ST. PAUL — When the United States fought the Vietnam War, the government covertly recruited Hmong and Laotian men to assist with its efforts in Laos.
For years, the men who fought on behalf of the U.S. and their families who ended up in Minnesota and other states have asked and waited for their service to be recognized.
The Minnesota Senate took a big step toward doing that on April 22 when it passed a bill to grant benefits to Special Guerrilla Units or SGU veterans. The bill passed by a vote of 58-8.
The bill adds provisions for secret war soldiers and National Guard members. The benefits include up to $50 for an honor guard at funerals, covering the cost of burials in veterans cemeteries and adding veteran designations on driver’s licenses.
Jon Kelly, the government affairs director of the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, said the most significant benefits in the bill are those that revolve around burials.
“While this is creating a set of benefits for these SGU veterans, it is not opening up these veterans to all Minnesota's veterans benefits,” Kelly said.
The secret war began in 1961, and the Central Intelligence Agency sought out around 50,000 Hmong and Lao men to be proxy soldiers for the U.S. Seventy percent of those men died fighting and helping downed American pilots, according to SGU Veterans and Families of USA, Inc.
Sen. Foung Hawj, DFL-St. Paul, praised the men during the Senate debate.
“Depending on how you look at it, but from my angle, it’s a noble cause,” Hawj said. “It’s a heroic cause. It’s a saving-life story.”
During the 2025 legislative session, the state created a task force to shape the criteria for how to honor the SGU veterans. The task force recommendations are reflected in the bill.
Sen. Susan Pha, DFL Brooklyn Park, the daughter of an SGU soldier, urged members to vote for the bill.
“When American pilots were shot down from the sky, it was these men who ran towards danger, who risked their lives,” Pha said. “And many of them lost their lives to bring our American soldiers home.”
Pha said that more than 50 SGU veterans came to every Senate committee meeting where the bill was discussed.
Under the legislation, veterans need to apply through the federal government to be eligible for burial benefits. Veterans receive a certificate stating they are a certified SGU veteran if their application is approved and that they will have access to all of the other provisions in the bill.
Sen. Aric Putnam, DFL-St. Cloud, advocated for the bill during the Senate floor session on April 22.
“When we pass this bill, members, we will be keeping a promise that has been long, too long, deferred,” Putnam said. “So many have chosen to put their lives in danger and keep us safe. It is well past time for us to choose to honor their decision and the service that has changed their lives.”
After passing the bill, the Senate recessed to stand and honor the veterans and their families watching in the gallery.
Rep. Ethan Cha, DFL-Woodbury, author of the House version of the bill, honored SGU veterans at a committee meeting and emphasized how the bill will help veterans and their families.
“As you see, this bill is not only important to myself, but the Hmong community. And every single Hmong person in the state of Minnesota is here because of the Secret War of Laos,” Cha said.
Report for Minnesota is a project of the University of Minnesota’s Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication to support local news across the state.
