(ST. PAUL) – Two Anoka County lawmakers received a special honor tied to the Vietnam War. State Senators Jerry Newton of Coon Rapids and Jim Abeler of Anoka joined Senator John Hoffman in receiving the One Star Leadership Medals from the Hmong Special Guerrilla Unit.
“It is a great honor to receive this very important medal of honor from Hmong Special Gorilla Unit. They were instrumental in preventing the threat of communism from spreading deeper in Southeast Asia,” Sen. Hoffman said at the event.
Senator Jim Abeler, Senator Jerry Newton and Senator John Hoffman are pictured from left to right with Sen. Foung Hawj, Captain Xai Nou Paul Vang and Lieutenant Charles Vu
after receiving their medals of honor in appreciation to their support of the Hmong community.
It honors the senators’ long-term relationship with the Hmong community. The three are among those who support May 14 as a special day to recognize Hmong veterans of the secret war in Laos.
Many soldiers owe these brave men and women their lives,” said Sen. Newton. “I am among those who owe them an eternal debt.”
The Hmong Special Guerrilla Unit helped save American soldiers and pilots in Laos.
