Korean War vets sought

Veterans who served in the Korean War are being sought by the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea to receive the Korean Ambassador for Peace Medal.

“They still are extremely grateful,” Julie Pittmann of Rosalia commented on the Korean people and government. Pittmann is an officer with the Daughters of the American Revolution.

“The Ambassador for Peace Medal was first presented to veterans as a special memento for those who have returned to South Korea through the ‘Revisit Program.’ The honor has since expanded to veterans who cannot travel the long journey to Korea,” states a release from the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs.

Pittmann noted the number of Korean War veterans is dwindling and this is a push to honor as many as possible. The Washington State VA and Korean Council in Seattle are working to find and recognize as many veterans of the conflict as possible.

To be eligible, veterans must have served during the Korean War between June 25, 1959, to July 27, 1953, or participated in UN peacekeeping operations until the end of 1955. The medals will be presented at a luncheon hosted by the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea June 8 at the Red Lion Columbia Center in Kennewick. Applications and reservations are is required by June 1.

Contact Heidi Audette at the VA via email heidia@dva.wa.gov or call 360-725-2154.

Needed information includes veteran’s full name, branch of service, dates served in Korea and mailing address. Medals may be given to post-mortem relatives determined on a case-by-case basis.

The United States became involved in the Korean War when communist North Korea invaded South Korea, and the U.N. stepped in with one of the first cases of “police action.”

Pittmann noted several other things that were significant about the Korean War. It was the first time jet planes were used. Segregation among troops ended and the opinions of women in the field were taken seriously.