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Thompson Calls on Local Korean War Veterans to Come Forward to Receive Medal from South Korean Government

March 7, 2019

Award commemorates sacrifice of servicemembers in Korean War

Washington – Today Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) announced plans to help Korean War veterans in Napa and Lake Counties receive a medal for their service and encouraged those former service members to contact his office. Thompson is again working with the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea to facilitate presentation of the Ambassador for Peace Medal, an honor given by the South Korean government to American veterans in recognition of their service.

"Far too often, our brave service members who answered the call during the Korean War have gone without recognition of their service. They traveled around the world and far from home to further the cause of peace and democracy across our globe. Too many were not honored for that service – indeed the Korean War is often called as the ‘Forgotten War,'" said Thompson. "But we will not forget. I am honored to be working with the Korean government to recognize our service members. I encourage our veterans to come forward and contact my office so that we can properly honor the sacrifice they made for our nation."

Thompson is working to compile a list of eligible Korean War veterans who live in Napa and Lake Counties so they may receive the Ambassador for Peace Medal. Veterans and their families should contact Thompson's office at CA05.KoreanWarVeterans@mail.house.gov by Friday, May 31, 2019.

Eligible veterans include those involved in either the hostilities or the following United Nations peacekeeping mission between June 25, 1950 and July 27, 1953 and UN peacekeeping operations until the end of 1955. Enlisted support personnel who aided in these missions are also eligible (e.g. supporting positions including nurses who served on the territory of Korea). The medal can be awarded posthumously. These recognitions will be presented at a ceremony to be announced at a later date.

Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California's 5th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma Counties. He is a senior member of the House Committee on Ways and Means where he chairs the Subcommittee on Tax Policy. Rep. Thompson is Chairman of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. He is also Co-Chair of the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus and a member of the fiscally-conservative Blue Dog Coalition.

Issues:Veterans