Immigrant's $1.3B Powerball win spotlights the Iu Mien community
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Cheng “Charlie” Saephan wore a broad smile and a bright blue sash emblazoned with the words “Iu-Mien USA” as he hoisted an oversized check for $1.3 billion above his head.
The 46-year-old immigrant’s luck in winning an enormous Powerball jackpot in Oregon earlier this month — a lump sum payment of $422 million after taxes, which he and his wife will split with a friend — has changed his life. It also raised awareness about Iu Mien people, a southeast Asian ethnic group with origins in China, many of whose members fled from Laos to Thailand and then settled in the U.S. following the Vietnam War.
“I am born in Laos, but I am not Laotian,” Saephan told a news conference Monday at Oregon Lottery headquarters, where his identity as one of the jackpot’s winners was revealed. “I am Iu Mien.”
During the Vietnam War, the CIA and U.S. military recruited Iu Mien in neighboring Laos, many of them subsistence farmers, to engage in guerrilla warfare and to provide intelligence and surveillance to disrupt the Ho Chi Minh Trail that the North Vietnamese used to send troops and weapons through Laos and Cambodia into South Vietnam.
Related articles
Padres second baseman Xander Bogaerts leaves game against Braves with shoulder injury
ATLANTA (AP) — San Diego Padres second baseman Xander Bogaerts injured his left shoulder and was rem2024-05-21USDA is testing ground beef for bird flu
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will test ground beef for bird flu particles, though officials sa2024-05-21- TORONTO (AP) — Michael Massey hit a two-run home run, Cole Ragans struck out nine in a season-high 62024-05-21
Australia invest $599 million to financially support women, children escaping violence
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced new funding on Wedn2024-05-21With Djokovic awaiting the winner, Murray trails Hanfmann at rain
GENEVA (AP) — Needing a win to face Novak Djokovic next at the Geneva Open, Andy Murray was saved by2024-05-21- Daisy Kent seems to be doing fine these days after Joey Graziadei rejected her on The Bachelor last2024-05-21
atest comment