WE ARE …
The Special Guerrilla Units (SGU) Veterans and Families of USA was established in 2004 in Minnesota by Hmong veterans of the Secret War as a non-profit organization. The organization’s mission is to service and provide social and emotional supports to the veterans, widows, and their families. Also, SGU continues to advocate state and federal political leaders to pass legislation to gain access to VA benefits for our veterans.
From 1961 to 1975, our Hmong SGU veterans played a crucial role in the U.S. war efforts in Laos during the Vietnam War era. Our veterans were employed by the CIA as a secret army known as the SGU to fulfill the U.S. military objectives inside Laos: approximately 35,000 SGU soldiers died in assisting the U.S.
May 2026, the MN Legislatures passed a bill to grant limited benefits to veterans of the CIA-backed Secret War
Here are pictures of SGU veterans with MN senate lawmakers after the vote from the Senate Floor. April 20, 2026 / Senate Media.
Here are pictures of SGU veterans with MN senate lawmakers after the vote from the House Floor. May 4, 2026 / Rep. Vang Collection.
ANNOUNCEMENT
Join us to honor those who served during the U.S. Secret War in Laos.
Hmong & Lao Veterans Memorial Ceremony
Date & Time: Thursday, May 14, 2026 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Location. MN State Capitol Grounds
Minn. State Senator Foung Hawj on Hmong SGU 50th Anniversary: From Laos Refugees to MN Veterans
Minnesota Senate Media Services
In 2023, SGU received a state grant to document 50 Hmong SGU veterans and their wives/widows’ stories. Programming for this project will be released in Summer of 2025 as a part of the commemoration for the Hmong Minnesotans’ 50th Anniversary in America (since migrating to the US in 1975). More information about our SGU Veterans’ Oral History Project is available here.
“How Hmong soldiers in Minnesota are fighting to get veterans benefits”
WCCO, April 8, 2025
