Press Release For further information contact:
Roan A. McClure, Trustee
541-592-5465
On Christmas afternoon last week Val Toone and Walt Farmer, both Korean War veterans and residents of the Illinois Valley, were presented with a special gold pin on behalf of the Department of Defense, 50th Anniversary Korean War Commemoration Committee. Making the presentation were Kandace McClure, Roan McClure and Dallin Goodrich, three trustees of OMEGA Foundation, which is a local partner with the DoD for this particular enterprise of honoring Korean War veterans during the 50th anniversary of the ending of the Korean War.
Omega Foundation this year in November published a short history of DuWayne Donithorne, a deceased (2001) Korean veteran who lived here in Josephine County. The book and all his medals were presented to his family members at an international gathering of veterans held on November 8,2003 at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. The timing of the local presentations was in conjunction with Dallin Goodrich’s Christmas leave from active duty in the Army. He leaves for his own tour to Korea on January 2nd. Both Val Toone and Walt Farmer were enjoying Christmas meals with their families when Roan and Kandace McClure and Dallin Goodrich appeared at their doors with Roan McClure and Dallin Goodrich in their dress military uniforms. Roan is a Vietnam veteran with nine years service.
If there are other Korean veterans who served in Korea from 1950-1953 (or families of deceased Korean War veterans) who have not heard about this gold lapel pin being available to them, please get a hold of Omega Foundation at PO Box 507, here in Cave Junction. There is also a Korean War Service Medal issued by the Republic of Korea and authorized by Congress for presentation to all Korean War veterans or family members of deceased veterans. Information on this medal can be found on the Internet by searching under Korean War Service Medal or by contacting the Air Force at HQ AFPC/DPPPRK, 550 “C” Street West, Suite 12, Randolph AFB, TX 78150-4712. Although the partnering of Omega Foundation and the DoD was for 2003, the 50th Anniversary of the ending of the Korean War, Omega Foundation will continue to search out and honor Korean veterans until the supply of gold pins is depleted.