Americans became involved with the United States CIA missions during the "Secret War.” In an effort to block weapon transfers along parts of the Ho Chi Minh trail, the Mien provided their intelligence, surveillance, and armed manpower. From this situation, three important Iu Mien figures emerged: Colonel Chao Mai Saechao, Colonel Chao La Saechao, and Captain Vern Chien Saechao. In 1967, Colonel Chao Mai passed and his younger brother, Chao La Saechao, was promoted to Colonel. When the American operation pulled out of Vietnam and Laos in 1975, the Lao People's Democratic Republic was established in Laos. Thousands of families were forced to seek refuge in the neighboring country of Thailand to escape political persecution for supporting the CIA. In the next decade, roughly 60,000 were sponsored to western countries such as the United States, France, and Canada. Resettlement From 1976 to 1979, the first wave of Mien families began to arrive in the United States. Like many refugee immigrants before them, the Iu Mien have faced numerous obstacles in resettlement. A majority of third generation Iu-Mien are fluent in English but cannot converse in Mien. Many Iu Mien have abandoned the Taoist religion and converted to Christianity. Gender and power relations are in flux, as authority is no longer centered around the oldest male in the family. Many changes have taken place during the last 25 years. It has been argued that "traditional" Iu Mien culture will disappear in a matter of decades and ethnic identity will slowly diminish through generations. Population Approximately 50,000 Iu Mien settled along the western coast of the U.S. in states of California, Oregon and Washington. Approximately 10,000 or less have settled in other parts of the country, in states of Alabama, Alaska, Texas, Tennessee, Michigan, Illinois, North Carolina and other states. This ethnicity group has yet to be included in the United States Census and consequently, current population numbers have been skewed anywhere from 40,000 to 50,000. Since resettlement in America, historical contacts have been and continue to be made, between Mien Americans and Mien in China and Vietnam. Many Mien American relatives still remain in the countries of Laos and Thailand. As a people from ancient, isolated farming societies, first Iu Mien American generations struggled through obstacles of language, acculturation and more as they resettled in bustling, modern cities. As younger generations Americanize, they face generational gaps, loss of language, loss of