Unsung Hero: The Story of Colonel Young Oak Kim

The Colonel Young Oak Kim Story isn't just another tale of a war hero. Kim has a special place not only in American and Korean history but also in world history. Col. Kim served in World War II and the Korean War as a minority officer leading the U.S. Army's 100th Infantry Battalion. Kim, a Korean American, led the famous Japanese American battalion and helped bridge the racial and cultural gap between the two ethnicities. His dedication, integrity, spirit and loyalty earned him the respect of white officers in a time when racism was prevalent. A champion of human rights, Kim believed that helping others was the best way to prevent strife and ultimately war. "If I survive this war, I will devote my life to the betterment of the community I belong to," Kim promised himself during World War II. When he retired, Kim helped establish numerous nonprofit organizations in Los Angeles, California. He spent the rest of his retired years serving underprivileged, and minority populations such as orphans, adoptees, women and Asian Americans.