Major Han Dong-kyu (Don Han)

By Choi Yearn-hong

Korea Times readers aren't likely to recognize the name of Major Don Han, or Han Dong-kyu, of the U.S. Marine Corps Headquarters in Quantico, Va. However, I'd like to introduce him in this column, as his service as a Korean-American soldier and devoted son merit recognition.

He is the son of my friend, poet Han Mann-hee, who lives in Atlanta, Ga. Years ago, I visited Atlanta as an invited poet to speak to the Korean-American literary group there, of which Han Mann-hee was president.

I stayed at his house and slept in Maj. Han's old room, where I happened upon a letter and a check in a small frame. The contents within the frame have remained impressed in my mind.

The paycheck was his first from the Marine Corps. He was a commissioned second lieutenant from the Citadel, a professional military school in Charleston, S.C., noted for its educational reputation as well as its rich history.

Founded in 1842, the Citadel has an undergraduate student body of about 2,000 students who make up the South Carolina Corps of Cadets. The military program draws students from about 40 states and a dozen countries, and makes leadership and character training an essential part of its educational experience.

Han sent that first check to his parents and asked his father to dine at one of the best restaurants in Atlanta with his mother and sister with the money. Looking at the check in the frame I was deeply moved, as I realized what a truly admirable son and brother he was.

At the time, his father was doing upholstery work and his mother was helping. His sister was a disabled woman.

Han was never ashamed of his humble immigrant background.

Han's father immigrated in the 1970s to the United States in order to provide a more comfortable life for his disabled daughter. To do so, he gave up a comfortable living as a Korean banker and came to Atlanta to start his new life as an upholsterer.

Don Han also began anew, as a junior high school student. His dream upon graduating high school was to be a Marine Corps officer, but he did not meet the height requirement for that position. Not one to give up, he wrote a sincere letter to then-President Ronald Reagan. President Reagan recommended young Han be admitted to the Citadel as a special cadet.

Don Han proved his height not to be a limitation. At the Citadel, he was an outstanding cadet and later a brave and gentle officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was invited to the presidential inauguration parties for George W. Bush and Barack Obama as an outstanding Marine Corps officer.

He served two tours of duty in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. He is now working at the Headquarters of the U.S. Marine Corps as major. Once in a while, as Quantico is not far from where I live, I go along with his parents to visit him.

My joy to see him is always enormous. He remains a loyal son. He has been asking his father to retire from his Atlanta shop and join his family.

Filial piety seems no longer to be a virtue in this modern society, which can provide a comfortable life to any decent citizen. The U.S. Social Security System and pension funds provide comfortable lives to many men and women.

But the old parents still need the care and affection of their children. These things cannot be replaced by monetary pension and social security benefits.

Unfortunately, many young people do not know this simple truth. As a matter of fact, many children are betraying and disappointing their parents in their time of need.

But from time to time, I come to read impressive articles about good sons and daughters in The Korea Times and Korean language newspapers. Some organizations for filial piety even select and award good sons and daughters in Korea.

I'd like to recommend Maj. Han of the U.S. Marine Corps to the distinguished judges of such awards. His fine military career has been highlighted by his representation of the U.S. Marine Corps at the White House for Presidents Bush and Obama.

God bless him! God bless all good sons and daughters. Honor your father and your mother. It is the fourth commandment in the Bible.

Dr. Choi is a poet and writer in the United States. He can be reached at yearnhchoi@gmail.com.