A local war veteran will be receiving an Ambassador of Peace medal from South Korea.
David Bowen, who now lives in Abbotsford, received a confirmation email from Senator Yonah Martin, that the medal will be sent to the Korean consulate office in Vancouver and a ceremony will be scheduled at a later date.
“I’m really excited about this,” he said.
Bowen, now 84, first landed in Korea on May 4, 1951.
Born in Edmonton, he made the choice to go to Korea when, at the age of 21, he voluntarily joined the army.
After training in Fort Lewis, Wash., he was shipped out to Korea. He was a messenger, delivering orders by jeep to and from different areas of battle.
Three years ago, Bowen was one of 2,400 former soldiers who received correspondence from Lee Myung-bak, president of the Republic of Korea, thanking him for his efforts and inviting him and his family back to South Korea to join in the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the conflict.