The Vietnam War ended more than 50 years ago. But before the fall of Saigon in 1975, the United States recruited tens of thousands of Southeast Asians to fight in Special Guerrilla Units (SGU) in what became known as the Secret War in Laos. The war’s end displaced hundreds of thousands—and many who served in the SGUs found their way to Minnesota.

Fast forward to 2025, when the Minnesota Legislature passed the Veterans and Military Affairs Omnibus bill. Sections of the new law established the definition of a Veteran of the Secret War in Laos and made these Veterans eligible for specific State Veterans benefits.

In late 2025, the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) took the lead on assembling an SGU Advisory Task Force, as directed by the Minnesota Legislature.

Over the course of eight meetings, the Task Force, chaired by State Senator Susan Pha and Vice Chair MDVA Deputy Commissioner Ben Johnson, worked to develop recommended eligibility criteria and verification protocols informed by briefings from department staff, outside subject-matter experts, Veterans of the Secret War in Laos, and representatives from the National Cemetery Administration.

MDVA will soon send the Legislature a report with recommended technical changes relating to the enabling Session Law, the Advisory Task Force’s recommendations, detailed meeting summaries, and other supporting materials.

These recommendations are not final. Changes must be enacted through the Legislative process and signed by the Governor. Once enacted, Veterans of the Secret War in Laos who meet the established criteria will be eligible to access the identified benefits and privileges.

MDVA’s ongoing mission is to serve Minnesota Veterans and their families by connecting them with the federal and state benefits they have earned. The department stands ready to work with the Legislature during the 2026 Legislative Session to provide additional information on the activities and recommendations of the Task Force, to support the development and enactment of the legislation. To see the Task Force’s work over the last several months, visit our /mdva/news/sgu/index.jspVeterans of the Secret War in Laos web page.