Lao Issara
Sing Rattanasamay was born in Vientiane, the French Protectorate of Laos, in 1912, and was educated there. He served originally as a non-commissioned officer in the colonial "Garde Indigene" (Indigenous Guard) police force in the French Protectorate of Laos prior to World War II. In October 1945, Sing joined the "Lao Issara" independence movement; he was given command of the civil guard in Vientiane. He was subsequently appointed as the original Lao Issara defense minister by Prince Phetsarath. However, Prince Souphanouvong claimed the post of commander-in-chief of the "Lao Issara" Army for the Liberation and Defense of Laos, which led to conflict with Sing. In November 1945, Sing was wounded in fighting on the Plain of Jars and sidelined to convalesce. Dissension within the Lao Issara led to Sing's dismissal in November 1948. After the "Lao Issara" disbanded and an amnesty declared for its participants in October 1949, Sing returned to Laos and joined the French-run "Armée Nationale Laotienne" (Laotian National Army) to restart his military career. In spring 1953, Captain Sing was the first Laotian appointed to battalion command. After the French cadres rotated home, Major Sing was promoted to command of Military Region 3 in early 1955.