112 STAT. 2018 PUBLIC LAW 105-261—OCT. 17, 1998 together with the United States, during military operations conducted in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam conflict. (2) Indigenous groups, such as the Hmong, Nung, Montagnard, Kahmer, Hoa Hao, and Cao Dai contributed military forces, together with the United States, during military operations conducted in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam conflict. (3) The contributions of these combat forces continued through long years of armed conflict. (4) As a result, in addition to the United States casualties exceeding 210,000, this willingness to participate in the Vietnam conflict resulted in the death and wounding of more than 1,000,000 military personnel from South Vietnam and 16,000 from other allied nations. (5) The service of the Vietnamese, indigenous groups, and other allied nations was repeatedly marked by exceptional heroism and sacrifice, with particularly noteworthy contributions being made by the Vietnamese airborne, commando, infantry and ranger units, the Republic of Korea marines, the Capital and White Horse divisions, the Royal Thai Army Black Panther Division, the Royal Australian Regiment, the New Zealand "V" force, and the 1st Philippine Civic Action Group. (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS. —Congress recognizes and honors the members and former members of the military forces of South Vietnam, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines, as well as members of the Hmong, Nung, Montagnard, Kahmer, Hoa Hao, and Cao Dai, for their heroism, sacrifice, and service in connection with United States Armed Forces during the Vietnam conflict. SEC. 536. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING THE HEROISM, SACRIFICE, AND SERVICE OF FORMER SOUTH VIETNAMESE COMMANDOS IN CONNECTION WITH UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES DURING THE VIETNAM CONFUCT. (a) FINDINGS. —Congress finds the following: (1) South Vietnamese commandos were recruited by the United States as part of OPLAN 34A or its predecessor or OPLAN 35 from 1961 to 1970. (2) The commandos conducted covert operations in North Vietnam during the Vietnam conflict. (3) Many of the commandos were captured and imprisoned by North Vietnamese forces, some for as long as 20 years. (4) The commandos served and fought proudly during the Vietnam conflict. (5) Many of the commandos lost their lives serving in operations conducted by the United States during the Vietnam conflict. (6) Many of the Vietnamese commandos now reside in the United States. (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS—Congress recognizes and honors the former South Vietnamese commandos for their heroism, sacrifice, and service in connection with United States Armed Forces during the Vietnam conflict.
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