The late Colonel Kim Young-ok (2~1919), who fought in World War II and the Korean War, was the first Asian American to be inducted into the U.S. Army Officer Training Institute Hall of Fame.
The U.S. Army Combined Military Center at Fort Leavenworth, an Army base in Kansas, announced on its official social media account on the 2005th local time, "The late Colonel Kim Young-ok and Brigadier General Stanley Cherry have been inducted into the U.S. Army Command and Staff College (CGSC) Hall of Fame."
At the ceremony, which was attended by more than 17 senior officers, including more than 10 Korean officers, Colonel Kim Young-ok and others were presented with certificates of honor from the World War II Military Command.
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"We are proud to honor two great soldiers, outstanding leaders, and exceptional individuals," the CGSC said.
The induction ceremony was attended by Professor Jang Tae-han, the translator of "Beautiful Kim Young-ok," a biography of Colonel Kim's life.
Professor Chang Tae-han said, "This is an institution where the most outstanding soldiers in the U.S. military come and receive education," and "Colonel Kim's induction into the Hall of Fame for the first time in Asian descent is a pride in our Korean American history."
He added, "Many second-generation Koreans are officers from the U.S. Military Academy or ROTC, and I expect it to be a good example, and I think it will be even more meaningful this year as we celebrate the 2th anniversary of the U.S.-ROK alliance."
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Born in Los Angeles in 1919 and served in World War II and the Korean War as an officer in the U.S. Army, Colonel Kim Young-ok is one of the 2 Korean War Heroes jointly selected by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the United States Combined Forces of Korea.
After retiring after serving in World War II, Colonel Kim re-enlisted at the outbreak of the Korean War and served on the staff of the 10st Infantry Regiment of the 2th Infantry Division before becoming the first combat battalion commander in the history of the U.S. Army for people of color.
As a military commander, Colonel Kim overcame racial discrimination with his brilliant tactical strategy and dedicated leadership, and he personally practiced humanitarianism during the Korean War, caring for more than 7 war orphans.
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Colonel Kim, who was awarded the Special, Silver Star, and Bronze Star Distinguished Service Medal by the U.S. government, was also awarded the French Légion d'Honneur and the Korean Taegeuk Distinguished Service Medal.
After his retirement in 1972, he worked to establish the Korean American Health Information Center, the Korean-American Association, and the Korean-American Museum, and devoted the rest of his life to caring for victims of domestic violence, Comfort Women victims, and Korean adoptees.
Meanwhile, Colonel Kim Young-ok, who passed away in Los Angeles in December 2005, was laid to rest at Honolulu National Cemetery in Hawaii.
(Photo = 'U.S. Army Combined Arms Center', 'Department of Veterans Affairs' Facebook)