Press Release
Posted:
Washington, DC – Congressmen Mike Thompson (CA-05), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11), Jerry McNerney (CA-09), and Eric Swalwell (CA-15) today announced a call on all veterans of the Korean War living in Contra Costa County to contact Rep. Thompson’s Vallejo District Office. The Congressmen are working with the office of the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in San Francisco to facilitate the presentation of medals from the Republic of Korea to Contra Costa County veterans in recognition of their service in the Korean War.
“Our nation owes a big thanks to our Korean War Veterans,” Rep. Thompson said. “Thanks to those brave Americans who answered our country’s call to service, South Korea is free and prosperous today. Though the Korean War is often remembered as the ‘Forgotten War’, our veterans will not be forgotten. We‘re asking every veteran of the Korean War in Contra Costa County to contact my office so that they can be recognized for their service and sacrifice.”
“Tens of thousands of Americans risked their lives to make South Korea a safe and prosperous country,” Congressman Mark DeSaulnier said. “Their sacrifice is worthy of recognition and is an example of the American ideal of service before self. We ask all Contra Costa veterans of this conflict to come forward and accept the recognition they rightfully deserve.”
“We should take every opportunity we have to express our gratitude to our nation’s veterans,” said Rep. McNerney. “I am pleased to join my colleagues in honoring those who served in the Korean War, and to thank them for their sacrifice.”
“These veterans served our nation selflessly and should be honored for their bravery and sacrifices,” Rep. Swalwell said. “It’s never too late to give them the recognition and thanks they so richly deserve.”
The Congressmen are compiling a list of names of eligible veterans living in Contra Costa County who served in the Korean War so that they can receive an “Ambassador for Peace” medal from the Republic of Korea. The Ambassador for Peace medal is granted by the Republic of Korea to our veterans out of appreciation for restoring and preserving South Korea’s freedom and democracy through their service in the Korean War. The medals will be presented during a ceremony in Contra Costa County to be announced at a later date.
Eligible veterans include those involved in either the hostilities or the following United Nations peacekeeping mission between June 25, 1950 and July 27, 1953. Enlisted support personnel who aided in these missions are also eligible (e.g. nurses who served in Japan, sailors who served on support missions).
Veterans should contact Thompson’s Vallejo office at (707) 645-1888 or ContraCosta.KoreanWarVeterans@mail.house.gov by Thursday, March 1, 2018 to be included among the veterans eligible for a medal.