Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, January 7, 2004
Gold pins
for service
in Korea
awarded
On Christmas after-
noon just past, Val Toone
and Walt Farmer, both Ko-
rean War veterans and
residents of Illinois Valley,
each were presented a spe-
cial gold pin on behalf of
the Dept. of Defense
(DoD) 50th Anniversary
Korean War Commemora-
tion Committee.
Making the presenta-
t ion we re Kand ac e
McClure, Roan McClure
and Dallin Goodrich, three
trusties of Omega Founda-
tion, a local partner with
DoD for this particular
enterprise of honoring Ko-
rean War veterans during
the 50th anniversary of the
ending of the Korean War.
Omega Foundation in
November published a
short history of DuWayne
Donithorne, a deceased
(2001) Korean War vet-
eran who lived in Jose-
phine County. The book
and all his medals were
presented to his family
members during an inter-
national gathering of veter-
ans held Nov. 8 at Brig-
ham Young University in
Provo, Utah.
The timing of the local
presentations was in con-
junction with Goodrich’s
Christmas leave from ac-
tive duty in the U.S. Army.
He left for his own tour of
Korea on Jan. 2.
Both Toone and
Farmer were enjoying
Christmas meals with their
families when Roan and
Kandace McClure and
Goodrich appeared at their
doors with Roan McClure
and Goodrich in their mili-
tary dress uniforms. Roan
is a Vietnam veteran with
nine years service.
If there are other Ko-
rean War veterans who
served in Korea from
1950-1953 (or families of
deceased Korean War vet-
erans) who have not heard
about this gold lapel pin
being available to them,
they can contact Omega
Foundation at PO Box 507,
Cave Junction, OR 97523.
There is also a Korean
War Service Medal issued
by the Republic of Korea
and authorized by Con-
gress for presentation to all
Korean War veterans or
family members of de-
ceased veterans. Informa-
tion on this medal can be
found on the Internet by
searching under Korean
War Service Medal or by
contacting the U.S. Air
Force at HQ AFPC/
DPPPRK, 550 “C” St.
West, Suite 12, Randolph
AFB, TX 78150-4712.
Although the partner-
ing of Omega Foundation
and DoD was for 2003, the
50th Anniversary of the
ending of the Korean War,
Omega Foundation will
continue to search for and
honor Korean War veter-
ans until the supply of gold
pins is depleted.
Ask thy purse what thou
should spend.
- Scottish proverb -
Waste not tears
over old grief.
- Euripides -
A joy that’s shared is a
joy made double.
- John Ray -
Life’s more amusing
than we thought.
- Andrew Lang -
Hold a true friend with
both your hands.
- Nigerian proverb -
(In left photo, from left) -
Dottie
Toone,
Roan
McClure, Val Toone, and
Dallin
Goodrich.
(At
right) Walt Farmer. Val
Toone and Farmer re-
ceived gold pins in con-
nection with military ser-
vice during the Korean
War. (Story at left)
[Photos by
Kandace McClure]
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