Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, Ministry of National Defense hold event to mark the "return of a patriotic hero" for late staff sergeant Kim Jin-gu, who died in the battle at Arrowhead Ridge

 
Despite the risk of COVID-19, the event was held to repay his devotion to the nation
Remains to be buried at the Daejeon National Cemetery after consultation with his bereaved family
DNA samples obtained from his son Kim Dae-rak prove decisive in identification
Bereaved family expresses deep thanks to the MND Agency for KIA Recovery & Identification

A patriotic war hero who died in the battle at Arrowhead Ridge has been returned to his beloved family after 67 years.

On June 3, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (MPVA) and the Ministry of National Defense (MND)　held an event to mark the "return of a patriotic hero" for late staff sergeant Kim Jin-gu at the Memorial Tower, located at Mountain Apsan in Nam-gu, Daegu Metropolitan City.

Having belonged to the 31st regiment of the 2nd Division of the Army, staff sergeant Kim Jin-gu fought in the Korean War and died in the 4th battle at Arrowhead Ridge on July 13, 1953, known as one of the fiercest battles that took place during the armistice negotiations.

Significantly, his death was all the more regrettable as he had left his wife and three-year-old son behind to join the army, determined to defend his country, and died only two weeks before the signing of an armistice.

Having conducted the excavation work for war remains at the Arrowhead Ridge area inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), in March the MND Agency for KIA Recovery & Identification (MAKRI) identified four people who died in action, including staff sergeant Kim Jin-gu. The MAKRI reported that the deceased had been found with fractured fragments and partial remains in his individual trench.

The MAKRI said that he is presumed to have been killed by enemy shells while defending his position to the last. His son Kim Dae-rak's participation in the project to obtain DNA samples from bereaved families, which had been conducted at the Memorial Tablet Enshrinement Hall in the Seoul Memorial Cemetery last November, played a decisive role in identifying his father.

This was the first event held to return a war hero this year, on the 70th anniversary of the Korean War. “Despite the COVID-19 crisis, the event was held to repay the devotion this war hero showed to the nation to the end, while practicing the guidelines for "distancing in daily life",” an official from the MPVA explained. The event was attended by 30 bereaved family members, including his wife Lee Bun-ae and his son Kim Dae-rak, and government and local government officials, including the Minister of MPVA Park Sam-deuk, the director of MAKRI Heo Wook-gu, and the Mayor of Daegu City Kwon Young-jin, and members of veterans groups.

The event started with delivering a notice of the identification of the deceased to the representative of the bereaved family, and was followed by explaining the hero’s role in war and the progress of the excavation of the remains. Minister Park then delivered a plaque for "the return of a patriotic hero," representing the high level of honor applied in the treatment of a patriotic hero, and a "box of the spirit of patriotism" containing articles left by the deceased. His remains will be buried at the Daejeon National Cemetery, a decision made after consultation with the bereaved family members.

“He was a sweet husband, carrying me on his back on the way to my parents’ home,” his wife Lee recalled, adding that she had been waiting for her husband’s return to his beloved family. His son added, “My mother has lived with a heart-breaking sorrow for many years since my father’s death in action. Though I was so pleased that he was identified, I've felt some complex emotions, as it reminded me of the past,” expressing his deep thanks to the MAKRI officials who had found the remains of his father.

By Su-Yeol, Maeng <guns13@dema.mil.kr >
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