Two Galway men who served with the US forces in the Korean War were honoured along with 10 other Irish service men at the American embassy in Dublin this week.
Thomas Dunleavy, originally from the village of Brooklawn, and Michael McCormick, from Loughrea, attended the ceremony last Tuesday to receive a Republic of Korea Medal for Korean War Service for their part in defending South Korea between 1950 and 1953. Twelve men in total, ranging in age from 79 to 87, were honoured but only six were actually in attendance at the Dublin event.
Also in attendance was the ambassador to the Republic of Korea, his excellency Chang-Yoeb Kim, and the US ambassador to Ireland Daniel M Rooney who praised the servicemen, many of whom were newly arrived emigrants to the US and who then became subject to the draft.
The Republic of Korea War Service Medal is a decoration of South Korea which was first authorised in December 1950. It was first awarded on November 15, 1951, and is intended to award those who particpated in the Korean War for at least 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days.
