Burma refugees want to 'give back'

Not only are Minneota's new police department interns 21-year-old twin brothers, but nearly all of their interests are similar, too.
The refugees from Burma, who are native Karen, came to the United States when they were 11 years old and spent one year in the Twin Cities before moving to Marshall.
"We didn't speak English when we first started school in Marshall in fourth grade," said Hsa Law Eh, who goes by Hsa (Sah), while his twin brother Hsa Khee Lar goes by Hsa Khee (Sah-KEE).
The brothers caught on quickly in school. By the time they graduated from Marshall High School, they not could speak fluent English and both earned A's and B's in school.
"It was hard to learn English," said Hsa Khee with a laugh.
"The grammar and different meanings for the same word were hard," said Hsa, who is two minutes older than Hsa Khee.
Both played soccer and wrestled for Marshall, excelling at both sports. Both were on the varsity soccer team for four years and both wrestled on the varsity for five years.
Hsa qualified for the state individual wrestling tournament in 9th, 10th and 11th grades, but did not place. Hsa Khee advanced to the state tournament his sophomore and senior years and placed sixth both times. They each won over 100 career matches.
After graduating from high school, the siblings joined the National Guards and are currently EF4's stationed at Alpha 151 in Marshall. Hsa was sent to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri for basic training; while Hsa Khee was sent to Fort Sill, Oklahoma. After spending 10 weeks at basic training, Hsa was transferred to Fort Sill and rejoined his brother for eight more weeks of AIT (Advanced Individual Training).
Those 10 weeks during basic training is the only time in their life that they have been apart for any length of time.
"We do pretty much everything together," Hsa Khee said. "We like the same things."
After the brothers returned from Oklahoma, they enrolled in the two-year Law Enforcement program at Alexandria (MN) Technical and Community College. They just completed one year there and are now interning with Minneota Police Chief Bill Bolt, starting here on May 14 and will continue until Aug. 5.
"They were recommended by my intern last year," said Chief Bolt, referring to Connor Roth, who was on the wrestling team with the brothers at Marshall High School.
The twins had good reason for wanting to join the National Guards.
"We joined the Guards and we want to be police officers because we want to give back to the country that gave us something," said Hsa. "We were allowed to come here where life is so much better."
"We had already decided before we went to basics that we want to go into law enforcement," said Hsa Khee. "We want to further our education."
The National Guard deployed the brothers to the Twin Cities for two weeks during the Derek Chauvin trial to stand guard in case of riots when the verdict was reached.
"We weren't in the same squad," said Hsa Khee. "But we were both standing guard at the St. Paul Police station. And we were roommates in a hotel."Fleeing Burma
When the brothers, who are both citizens of the United States now, were around three years old, their mother, Hta Nor Nor, and father, Kyaw Khee, were tired of living in fear during the 73-year-old civil war between Karen National Union and Burmese, and decided to flee.
"When the fighting gets close, people just run," said Hsa Khee. "Some run up into the mountains for protection and others run to the refugee camp."
Their family fled their country to the Nu Po refugee camp near the Thailand border within the Karen state in Burma. The camp of approximately 14,000 was set up in 1997 to accommodate Karen refugees fleeing the fighting against the much larger Burmese troops.
"Once you are in the refugee camp, you must stay there for at least two years to get passports and things to be able go somewhere else," said Hsa. "We were there eight years before we left. A friend we knew told us we should go to the States, so we did."
They initially were in the Twin Cities area before the boys' father landed a job with Turkey Valley in Marshall. Their mother also worked there a short while before getting a job at Schwan's, where she still works. Their father now works for JBF Manufacturing in Pipestone and rides to work each day with a friend from Marshall who also works there. Neither of the parents speak English.
Hsa and Hsa Khee have one younger brother, 13, who was born in the refugee camp, and two older sisters, 23 and 26. They all live together in Marshall.

Minneota Interns
Chief Bolt noted he has been impressed with the brothers' friendly demeanor and how eager they are to learn.
Early in their internship. Chief Bolt took them around town to introduce them to community members, including the school, Minneota Assisted Living building, the library and more.
They helped clean storm sewer drains and gutters, as well as helping city workers pull branches following the recent storm that hit Minneota.
Hsa will intern on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings Hsa Khee will intern Wednesday afternoon, Thursday and Friday.
"I was reluctant to take on two interns, but being twins going to school together to become officers I felt I could not say yes to one and no to the other," said Chief Bolt.
Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council is funding the intern program so there is not cost to the City of Minneota.
"Both basically work for PIC and are assigned to me," said Chief Bolt. "I provide interns with real-world exposure to police work and allow them to ask questions and get honest answers. I have had interns for several years and they have all gone on to do well in policing.”
"I feel I have a responsibility to help those interested in policing lay down a good foundation that they can build upon. I want each of my interns to become better than me so that one day they may pass on what they have learned to future interns."