Fort Kim U.S. Army Base Naming Project

01/08/2021

From newly sworn-in U.S. Representative Marilyn Strickland in a press release after Sunday's ceremony:

“Today, I was honored to be sworn into one of the most historically diverse Congresses in history, joining a record number of women, and women of color, serving in our Democratic Majority. As a woman of both Korean-American and African-American descent, it was deeply personal to wear my Hanbok, which not only symbolizes my heritage and honors my mother, but also serves as a larger testament to the crucial importance of diversity in our nation, state, and the People’s House.

https://www.khq.com/news/marilyn-strickland-makes-history-as-first-korean-american-woman-elected-to-congress/article_7a6704cc-4e30-11eb-ac95-afce29475fb3.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=user-share&fbclid=IwAR2owBu2m8Tv2veYwY3-0NtZMxATY3WIujGtbFTbV2k2CzBeZrNURkVpv_M

Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland made history on Sunday, becoming the first Korean-American woman elected to congress and the first African-American woman to represent Washington State at a federal level. Strickland was

12/25/2020

Bereaved Americans are coping with how to handle family pictures, old traditions and string lights to end a year of loss.

12/23/2020

As we prepare to enjoy the holiday week of Christmas Eve to New Year's, let's remember our troops, who are spread throughout the world, away from their families.

Here's a link to a video interview with Colonel Kim recounting the difficulties of the Italy invasion, and how the achievements of the mostly J*p. Am/AAPI 100th Battalion when Young Oak Kim was a young lieutenant, helped secure success.

Lieutenant Kim's contributions in Italy earned him some of Italy's highest military honors of the Italian Bronze Medal of Military Valor in 1944 and the Italian War Cross for Military Valor in 1945.

Please share with your veterans and AAPI networks to sign up support for the Fort Kim U.S Army Base Naming Project.

Thank you and Happy Holidays!

Date: August 28, 1995 Location: California, US Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, J*panese American National Museum

12/16/2020

Today we had a meeting with U.S. Representative Andy Kim's office-many thanks for a productive time.

Thank you to VA Delegate Mark Keam and WA State Rep. Cindy Ryu for your participation; it's so meaningful have your support.

Here's a video highlighting Colonel Kim's many accomplishments making him a most worthy honoree for one of the Confederate namesake army bases.

Colonel Young Oak Kim was a highly decorated U.S. Army veteran of World War II and the Korean War. He was the only Korean American officer in a mostly J*pane...

12/10/2020

The official blog of the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs has a great write-up of Colonel Kim.

Please share and sign up your AAPI community group to join the Fort Kim U.S. Army Base Naming Project's Circle of Support--thanks.

Fort Kim U.S. Army Base Naming Project

National Go for Broke Day honors members of the 442nd Regiment, a segregated WWII unit of Asian-Americans, and was the most highly decorated of the war.

11/24/2020

Greetings Everyone!

Today, I’m sharing an important campaign I and others in the Korean American and AAPI community have embarked upon; the renaming of a U.S. military base – in honor of Col. Young Oak Kim--the first ethnic minority combat battalion leader whose career spanned WWII, the Korean & Vietnam Wars.

Our country is recognizing the need to rename Confederate namesake bases to shine a light on the buried past of the People of Color who served in the U.S. military. Col. Kim was a World War II and Korean War Hero whose achievements surpassed the battlefield.

His humanitarian work and desire to help others, shaped the AAPI community landscape in Los Angeles and beyond. If you could help us in petitioning our government officials to rename a U.S. Army post like Fort Benning, GA where Kim trained/taught or Fort Belvoir, VA (outside DC), in honor of the late Col. Kim, we would greatly appreciate it!

A link to a google document is listed below. Please fill it out so that we can come together and work toward the renaming of a U.S. military base in honor of one of U.S. history’s greatest Asian American war heroes: Col. Young Oak Kim.

For more information about Col. Kim, please visit https://yokcenter.ucr.edu/youngoakkim.php.

Please also join the FB group.

Thank you for your time!

Link to the Google Document:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1IuW6maNzeTFvz_nY84BusIjzEjY1pi59aUz5gyubiFE/edit

Thank you!
Prof. Edward T. Chang
YOK Center for Korean American Studies
Ethnic Studies
UC Riverside