Congressional plan would allow Hmong soldiers to be buried in national cemeteries

Several Wisconsin Congress members are getting behind a proposal to allow Hmong veterans to be buried in national cemeteries.

Many Hmong soldiers who ran covert operations to help U.S. troops during the Vietnam conflict moved to the U.S. after the war.

Several Wisconsin Congress members say the time is right to recognize these veterans for their service.

Western Wisconsin Congressman Ron Kind is one of the co-sponsors of the bill that would allow Hmong vets to be buried in national cemeteries alongside fellow U.S. soldiers.

“They fought beside our soldiers, they cleared landing pads for our planes, gathered intelligence. They did everything they could to rescue downed American pilots.”

Thai Vue of La Crosse served in the Vietnam War. He says the nearly 200 war vets he knows would like some sort of recognition for their service.

“That hasn’t happened to the degree we’d like to see.”

Wisconsin Democratic Congress members Tammy Baldwin, Steve Kagen, and Republican Tom Petri are also co-sponsoring the bill.

Wisconsin has the third largest population of Hmong in the U.S. An estimated 7,000 Hmong who live in the U.S. are believed to have served in the Vietnam War.

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