By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter
U.S. and South Korean generals of the Combined Forces Command (CFC), led by Gen. Walter L. Sharp, visited the homes of less fortunate families and welfare facilities in Yongsan, Monday, to console and give words of encouragement, CFC officials said.
The CFC donated part of the prize money, which it received from President Lee Myung-bak last month in recognition of 30 years of contribution to the security of South Korea, to help the needy, they said.
Sharp and his wife, Joanne, along with Deputy CFC Commander Gen. Lee Sung-chool and his wife, Park Jung-shin, visited the home of a 66-year-old disabled woman identified only by her surname, Jin, who resides in Huam-dong. They presented some necessities, including rice, ramyeon noodles and gloves to her, they said.
The top commanders also visited a nearby orphanage to encourage children and students there. They delivered chests of drawers for children and donated money to the welfare center.
Other Korean and American generals and their wives visited 32 other homes and welfare centers to encourage neighbors in need.
This is the first time that the CFC commander and his wife have visited poor neighbors and welfare centers themselves since the establishment of the CFC in 1978, a CFC spokesman said. ``This means the Korea-U.S. alliance remains stronger than ever, based on mutual trust, and reflects the strong willingness of the CFC to help share the difficulties of local people, as shown in the command slogan `We go together','' the spokesman said.
Gen. Lee, who concurrently serves as chief of the CFC's Ground Component Command, first proposed the charity event as part of efforts to ``make good use'' of the prize money and share the difficulties of others, the spokesman said.
Sharp, who also serves as commander of the U.S. Forces Korea and the United Nations Command, accepted the idea, saying he was impressed with reports that President Lee shed tears after observing citizens suffering financial difficulties during a visit to an agro-fishery market in southern Seoul.
The CFC established sisterhood relationships with nine homes of aged persons living alone, five low-income families and two welfare facilities, said the spokesman.
The command donates 1.6 million won to them every month, and command members conduct volunteer services for them, such as cleaning-up, bathing and inviting them to on-post events, he added.