[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 17030-17031]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO KENTUCKY'S KOREAN WAR VETERANS

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the service and 
sacrifice of the hundreds of Korean war veterans living in the 
Commonwealth of Kentucky. This July 27 marked the 55th anniversary of 
the cease-fire that ended that conflict.
  After 3 years of battle which nearly forced American and South Korean 
troops from the peninsula, the determination and bravery of our 
servicemen prevailed. Our heroes in uniform ensured that the people of 
South Korea would remain free.
  Recently, nearly 300 Kentuckian Korean war veterans were recognized 
for their service by retired Korean Major General Seung-Woo Choi. Major 
General Choi was a child during the Korean war, but he wanted to say 
thank you to the brave Americans who fought to protect his and his 
family's freedom. So he traveled from South Korea to my hometown of 
Louisville, KY, to honor them.
  I ask unanimous consent that the full newspaper article describing 
this ceremony be printed in the Record. I know the entire U.S. Senate 
stands with me to recognize the tremendous valor of our veterans, and 
to honor the sacrifice of those who did not return.

  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

          [From the Louisville Courier-Journal, July 25, 2008]

     Korean War Vets Honored: S. Korean General Presents Medallions

                           (By J.D. Williams)

       Looking back, Joseph Scott said he is thankful to be a 
     veteran of the Korean War.
       In 1950, Scott joined his two brothers, James and Talmadge, 
     and enlisted in the Army.
       Yesterday, the 77-year-old and nearly 300 other Korean War 
     veterans from Kentucky were honored at the Kentucky 
     Exposition Center for their service.
       ``I'm thankful I was there,'' Scott said of the war. ``It 
     was quite an experience.''
       The veterans were given a medallion designed by retired 
     Korean Maj. Gen. Seung-Woo Choi, who came to Louisville from 
     South Korea to honor them. Choi was a child during the Korean 
     War, but has made it a priority to offer his thanks to 
     veterans of the war that ensured South Korea's freedom.
       Since 2002, Choi has presented over 5,000 medallions to 
     veterans across the nation.
       People from various veterans' organizations spoke at the 
     event, and the Kentucky Korean Women's Choir performed.
       ``The sacrifice you made for the Korean people has not been 
     forgotten . . . you saved our freedom,'' said Charles Park, a 
     native of Korea who is with the Korea Foundation of Kentucky.
       Marilyn Mullins, 67, the widow of Edward Mullins, said her 
     husband would have loved to be there. He died in April 2007 
     of complications from diabetes.
       ``I wish he could have been here to accept it himself,'' 
     Mullins said of receiving the medallion. ``He would have been 
     glad to meet the general.''
       She said the medallion is the only award her late husband 
     has been presented. She said he was supposed to receive the 
     National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal and 
     the United Nations Service Medal, but they never reached him.
       James Hall, 76, of Bowling Green, said he was glad to be 
     with fellow Korean War vets.
       Hall, who was 18 when he was deployed to Korea, was in the 
     battle at Chosin Reservoir, which he called a ``horrible 
     place at a horrible time.''
       He said the severe cold with snow and without heat and warm 
     food was nearly unbearable, but soldiers endured to ensure 
     South Korea's freedom.
       ``I had tried to put a lot of things about Korea out of my 
     mind, but it was wonderful to be with the veterans I served 
     with,'' Hall said. ``It reminded me of how important it was 
     for us to be there so South Korea could be free.''

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