국가보훈부

- The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (Minister Pi Woo-jin) plans to invite 50 bereaved family members of 21 fallen US veterans of the Korean War for 5 nights and 6 days. 

- The family members will pay tribute in the Seoul National Cemetery and Honor and Tribute Ceremony for the Fallen Korean War Heroes, visit KIA recovery site, and attend Honor and Tribute Banquet hosted by the MPVA

- The MPVA has reciprocated the sacrifice and contribution of UN veterans of the Korean War and the bereaved family members by inviting up to 33,000 participants to Korea until last year.

Minister Pi Woo-jin of Patriots and Veterans Affairs said "the MPVA plans to invite 50 bereaved family members of 21 fallen US veterans of the Korean War in order to express the ministry's appreciation to their noble sacrifice and contribution" on the 24th of this month.  

The United States sent 1.8 million soldiers to Korea during the Korean War, the largest among 22 UN sending states including the United Kingdom and Canada. Among them, approximately 34,000 and 3,700 soldiers were killed and missing in action respectively and the total number of casualties is estimated to be approximately 130,000. Against this backdrop, the Government of Korea has been hosting the Revisit Korea Program in order to console and thank the bereaved family members who lost their loved ones.

Stories of the bereaved family members of fallen US soldiers of the Korean War

- Jo Reinert

Mrs. Jo Reinert is the only widow of a fallen US veteran of the Korean War that will visit Korea. She married Mr. Harold Gene Spencer in 1951 at the age of 16. Two years later, Mr. Spencer voluntarily enlisted to the army and fought in the Korean War. It was when her husband arrived in Korea that Mrs. Reinert found out she was pregnant. Mr. Spencer kept his wife updated about his life in Korea even while he suffered from cold weather. However, he was reported missing in July 1953 and the remains of Mr. Spencer have not been found until today.

-Karen Marie Jegen

Mrs. Karen Marie Jegen is still waiting for the remains of her father Mr. Andrew Schneider, who was killed in action in Pork Chop Hill. In the last letter her father wrote to her uncle, he said "I hope to go back home this month. See you soon." Mrs. Jegen still misses her father dearly and wishes his remains will be returned someday.

   *Battle of Pork Chop Hill: a battle that took place in a 300-meter high hill near Cheondeok Mountain in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province. It was so-named because of its topographic shape that vaguely resembles a pork chop.