NC Korean Vets and Certificate Presentations

About 1,500 Certificates of Appreciation have been requested through the N.C. Division of Veterans Affairs by Korean War veterans and family members as part of the U.S. Department of Defense’s launch of “The Year of the Korean War Veteran.”  The N.C. Division of Veterans Affairs (NCDVA) is working with community groups to present certificates to Korean Vets statewide.  Interested organizations are encouraged to call NCDVA at 919-807-2450.  “The Korean War was sometimes referred to as the ‘Forgotten War.’  NCDVA records indicate that more than 177,000 North Carolina citizens served in Korea between June 27, 1950, and Jan. 31, 1955.  More than 72,000 of these veterans are still living in North Carolina today.  According to NCDVA, 968 North Carolinians died during the Korean Conflict.  Over 2,000 were wounded; 109 were taken as prisoners of war (POWs), and 204 were designated as Missing in Action.  In addition to the Certificate of Appreciation, the U.S. Department of Defense encourages any Korean War veteran to share his or her story with the Korean War Commemoration Committee at http://koreanwar.defense.gov/ or call 703-545-0522.