By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter
U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Walter Sharp sent a delegation Tuesday to the home of a South Korean woman, Kim Suk-im, who died when a U.S. military jet crashed into her San Diego home last week, to pay his respect to the bereaved family, USFK officials said.
South Korean Army Maj. Gen. Jang Yong-goo and U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Frank Panther visited the home in Damyang, South Jeolla Province, on behalf of Sharp and Deputy CFC Commander Gen. Lee Sung-chool, the officials said. Sharp concurrently serves as chief of the Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC).
Sharp expressed his condolences to the victim’s son-in-law, Yoon Dong-yun, saying all USFK’s prayers were with the family.
The accident occurred when an F/A-18 sustained engine failure and crashed about two miles from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar with the pilot ejecting, according to reports.
Also killed were Kim’s 36-year-old daughter, Yoon Young-mi, and two granddaughters, Grace, 15 months, and Rachel, two months.
On Monday, officials from U.S. Marine Forces Korea were on hand at Incheon International Airport to receive Kim’s remains and help transport them to her family’s hometown in Damyang, according to the USFK.