September 4, 2005

Yesterday we received a Fax message from General Lee, Sang-Hoon, ROKA Retired, Former ROK Defense Minister and now Chairman and Leader of the Korean Veterans Association:

Dear President Louis T Dechert,

I would like to convey, on behalf of 6.5 million members of Korean Veterans Association, our deepest condolences to the families of all the victims of Hurricane Katrina, one of the worst disasters in the American history, and give our heartfelt consolation to the citizens of New Orleans and the American people.

There is no doubt in my mind that citizens of New Orleans, all the Americans and the United States led by the strong leadership of President Bush will overcome this tragedy and rebuild the city of New Orleans, showing the great power of American to the world. All the members of the KVA give unswerving support to the disaster-recovery efforts US Government is making to have the city get back on its feet and to the great efforts of US KWVA to help rebuild the communities.

With deepest sympathies,

LEE, Sang-Hoon
General, ROKA, Retired
Chairman

PS I am interested in knowing that how many US Korean War veterans are included in the list of victims of Hurricane Katrina, if you may.

I thanked General Lee. In addition, I noted that there were no comprehensive lists of victims as of yet but that within the FEMA declared disaster counties in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana there were 99,400 Korean War era veterans; Alabama 14,509, Mississippi 17,536, and Louisiana 67,355.

We have begun receiving donations to the KWVA Disaster Relief Fund. We will keep all members informed of developments as they become know to us.

In addition, KWVA members are requested to provide me with all the ZIP Codes within the following counties/parishes:

ALABAMA -    
  • Baldwin
  • Mobile
  • Washington
    
MISSISSIPPI -    
  • Amite
  • Forrest
  • George
  • Greene
  • Hancock
  • Harrison
  • Jackson
  • Lamar
  • Marion
  • Pearl River
  • Perry
  • Pike
  • Stone
  • Walthall
  • Wilkinson
LOUISIANA -    
  • Acadia
  • Ascension
  • Assumption
  • Calcasieu
  • Cameron
  • East Baton Rouge
  • East Feliciana
  • Iberia
  • Iberville
  • Jefferson
  • Jefferson Davis
  • Lafayette
  • Lafourche
  • Livingston
  • Orleans
  • Pointe Coupee
  • Plaquemines
  • St. Bernard
  • St. Charles
  • St. Helena
  • St. James
  • St. John
  • St. Mary
  • St. Martin
  • St. Tammany
  • Tangipahoa
  • Terrebonne
  • Vermilion
  • Washington
  • West Baton Rouge
  • West Feliciana

Finally, please gratefully note the responses of North and South Korea, below.


National President

Seoul Pledges $30 Mil. In Katrina Aid

By Seo Dong-shin
Staff Reporter

South Korea pledged on Sunday to send $30 million in humanitarian aid to help the United States recover from the destruction wrought by Hurricane Katrina.

The government will also dispatch 50 rescue workers to assist the evacuation of thousands of people in New Orleans and surrounding areas as part of a government task force led by Vice Foreign Minister Lee Tae-sik...  [ More... ]

NK Expresses Sympathy To US

By Reuben Staines
Staff Reporter

Breaking from its usually stern rhetoric, North Korea expressed condolences to the United States over the weekend for victims of a massive hurricane that has devastated the U.S. Gulf coast...  [ More... ]