YONGSAN GARRISON, South Korea — Hershey Korea is bringing mouthfuls of bliss to the U.S. military community in South Korea.
The company donated $64,000 worth of Hershey’s Bliss chocolate here on Thursday.
The donation was the brainchild of John Kim, Hershey Korea director, and Capt. Vince Lee, a USFK soldier.
Kim, who knows Lee through a local cigar club, said he’d been looking for an opportunity to show his support to the U.S. community.
"There’s no catch to this. There’s no advertising — no promotional crap. It’s just a straight donation," said Lee in a phone interview Wednesday.
"Memorial Day is right around the corner, and we really wanted to thank our men and women in uniform for preserving peace and freedom," Kim said.
The donation arrived at the Dragon Hill Lodge stacked about four feet high on 16 pallets — 324 bags of the candy on each pallet.
And it’s a sneak preview.
The candy won’t even be available at off-base stores until this fall.
Two pallets will go to off-base orphanages; four will be distributed at the Army Ball; half of a pallet will go to Scout troops; two already went to Osan Air Base; and 1 1/2 pallets were sent to Daegu-area troops. The remaining six pallets were given to the United Service Organizations for distribution to troops around the peninsula.
Jeff Herndon, USO Korea program manager, said soldiers will be able to get the candy by visiting the USO and simply asking for it.
"Our intention right now is, if a soldier comes in and says he’d like some candy, we’ll give them a bag," Herndon said.
