Family & Home

Hmong veteran support bill proposed in Wisconsin

Published

5 years ago

October 15, 2019

The Wisconsin legislature could soon vote to allow Hmong and Lao veterans of the Vietnam War to qualify for state vets’ benefits.

Some local veterans and state leaders say the eligibility is overdue.

Wisconsin veterans affairs secretary Mary Kolar thanked the Hmong vets for their persistence in seeking those benefits.

“I know that there’s bipartisan support in the legislature,” Kolar said. “My committee chair for the committee that I report to in the Senate, one of his priorities is recognition of the Hmong.”

The bill is intended to cover Asian vets now living in Wisconsin, who fought in support of the U.S. from 1961 to 1975.

In the late 70s and early 80s, Hmong and Lao soldiers, who fought for the American side in Vietnam, moved to the U.S. in large numbers.

State Sen. Jennifer Shilling is introducing the bill to expand the definition of “veteran” in Wisconsin to include the Hmong and Lao troops who moved to the state after the Vietnam War.

Brad Williams

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.