Section I - Introduction to the controversy
The controversy surrounding the Hmong/Lao, then the Hmong only and later the Lao/Hmong 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 meetings between the representatives of the groups met and discussed the monument. The Department of Veteran Affairs also played a role in these conversations. It was not until 2011 that language was crafted and introduced into the State Legislature. Other foriegn national and United States veteran organizatios were not consulted, concidered or included in the effort. When other veteran groups were made aware of the effort they were led to believe that they would be included.
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 from the Veterans Administration 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 member of the U.S. Airforce helped organized a group of former Veteran Allies including the Hmong, Lao and Cambodians called the United States National Defence Corps. He raised money by selling rank to the members of his organization which he copied from Gen. Vang Pao. Other veteran organizations did the same. Unfortunately that was in violatin of 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.
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 and or https://www.cavwv.org/baird---hillmer.html.
The effort in gaining burial rights in U.S.National cemeteries focussed on Hmong exclusively which caused a rift in several organizations and caused a number of its members to leave, joined other odrganizations or start their own..
After several years of discussion legislation was introduced in the 2011 Minnesota Legislature which was similar to the USNDC's National Burial Legislation for the Hmong. (See examples of these bills Part A & B below). Both the Federal and State legislation had one glaring problem. There was no documents known that positively identify who was a Hmong veteran. It was not until The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 was passed that used the Hmong Veterans Naturalization Act of 2000 as the way to identify veterans. Unfortunatley it did not. The use of the Hmong Veteran Naturalization Act of 2000 provided a list of Hmong Veterans for immigration purposed only and identified those who emigrated between the years 2000 and 2006. It omitting all others. This law is the basis of the recently introduced MInnesota legislation "Veteran, redefined" authored by Sen. Fong Hawj.
Returning to the Monument. As early as 2005 efforts were underwy to install a monument to those veterans who fought in the Secret War in Laos. Lao and Hmong veterans spearheaded the effort. After years of meetings on language legislation was introduced in the 2012 Minnesota legislature, HF2969 and SF2594 which omitted the Lao from the monument statue effort. That effort failed. Among other reasons there was not enough support by the Minnesota Veterans community due to the exclusion of other Allies we have been told. It was long held and understood that without U.S. Veteran support the effort would not succeed. A rift of mistrust within the Lao and Hmong Veterans Communities emerged. 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 was ever added.. In 2013-2014 legislative session legislation was introduced which included the Lao and with one Political Party controlling the House, Senate and the Governorship that bill was passed establishing the Hmong Veterans Memorial Statue ( officially titled "The Lao-Hmong Memorial" or commonly known as the "Hmong Special Guerrila Units Memorial" ). Although the Lao had been included they were regulated to a minor mention during the Monument dedication and unveiling as told by the Lao Veterans.
Having been omitted form the Hmong Memorial effort, In the 2015-2016 legislative session a bill was introduced providing for a Vietnamese War Memorial Staue wchich included all other ethnic veterans. That effort failed and a second attempt was not made.
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 from the Veterans Administration 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 member of the U.S. Airforce helped organized a group of former Veteran Allies including the Hmong, Lao and Cambodians called the United States National Defence Corps. He raised money by selling rank to the members of his organization which he copied from Gen. Vang Pao. Other veteran organizations did the same. Unfortunately that was in violatin of 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.
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 and or https://www.cavwv.org/baird---hillmer.html.
The effort in gaining burial rights in U.S.National cemeteries focussed on Hmong exclusively which caused a rift in several organizations and caused a number of its members to leave, joined other odrganizations or start their own..
After several years of discussion legislation was introduced in the 2011 Minnesota Legislature which was similar to the USNDC's National Burial Legislation for the Hmong. (See examples of these bills Part A & B below). Both the Federal and State legislation had one glaring problem. There was no documents known that positively identify who was a Hmong veteran. It was not until The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 was passed that used the Hmong Veterans Naturalization Act of 2000 as the way to identify veterans. Unfortunatley it did not. The use of the Hmong Veteran Naturalization Act of 2000 provided a list of Hmong Veterans for immigration purposed only and identified those who emigrated between the years 2000 and 2006. It omitting all others. This law is the basis of the recently introduced MInnesota legislation "Veteran, redefined" authored by Sen. Fong Hawj.
Returning to the Monument. As early as 2005 efforts were underwy to install a monument to those veterans who fought in the Secret War in Laos. Lao and Hmong veterans spearheaded the effort. After years of meetings on language legislation was introduced in the 2012 Minnesota legislature, HF2969 and SF2594 which omitted the Lao from the monument statue effort. That effort failed. Among other reasons there was not enough support by the Minnesota Veterans community due to the exclusion of other Allies we have been told. It was long held and understood that without U.S. Veteran support the effort would not succeed. A rift of mistrust within the Lao and Hmong Veterans Communities emerged. 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 was ever added.. In 2013-2014 legislative session legislation was introduced which included the Lao and with one Political Party controlling the House, Senate and the Governorship that bill was passed establishing the Hmong Veterans Memorial Statue ( officially titled "The Lao-Hmong Memorial" or commonly known as the "Hmong Special Guerrila Units Memorial" ). Although the Lao had been included they were regulated to a minor mention during the Monument dedication and unveiling as told by the Lao Veterans.
Having been omitted form the Hmong Memorial effort, In the 2015-2016 legislative session a bill was introduced providing for a Vietnamese War Memorial Staue wchich included all other ethnic veterans. That effort failed and a second attempt was not made.
For more historical background visit
Veterans from Laos: War, Remembrance, Ritual, Rank, Racism, and the Making of Hmong and Lao America
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 the legislation died and the attempt ended.
Frustrated with the process and inability to get a hearings for this effort the legislation 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 and other entries and accounts on this website. 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.