My name is Kim Byeong-yeon, and I am the son of the late Sergeant First Class (ROK Army) Kim Jinho (김진호), who served on the front lines in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, during the Korean War.
I am writing with a heartfelt request for your assistance in identifying an American serviceman who became my father's close friend during the war.
According to my father's stories, he and an American serviceman developed a lasting friendship while serving near Cheorwon. One of their cherished memories was a friendly arm-wrestling match, which marked the beginning of a bond that survived the hardships of war.
Nearly thirty years later, around 1977–1978, this American returned to Korea after being assigned by Westinghouse to the Kori Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1, where he served as the plant's first manager, chief executive, or senior advisor during its initial operation.
After arriving in Korea, he began searching for my father, Mr. Jinho Kim. I understand that he contacted Korean authorities and even placed notices in local newspapers in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk region, including Maeil Shinmun and Yeongnam Ilbo, in an effort to find him.
His efforts were successful, and the two wartime friends were joyfully reunited after almost thirty years apart. My father and my elder brother were later invited to visit the Kori Nuclear Power Plant, where they spent precious time together with their American friend.
Today, both my father and his American friend have passed away.
I hope to continue the friendship that began on the battlefield more than seventy-five years ago. My sincere wish is to locate the family of this American serviceman so that we may share the remarkable story of friendship between our fathers and honor the enduring spirit of the U.S.–Republic of Korea alliance.
I respectfully request your assistance in determining:
- The identity and full name of the American soldier.
- Whether he later served at Kori Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 as a Westinghouse representative.
- Whether any military, veterans, or historical records mention his efforts to locate Mr. Kim Jinho in Korea.
- Whether it would be possible to contact his surviving family or to have this letter forwarded to them if direct contact information cannot be released.
This is more than a search for a name. It is an effort to preserve a story of friendship born during the Korean War and reflects the human foundation of the alliance between South Korea and the United States.
Although both men are no longer with us, I sincerely hope that the friendship they built can continue through their children and future generations.
Thank you very much for your time and consideration.
With deepest respect,
Kim Byeong-yeon
Son of the late Sergeant First Class (ROK Army) Kim Jinho
[This text has been translated from Korean]
