May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AA and NHPI) and the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) is proud to join our country in celebrating the history, achievements and experiences of Asian and Pacific Americans.

In Minnesota, there are approximately 2,400 Veterans who identify as Asian. The state is home to one of the largest communities of Hmong people in the United States. Hmong community members were among several groups—including Cambodian, Laotian and Vietnamese—who fought in the Special Guerrilla Units that supported American troops in the Secret War in Laos. It is important to recognize and honor these groups and their families who were greatly affected by the Secret War.

As shared in Gov. Walz’s proclamation for Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, “We honor the pivotal role AA and NHPI Minnesotans have played in our past, including ​economic and cultural contributions from generations of immigrants and refugees, and we recommit to ensuring opportunities exist for the generations of AA and NHPI Minnesotans to come. We honor AA and NHPI Minnesotans Heritage Month to ensure that the cultures, histories, and stories of this community are seen, heard, and celebrated.”

Veteran Profiles

• Eric K. Shinseki- Four Star General, Army, Chief of Staff: Eric K. Shinseki was the first Asian American to achieve the rank of four-star general. He commanded North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) peacekeeping forces in Bosnia-Herzegovina (1997–98), served as army chief of staff (1999–2003), and was secretary of Veterans Affairs (2009–14) in the administration of Pres. Barack Obama. Read article.
• Hazel Ying Lee- Pilot, WASP, Air Force: Hazel Ying Lee was born and educated in Oregon, was the first Chinese American woman to fly for the U.S. military, one of two Chinese Americans in the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs)—the other was Margaret “Maggie” Gee from California—and one of thirty-eight WASPs who died in service. Known for her skill and courage, her peers considered her to be an excellent pilot. Read Article.

Want to know more about Asian American history in the US Military?

• U.S. Army | U.S. Coast Guard | U.S. Marines | U.S. Navy | National Guard | MN National Guard
• Federal USVA Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

To get connected to Veteran, community and arts/cultural resources, check out these sites:

• Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Celebration in Mankato: Learn about the history of the celebration and the contributions of Asian American Pacific Islanders to US history. We will be highlighting Filipino culture for this event.
• Asian Women United of Minnesota (AWUM): AWUM is a safe place for anyone dealing with domestic violence.
• BraveSpace: BraveSpace is a compilation of original songs, sounds, and meditations created by Asian American women and non-binary artists and musicians.
• Asian Minnesota Alliance for Justice: The Coalition of Asian American Leaders (CAAL) envisions a just and joyful future where all Minnesotans, regardless of background, have the power to shape decisions that affect us and live with dignity in thriving and caring communities.
• Asian Pacific American Center - Smithsonian
• USVA National Veteran Health Equity Report_Asian and Pacific Islander Veterans