Yoon Holds Lunch with Key US-ROK Alliance Figures During US Visit... Scheduled to Receive Taegeuk Order of Military Merit

Attendance by Veterans' Families, USFK Soldiers, and Economic Alliance Figures

President Yoon, who will depart on the 24th for a state visit to the United States, will hold a gratitude luncheon with key Korea-US figures during this visit and personally award the Taegeuk Military Merit Medal to Korean War veterans.

According to the Presidential Office on the 23rd, about 300 people will attend the luncheon, including Korean War veterans from both Korea and the US, their families, soldiers serving in the US Forces Korea, and key figures from the economic alliance between the two countries.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

At this event, President Yoon will honor the sacrifices of the veterans who dedicated themselves to the freedom and peace of the Republic of Korea, and convey the history and significance of the Korea-US alliance as well as the importance of the "Korea-US alliance advancing toward the future."

In particular, figures symbolizing the Korea-US alliance will be present, such as Joseph McChristia Jr., the grandson of General Van Fleet, a symbol of the alliance, and Mrs. Baek Nam-hee, the eldest daughter of General Baek Seon-yeop. Additionally, eight national heroes will attend the luncheon, including ▲ Navy Colonel Lee Hee-wan, a key figure in the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong ▲ Marine Lieutenant Colonel Kim Jung-soo, who was the commander of Artillery Battery 7 during the Yeonpyeong Island shelling ▲ Retired Navy Colonel Choi Won-il, captain of the Cheonan ship, and veteran soldier Jeon Jun-young, retired Navy sergeant ▲ Retired Army Sergeants Ha Jae-heon and Kim Jung-won, wounded in the DMZ landmine incident ▲ Retired Army Sergeant Lee Chan-ho, wounded in the K-9 self-propelled howitzer explosion ▲ Retired Marine Captain Lee Joo-eun, wounded in the Gimpo landmine explosion.

During the luncheon, President Yoon will personally award the Taegeuk Military Merit Medal, South Korea’s highest military decoration, to retired Army Colonel Ralph Puckett Jr. and retired Navy Colonel Elmer Royce Williams. The medal will also be posthumously awarded to the late Lieutenant Baldomero Lopez, with his nephew Joseph M. Lopez in attendance.

A memorial table for US prisoners of war and missing soldiers will be set up in cooperation with the US Department of Defense’s Defense Prisoner Of War/Missing In Action Accounting Agency. Through the lighting of candles at the memorial table by the President and First Lady, President Yoon will express his determination to continue searching for veterans who have not yet returned and offer comfort to the bereaved families.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.