Young Oak Kim, highly decorated U.S. military veteran, dies at 86

ap on Bakersfield Californian ^ | 1/4/06 | AP

[NormsRevenge]

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Retired U.S. Army Col. Young O. Kim, a highly decorated military hero of World War II and the Korean War who later worked to help the city's Asian communities, has died. He was 86.

Kim died from cancer on Dec. 29 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, according to Diane Tanaka, associate director of the Go For Broke Educational Foundation, which Kim co-founded and served as chairman emeritus.

"There aren't many war heroes like him, regardless of race and ethnicity," said Edward Chang, an assistant professor of ethnic studies at the University of California, Riverside. "He's a truly compassionate and humanitarian person who dedicated his entire life to helping the underprivileged."

Born in Los Angeles to Korean immigrants, Kim was drafted at the start of World War II and assigned to the Army's 100th Infantry Battalion. One of just two Koreans in the primarily Japanese-American outfit, he declined the offer of a transfer, saying all the soldiers were Americans.

He was credited with leading a daring daylight mission in Anzio, Italy, where he and another soldier crawled across a wheat field to capture German soldiers. They secured intelligence information that helped the Allies capture Rome. Later, his unit helped liberate several French towns.

He returned to Los Angeles after the war and started a successful business but re-enlisted when the Korean War broke out. He became captain of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team - the first Asian American to hold such a post - and directed his unit's drive to push back enemy forces from the 38th parallel. Their efforts helped create a buffer between North and South Korea.

He also convinced his battalion to adopt an orphanage in Seoul that served more than 500 children.

For his heroics during the two wars, Kim won about 20 medals, including a Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, two Legions of Merit, three Purple Hearts, a French Legion of Honor and Italian Military Valor Cross.

He remained in the Army until 1972, when he retired to Los Angeles. He earned a degree in history from California State University, Dominguez Hills and served as chief executive of Fine Particle Technology in San Diego.

He also helped found organizations that helped Asian immigrants and civic foundations, including the Japanese American National Museum, the Korean American Museum and Go For Broke, a nonprofit that preserves the history of Asian-American soldiers who served in World War II.

Last February, France presented Kim with its highest award, Officer of the National Order of the Legion of Honor.

In October, South Korea authorized awarding Kim its highest military honor, the Taeguk Order of Military Merit. He was too ill to attend the ceremony.

"I don't care about leaving a legacy," Kim told The Associated Press in October from his bed at Cedars-Sinai. "I don't think much about my contributions to the world. I just did what I could with my life while I'm still living."

Married and divorced twice, Kim is survived by three stepsons, Jerry and Tom Surh and Corey Covert; a sister, Willa; and two brothers, Jack and Henry.

[StrangerInParadise]

He was a real hero. RIP.

[GoforBroke]

442

[NormsRevenge]

Go For Broke

GO FOR BROKE EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
The operating organization of the 100th/442nd/MIS WWII Memorial Foundation

[StoneColdGOP]

BTTT.

[samtheman]

I salute you, Col. Kim.

[Chuck54]

Go with God.........

A real hero.

[Revolting cat!]

He was Young.

[politicket]

Mr. Kim was a very heroic man.

My Father-in-law founded the Japanese American National Museum and knew Mr. Kim very well.

Here is a brief blurb about their relationship in regards to the museum: History of the Japanese American National Museum

[Jaxter]

What a hero. I didn't realize there were any Korean Americans in the 442^nd. IIRC it was the most decorated American unit in WWII. RIP soldier.