Former UNC, USFK soldiers to visit Korea upon invitation of veterans ministry

Former soldiers who served in U.N. Command (UNC) and U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) after the 1950-53 Korean War, will visit South Korea on Tuesday upon the invitation of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs.

Robert Eugene Jenkins / Courtesy of Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs

The ministry invited 45 former UNC and USFK soldiers to express the country’s gratitude for their contribution to post-war reconstruction and maintaining a security posture here.

Six of them are sons of war veterans who fought for South Korea under the U.N. flag. They include Dennis Michael Bullard, 67, James Edward Truman, 66 and David Lee Nutter, 67.

Two war veterans ― Robert Eugene Jenkins, 88, and Kenlym Hinshaw Moy, 92 ― are also on the invitation list, the ministry said, noting that a total of 91 people ― 87 U.S. nationals, two Swedish nationals and two Italian nationals ― including families of the former soldiers will visit and stay in Korea until Oct. 15.

During their visit, the guests will tour Osan Air Base, Camp Humphreys, the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjeom, Seoul National Cemetery and the War Memorial of Korea.

“Those who served in the UNC and USFK propped up the country after the war,” Veterans Minister Park Min-shik said. “The ministry will give full efforts to enhance ties with countries that helped South Korea in the war by expanding our gratitude to the former UNC and USFK soldiers.”

This marks the third time that the ministry has invited former UNC and USFK soldiers ― 16 and 50 were invited in 2021 and 2022, respectively.