Letter to Governor Timothy Walz.

TO: Governor Tim Walz and Members of the Minnesota Legislature
FROM: Coalition of Allied Afghan & Vietnam War Veterans, 20th Special Forces Association, and Southeast Asian Veterans Social Media Group of Minnesota

RE: Inclusive Recognition for All Southeast Asian War Veterans

We urge immediate amendments to SF1959 to explicitly recognize all ethnic groups who served alongside U.S. forces in Southeast Asia. The current language, referencing only Hmong veterans, falls short of constitutional equal protection principles and fails to acknowledge the diverse allies who risked their lives in covert operations. With our coalition's unique verification capabilities, Minnesota has a historic opportunity to lead the nation in properly recognizing these overlooked veterans.

A Framework for Constitutional and Inclusive Recognition

Our coalition brings unprecedented verification capabilities to address documentation challenges:

• CAVWV's President: A CIA retiree with direct experience working with Lao irregulars
• 20th Special Forces Association: Members with firsthand knowledge of MACV operations
• Network of retired intelligence officers: Expertise spanning Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos

This verification network can authenticate service when official documentation is unavailable, creating a reliable "chain of honorable reference" system that honors the service of all ethnic groups.

Constitutional Imperative for Inclusive Recognition

The 14th Amendment's promise of equal protection demands legislation that:

1. Recognizes all allies equally: Hmong, Lao, Lao Theung, Montagnards, Vietnamese irregulars, and others who served in similar capacities
2. Provides equal verification pathways: Acknowledging the documentation challenges unique to covert operations
3. Ensures due process: Through clear standards and appeals procedures

The current bill's reference to the Hmong Veterans' Naturalization Act without explicitly including other ethnic groups creates a constitutional vulnerability that can be readily addressed through inclusive language.

Specific Recommendations

We respectfully request that the legislation be amended to:

1. Explicitly name all ethnic groups who supported U.S. operations in Southeast Asia
2. Formalize our coalition's role in the verification process
3. Establish clear verification standards that accommodate the realities of covert operations
4. Create a multi-source verification system with state oversight
5. Include an appeals process for denied claims

Minnesota's Leadership Opportunity

Governor Walz, as a veteran yourself, you understand the sacred obligation to recognize service and sacrifice. Minnesota now has the opportunity to become the first state to properly acknowledge these long-overlooked allies who served America during its hour of need.

By amending this legislation to embrace all who served, regardless of ethnicity, Minnesota will not only fulfill its constitutional obligations but will honor the inclusive ideals that define our nation's highest aspirations.

Respectfully submitted,

Thomas Leo Briggs | President
CAVWV – Coalition of Allied Afghan and Vietnam War Veterans

Ron Lachelts | President
United States Army Special Forces Association, Chapter 20

Trudell Guerue | President
173rd Airborne Brigade Association of Minnesota

Bana Soumentho | Chair
SEAA – Southeast Asian Alliance

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See CAVWV Analysis SF 159

SF 1959

Sec. 6. [197.448] VETERAN OF THE SECRET WAR IN LAOS.

Subdivision 1. Definition.

As used in this section, the term "veteran of the Secret War in Laos" means a person who resides in this state and who:

1. was naturalized as provided in section 2(1) of the federal Hmong Veterans’ Naturalization Act of 2000, Public Law 106-207, or received a Medal of Honor, Purple Heart, or other military award for service in support of the armed forces of the United States in Laos;

NOTE-1: Foreign nationals who are not members of the U.S. armed forces are generally not eligible for the Medal of Honor or Purple Heart as these decorations are specifically designated for U.S. military personnel.

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government and is presented to members of the U.S. armed forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty." By statute (10 U.S.C. §7271), it is limited to members of the U.S. armed forces.

Similarly, the Purple Heart is awarded specifically to members of the U.S. armed forces who are wounded or killed in action against an enemy of the United States.

Foreign nationals who served with irregular forces, special guerrilla units, or as allies in operations like those in Laos would not typically qualify for these U.S. military decorations. However, they may receive:

• Foreign decorations from their own governments
• CIA or other agency-specific recognition
• Certificates of appreciation or acknowledgments from the U.S. government
• State-level recognition (like what Minnesota is considering)

This is why alternative verification methods are particularly important for state-level recognition.

2. is a person who the commissioner of Veterans Affairs determines served honorably with a special guerrilla unit or with irregular forces that operated from a base in Laos in support of the armed forces of the United States at any time during the period beginning February 28, 1961, and ending May 14, 1975, and is a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States.

NOTE-2: The covert military operations involving foreign nationals in Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia during the Vietnam Era (1961–1975) were conducted under the direction of the CIA or MACV. The commissioner of Veteran Affairs is not able to determine the service of such foreign nationals unless full cooperation is provided by the Director, CIA, and Secretary of Defense. However, these organizations did not make or retain records of individual service by foreign nationals.

NOTE-3: The final sentence in Subdivision 1, Clause (2) negates the need to reference the Hmong Veterans’ Naturalization Act in Clause (1), since it already defines eligibility by honorable service with guerrilla units or irregular forces based in Laos from February 28, 1961, to May 14, 1975.

Subdivision 2. Eligibility for Benefits and Privileges.

(a) A veteran of the Secret War in Laos, as defined in subdivision 1, clause (1), is entitled to the benefits and privileges listed in paragraph (c) the day following the effective date of this act.

(b) A veteran of the Secret War in Laos, as defined in subdivision 1, clause (2), is entitled to the benefits and privileges listed in paragraph (c) after the commissioner verifies the person's veteran status. By March 30, 2026, the commissioner must:

1. Adopt criteria and a protocol to determine eligibility under subdivision 1, clause (2), based upon the recommendations of the Veterans of Secret Guerrilla Units and Irregular Forces in Laos Advisory Task Force; and
2. Begin accepting applications for verification.

(c) The following statutory benefits and privileges available to a veteran, as defined in section 197.447, are also available to a veteran of the Secret War in Laos:

1. Section 171.07, subdivision 15 (veteran designation on drivers' licenses and state identification cards);
2. Section 197.23 (purchase of grave markers);
3. Section 197.231 (honor guards);
4. Section 197.236 (state veterans cemeteries);
5. Section 197.455 (veterans preference);
6. Section 197.4551 (permissive preference for veterans in private employment);
7. Section 197.55 (quarters for meetings of veterans organizations);
8. Section 197.56 (use of quarters);
9. Section 197.63 (vital records, certified copies);
10. Section 197.65 (renewal of professional license, motor vehicle registration, and driver's license);
11. Section 197.987 (honor and remember flag).

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