News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Putnam County Veterans Services has received its first Korean Ambassador for Peace medals for Korean War veterans.
Putnam Veterans Service Officer Mark Harris said that medals were an expression of appreciation from the South Korean government for those who served at that time.
“To have a nation after all these years reach out and say ‘Thank you,’ that they appreciate what you did all those years ago,” Harris said. “And even for the family members of the veterans who receive that medal, it makes it a special event.”
Harris said that there are certain criteria to be eligible for the medal. He said that the veteran must have served in-country in Korea from June 25, 1950, to July 27th, 1953. He said that those who served after that time period are eligible if they participated in UN peacekeeping operations until the end of 1955.
Harris said that it’s a meaningful gesture for Putnam County Korean War Veterans. He said that while most military members that serve in-country may get a ribbon, this is something more personal.
“This is the government of South Korea, the ambassador of South Korea that is reaching out to those Korean veterans to let them know that they appreciate what they’d done for them during that time,” Harris said.
Veterans or families of veterans interested in applying to receive the medal can contact Harris for assistance.
