• Home
  • COL Young Oak Kim

Colonel Young-Oak Kim 

(Hangul: 김영옥; hanja: 金永玉; RR: Gim Yeong-ok; MR: Kim Yŏng'ok, 1919 – December 29, 2005), a highly decorated U.S. Army combat veteran of World War II and the Korean War and a civic leader and humanitarian. He was a member of the U.S. 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and a combat leader in Italy and France during World War II. He was awarded 19 medals, including the Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, two Bronze Stars, three Purple Hearts, a Bronze Medal of Military Valor, a Légion d'honneur, a Croix de guerre, and (posthumously) the Korean Taeguk Cordon of the Order of Military Merit. 

After his military career, Kim dedicated his life to public service and was an active founder and leader of several non-profit organizations for underserved communities throughout Southern California. He died of cancer at the age of 86.


COL Young Oak Kim documentary trailer

This video is produced and provided by the Council of Korean Americans.

Board of Directors Login

Copyright 2015 - Pan-Pacific American Leaders and Mentors, all rights reserved.

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software