August 6, 2024 a ceremony was hosted by Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1123 at Azbill Community Center to honor the family of four brothers who served in the Korean War.
The brother posthumously receiving The Ambassador for Peace Medals from the Republic of South Korea government are:
- Thomas Harvel Donaldson, U.S. Air Force (World War II, Korean, and Vietnam)
- Ernest Melvin Donaldson, U.S. Army (Korea)
- Arie Gafford Donaldson, U.S. Army (Korea)
- Arthur Preston Donaldson, U.S. Army (Korean and Vietnam)
The Ambassador for Peace Medal is an expression of appreciation from the Korean Government to Korean War Veterans.
Commissioner of the TN Department of Veterans Services, Major General Tommy H. Baker, and Ed Junod, Vet to Vet Tennessee Co-founder, were at the ceremony to help honor the families of these four Korean War Veterans.
The story of the patriotic Donaldson family is quite amazing. A fifth brother was also a Vietnam Veteran.
Know as, “The Forgotten War,” America’s Veterans and the South Korean Government want Korean War Veterans and their families to know they have not been forgotten.
Perry County’s Veterans Service Officer Dan Riley has been instrumental in helping Korean Veterans receive these Ambassador for Peace Medals. Story and photo by Delaine Culp Hester. Buffalo River Review – July 31, 2024.
Vet to Vet Tennessee appreciate the support we receive from the Korean Government and Gilhyun Lee 1st Secretary and Consul, Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Washington, D.C. Vet to Vet TN has been working with the Korean Washington Embassy for almost 10 years. Our partnership has provided Ambassador for Peace Medals to recipient in all 50 states and 5 countries.
Special thank you the Arie Donaldson, son of recipient Arie Donaldson for preparing the delicious smoke barbeque.
However, we still have not identified ONE FEMALE KOREAN WAR VETERAN. PLEASE HELP US FIND OUR FEMALE KOREAN HEROES.
