By Rachel Lee
Seoul-based reporter and author Andrew Salmon received his Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) at a British Embassy ceremony on Feb. 14.
British Ambassador Charles Hay presented the MBE to Salmon in recognition of his work as one of Britain’s leading historians of the Korean War.
“He has made a huge contribution to our understanding of the Korean War, and in particular the stories of British, Australian and Irish troops,” Hay said. “His work has ensured that the experiences and memories of Korean War veterans will never be forgotten.”
Salmon was among 1,000 people named last year in Queen Elizabeth II’s Birthday Honors List.
The author said: “It was a huge surprise and a great honour to be granted an award for work that I found fascinating and rewarding. The old soldiers are now dying away, but their duty is done: They held the line, guaranteeing South Korea’s existence and the subsequent prosperity and freedoms won by Koreans themselves.
“I feel fortunate to have captured some of the British voices and stories of this terrible, but ultimately just war, for posterity.”
Salmon is a columnist for The Korea Times and has covered the Korean Peninsula for Forbes, Al Jazeera, the Daily Telegraph and the Nikkei Asia Review.
His work, “To the Last Round: The Epic British Stand on the Imjin River, Korea, 1951,” was the Best Military Book of 2009 in his home country and won a Korean Wave award from the National Assembly in 2010.
The Korean government each year organizes programs for British veterans of the conflict, giving many the chance to revisit key battlefields and pay their respects to fallen comrades at the UN Memorial Cemetery in Busan.
Salmon has been a tireless supporter of the veterans and the revisit programs for many years.
The MBE is one of Britain’s leading honors. Every year, a small number of people are chosen by the Queen to receive it for their service and role in enhancing Britain’s reputation.