Section I - Introduction to the controversy
The controversy surrounding the Lao/Hmong, then the Hmong only and later the Hmong/Lao monument extends as far back as 2005 when the idea was first conceived. At that time there were 5 separate Hmong veteran organizations and at least three Lowland Lao Veterans organizations. Several years of meeting between the representatives of the groups met and discussed the monument. The Department of Veteran Affairs also played a role the conversations. It was not until 2011 that language was crafted and intruded into the State legislate that any chance of a monument would be possible. To our knowledge no United States Veterans Groups were consulted in the initial planning. No Vietnamese Veterans groups, No Cambodian Veterans group were consulted or included in the planning.
It is worth noting that many other bills in the United State Congress and other State Houses around the United States championed Hmong specific legislation providing recognition and benefits which could not find any significant support. A lobbyist by the name Philip Smith was successful in getting a plaque installed in Arlington Cemetery honoring the service of the Hmong. Arlington is not a part of the United States Veteran Affairs Cemetery Administration therefore legislation was not needed to achieve this. At this same time a former U.S. Airforce B52 Bomber Pilot organized a group of former Veteran Allies including the Hmong, Lao and Cambodians. He raised money by selling rank to the members of his organization which he copied from Gen. Vang Pao. Unfortunately that was against U.S. law which brought significant scrutiny on him and Gen. Vang Pao's fund raising practices. A FBI investigation resulted and the practice stopped. This non profit veterans organization is known as the USNDC or United States National Defence Corps. More about this an his effort to gain burial rights in National Cemeteries can be found on this website by visiting : https://www.cavwv.org/hmong-burial-controversy.html
The USNDC effort in gaining burial rights in U.S.National cemeteries focussed on Hmong exclusively which caused a rift in that organization and number of its members to left and joined or started their own organizations.
Returning to the Minnesota Hmong Monument. In the 2011 legislative session a bill was introduced which mimicked the USNDC's National Burial Legislation for the Hmong. See examples of these bills and resolutions below. Both the Federal legislation and State legislation had one glaring problem. There was no documents known that positively identify who was a Hmong veteran. It was not until 2018 that issue was resolved sort of. The use of the Hmong Veteran Naturalization Act of 2000 provided a list of Hmong Veteran but it only identified those who emigrated between the years 2000 and 2006. It omitted all others. This law is the basis of the recently introduced Veteran redefined bill authored by Sen. Fong Hawj.
When in 2012, he HF2969 and SF2594 bills were introduced in the Minnesota legislature which omitting the Lao from the monument statue effort. This created a rift of mistrust within the Veterans Communities which remnants can be identified today. Additionally when the legislation became known to other Veterans Organizations they too wanted monuments. Governor Dayton and Sen. Fong Hawj led these Veterans to believe that they would be included in the monument legislation but no amended language had ever been added. In 2014 legislation was introduced which included the Lao and with a Democrat controlled House, Senate and Governor that bill was passed establishing the Hmong / Lao memorial statue. Although the Lao had been included they were regulated to a minor mention on the Monument and subsequent dedication events and unveiling.
It is worth noting that many other bills in the United State Congress and other State Houses around the United States championed Hmong specific legislation providing recognition and benefits which could not find any significant support. A lobbyist by the name Philip Smith was successful in getting a plaque installed in Arlington Cemetery honoring the service of the Hmong. Arlington is not a part of the United States Veteran Affairs Cemetery Administration therefore legislation was not needed to achieve this. At this same time a former U.S. Airforce B52 Bomber Pilot organized a group of former Veteran Allies including the Hmong, Lao and Cambodians. He raised money by selling rank to the members of his organization which he copied from Gen. Vang Pao. Unfortunately that was against U.S. law which brought significant scrutiny on him and Gen. Vang Pao's fund raising practices. A FBI investigation resulted and the practice stopped. This non profit veterans organization is known as the USNDC or United States National Defence Corps. More about this an his effort to gain burial rights in National Cemeteries can be found on this website by visiting : https://www.cavwv.org/hmong-burial-controversy.html
The USNDC effort in gaining burial rights in U.S.National cemeteries focussed on Hmong exclusively which caused a rift in that organization and number of its members to left and joined or started their own organizations.
Returning to the Minnesota Hmong Monument. In the 2011 legislative session a bill was introduced which mimicked the USNDC's National Burial Legislation for the Hmong. See examples of these bills and resolutions below. Both the Federal legislation and State legislation had one glaring problem. There was no documents known that positively identify who was a Hmong veteran. It was not until 2018 that issue was resolved sort of. The use of the Hmong Veteran Naturalization Act of 2000 provided a list of Hmong Veteran but it only identified those who emigrated between the years 2000 and 2006. It omitted all others. This law is the basis of the recently introduced Veteran redefined bill authored by Sen. Fong Hawj.
When in 2012, he HF2969 and SF2594 bills were introduced in the Minnesota legislature which omitting the Lao from the monument statue effort. This created a rift of mistrust within the Veterans Communities which remnants can be identified today. Additionally when the legislation became known to other Veterans Organizations they too wanted monuments. Governor Dayton and Sen. Fong Hawj led these Veterans to believe that they would be included in the monument legislation but no amended language had ever been added. In 2014 legislation was introduced which included the Lao and with a Democrat controlled House, Senate and Governor that bill was passed establishing the Hmong / Lao memorial statue. Although the Lao had been included they were regulated to a minor mention on the Monument and subsequent dedication events and unveiling.
Section II - Legislation
Part A
2012- 2013
Resolution urging the President and Congress to amend federal law to expand eligibility for burial in state veterans cemeteries developed with federal funding to include allied Hmong-American and Lao-American veterans of America's Secret War in Laos
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Part B
2011-2012
State veterans cemetery eligibility expansion for deceased allied Hmong-American or Lao-American veterans
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House File 2261
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Senate File 2439 / same text as House text
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Part C
2011-2012
Hmong veterans commemorative statue bond issue and appropriation
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House File 2969
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Senate File 2594
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Part D
2013-2014
Minnesota Hmong-Lao veterans commemorative memorial funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
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House File 730 Hmong / Lao Memorial
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Senate File 651 - Hmong / Lao Memorial
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Part E
2015-2016
South Vietnamese veterans memorial design and construction funding provided, and money appropriated
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House File 1177 - Vietnam War Memorial
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Senate File 756 - Vietnam War Memorial
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The Vietnam War Memorial did not get a hearing in 2015 and died that year.
Frustrated with the process and inability to get a hearings for this effort and others died and the attempt ended.
Frustrated with the process and inability to get a hearings for this effort and others died and the attempt ended.
Section III - Conclution
Many United States Military Veterans of the Vietnam War and Foriegn Allies Veteran Communities of the Vietnam and Secret War have come to believe with documented citatons that the Hmong have gotten special treatment at the expense of others. This is an enduring and ever present belief that is supported by the facts displayed here. This believe has added to the mistrust and ethnic divisions between our Ethnic Allies that will be hard to resolve. These incidents have also added to the mistrust of the policy makers who we expect will represent us all without favor or treatment.