Hmong-led Secret Guerilla Unit Veterans Seek VA Healthcare Benefits After Vietnam War

Thousands of Hmong soldiers who fought alongside the U.S. military in Vietnam are now fighting for recognition and benefits.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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More than 50 years after the end of the Vietnam War, the few thousand remaining members of the Secret Guerilla Unit (SGU) - a force of about 50,000 Hmong soldiers who supported and defended U.S. interests in Southeast Asia - are now seeking veterans' healthcare benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. While they are allowed to be buried in national cemeteries, the SGU veterans say full recognition and benefits remain elusive, as the VA does not currently define them as 'veterans' since the group was directly operated by the CIA rather than the U.S. armed forces.

Why it matters

The SGU played a crucial role in supporting U.S. military operations during the Vietnam War, tracking the North Vietnamese Army, rescuing downed pilots, and protecting radar installations. Of the nearly 50,000 SGU fighters who served, an estimated 35,000 were killed in combat. The surviving veterans and their families were granted refugee status and brought to the U.S., but they now feel their service and sacrifice has not been fully recognized.

The details

SGU veterans like Chong Yang Pao, who was recruited at age 15 to serve as a radio operator, and Wa Yang, who helped deliver supplies and protect radio towers, are now pushing for the VA to grant them healthcare benefits. While a bill signed by President Trump and an amendment signed by President Biden allow SGU veterans to be honored and buried at national cemeteries, the veterans say more needs to be done to provide them with the same benefits as other U.S. military veterans.

  • The Vietnam War ended more than 50 years ago.
  • In December 2026, Tulare County Supervisors passed a resolution supporting Secret Guerilla Unit fighters.

The players

Cher Vang

President of SGU Veterans and Families of California.

Chong Yang Pao

A former SGU radio operator who was recruited at age 15.

Wa Yang

A former SGU soldier who helped deliver supplies, protect radio towers, and worked as his father's secretary.

Larry Micari

Tulare County Supervisor who serves on the county's Veterans Advisory Committee.

George Washington Law Review

A publication that states members of the Hmong Paramilitary Force, including the SGU, do not meet the VA's current definition of 'Veteran'.

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What they’re saying

“We see the United States at that time as a brother.”

— Cher Vang, President of SGU Veterans and Families of California (kmph.com)

“Every time I look at pictures, it makes me want to cry.”

— Chong Yang Pao (kmph.com)

“We realized the danger of it, and the risk.”

— Wa Yang (kmph.com)

“I don't know the difference. It's united states. U.S. government. I didn't know.”

— Chong Yang Pao (kmph.com)

“Many of them are disappointed. They're hopeless.”

— Cher Vang, President of SGU Veterans and Families of California (kmph.com)

What’s next

Tulare County Supervisor Larry Micari plans to take the county's resolution supporting SGU fighters before the National Association of Counties in an effort to gain national support and find a federal partner to carry legislation on Capitol Hill.

The takeaway

The story of the Hmong-led Secret Guerilla Unit highlights the ongoing struggle for recognition and benefits faced by some veterans who fought alongside U.S. forces during the Vietnam War. Despite their sacrifices and service, these veterans continue to be denied the same healthcare and other benefits afforded to members of the U.S. armed forces, underscoring the need for policy changes to ensure all who fought for America are properly cared for.