By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter
Defense Minister Kim Jang-soo has sent letters of appreciation to two U.S. soldiers who rescued three South Korean passengers in a highway traffic accident earlier this month, the Ministry of National Defense said Tuesday.
Reports said Staff Sgt. Kimberly Veal and Pfc. Bradley Herron of the 2nd Aviation Regiment based in Camp Eagle in Wonju, Gangwon Province, saved three people injured in a car accident on a snowy highway Jan. 11 by reacting automatically, while other Koreans drove past the car that had collided with a telephone pole.
One of the four passengers died in the accident, according to reports.
``Through your valiant deeds, you and Pfc. Herron personified bravery and soldierly conduct, which will be forever etched into the memories of a grateful Korean public,'' Kim wrote in the letter to Veal. ``I'm convinced that your heroics will serve as a boost to the foundation of friendship and trust that binds the armed forces of our two great nations.''
Kim also sent a letter to Herron, praising their teamwork as ``a testament to the overall excellence of all service members of United States Forces Korea.''
The ministry handed over the letters to the Combined Forces Command in Seoul.
About 27,000 U.S. soldiers are stationed in South Korea as a deterrent against North Korea.