Migration News
South Korean soldiers donate funds to support Katrina relief
September 15, 2005
Col. Lee Yong-il, Republic of Korea Army Support Group commander; Col. William G. Kidd, 8th U.S. Army chief of staff; and Ahava Martin, manager of the American Red Cross in South Korea, meet Tuesday at the 8th Army Headquarters. Lee presented Martin with a $3,588 donation from his command’s troops for Hurricane Katrina cleanup efforts. (T.D. Flack / S&S)
SEOUL — The commander of the Korea Army Support Group presented $3,588 on Tuesday to the American Red Cross for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
Col. Lee Yong-il donated the money to Red Cross director Ahava Martin during a brief ceremony in the 8th Army’s headquarters building. Also in attendance was 8th Army chief of staff Col. William G. Kidd.
The donations came from the command’s South Korean soldiers and Korean Augmentees to the U.S. Military, or KATUSA, and helped “show the ROK-U.S. alliance” remains strong, according to Lee’s staff. ROK is an acronym for the Republic of Korea, South Korea’s official name.
Kidd called the donation a “sincere” gesture.
They “just felt compelled to give a donation” to the people in the States, he said. “They feel a kinship to us.”
Martin said she was thankful for the donation.
“It was wonderful that the ROK military is concerned about the hurricane victims,” she said when reached by phone late Tuesday afternoon.
Tuesday’s donation was one of several that have poured in from across South Korea, Martin said.