which he worked hard to help others. What were some of those roles? What qualities or skills do you think are important for people who are community leaders and helpers to have? How can you learn or practice them yourself?
Peek Into the Past
Joua (Joe) Bee Xiong
A photograph of Joua (Joe) Bee Xiong.
Eau Claire Leader-Telegram.
Soldiers in Laos
When he was only around 12 years old, Joe Bee became a soldier in Laos like these men.
Eau Claire Leader-Telegram.
Refugee Camp
Some Hmong like Joe Bee fled Laos after the Secret War to live in refugee camps in Thailand.
Eau Claire Leader-Telegram.
Refugee Camp Family
One family typically lived in an 8-foot by 10-foot room without electricity at the refugee camps.
Doug Hulcher.
Hmong Families
Hmong were often given clothing and supplies when they moved from the refugee camps to other countries.
Eau Claire Leader-Telegram.
Ta Moua
In 1980, Joe Bee came to Pennsylvania as a refugee where he met his future wife, Ta Moua.
WPT Education. 2018.
Eau Claire Police
Joe Bee became an Eau Claire police officer in the early 1990s, making him the first Hmong-American police officer in Wisconsin.
Xiong Family.
Joe Bee Xiong
Beginning in 1996, Joe Bee served two terms on the Eau Claire City Council.
Eau Claire Leader-Telegram.
Hmong New Year
Hmong Americans worked hard to learn US culture, but also to preserve their own by celebrating events like Hmong New Year.
Xiong Family.
Joe Bee Playing Qeej
Joe Bee was a master qeej player, a traditional Hmong musical instrument he learned to play in Laos.
Eau Claire Leader Telegram.
Joe Bee Performing
Joe Bee demonstrated how to play Hmong instruments for school groups and the public.
Xiong Family.
Joe Bee’s family
A Xiong Family Photo.
WPT Education. 2018.
Read On
Joe Bee Xiong: War to Peace
Get the full story with this biography book. Audio files are available on each page if you’d like to listen along!
Project Credits
Producer
Becky Marburger
Illustration
Kristen Howdeshell of The Brave Union
Animation
Brandon Ribordy
Animation Voice Over
Cara Yang, Joe Bee Xiong’s daughter
Voiceover Recording
Dean Kallenbach
Sound Design
Matthew Kramer
Audiobook Narration
Jonathan Horne
Audiobook Editing
Kerman Eckes
Captioning
Catie Pfeifer
Vicki Way Kipp
Educator Support Materials
Mia Forslund
Web
John Vieth
Erika Kachama-Nkoy
Tim Schneider
Design
Charles Barrows
Translation Services
Jzong Thao
University of Wisconsin-Madison Cultural Linguistic Services
Thay Yang
Milwaukee PBS
University of Wisconsin-Madison Cultural Linguistic Services
Special thanks to:
Joe Bee Xiong Family
Karen Jacobson
Chippewa Valley Museum
Joel Raney, Chippewa Valley Technical College
Long Vang, Eau Claire Area Hmong Mutual Assistance Association
Executive Producer
Megan Monday
Director of Education
Alyssa Tsagong
Director of Television
Jon Miskowski
Story Advisors
Kristen Christopherson and students
Eau Claire Area School District
Eau Claire, WI
(2019)
Elizabeth Duellman and her students
Eau Claire Area School District
Eau Claire, WI
(2019)
Gwen Kong and the Lincoln Elementary Advanced Hmong Club
Madison Metropolitan School District
(2019)
Karla Lien
Eau Claire Area School District
(2019)
Kerri Lintl
Merrimac Community School
Merrimac, WI
(2021)
Darcy Maxwell
Summit Environmental School
La Crosse, WI
(2021)
Briana Odegard and her students
Eau Claire Area School District
Eau Claire, WI
(2019)
Mike Peplinski and his students
Eau Claire Area School District
Eau Claire, WI
(2019)
Tanya Schmidt
Oshkosh Area School District
Oshkosh, WI
(2021)
Blia Schwahn and her high school Hmong Club
Eau Claire Area School District
Eau Claire, WI
(2019)
Bradley Sommer and his students
Eau Claire Area School District
Eau Claire, WI
(2019)
Pua Song and her Hmong Culture class
Hmong American Peace Academy
Eau Claire, WI
(2019)
Chia Vang
Madison Metropolitan School District
(2019)
True Vue
Eau Claire Area School District
(2019)
Funding provided by
This project was part of Wisconsin Hometown Stories: Eau Claire, funded in part by Pablo Properties, Dick Cable Family, Ruder Ware, Holiday Vacations, John E. Kuenzl Foundation, Theda and Tamblin Clark Smith Family Foundation, Mark and Emily Blaskey in memory of Cheri Uelmen, Mel and Leann Breed, Sam and Suzy Murty, Trust Point, Presto Foundation, Royal Credit Union, Anonymous, The Eau Claire Community Foundation, including support from the Scobie Family Fund, the Daniel and Mary Ann Ogan Educational Fund and the Daniel F. and Margaret J. Brown Fund, Friends of Wisconsin Public Television, and the Wisconsin History Fund, supported in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities.