Young-Oak Kim, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

Young-Oak Kim

Recipient of the Purple Heart medal

Date of Birth: 29-Jan-1919

Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, United States

Date of Death: 29-Dec-2005

Profession: military personnel

Nationality: United States

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Young-Oak Kim (Korean: ???; Hanja: ???; RR: Gim Yeong-ok; MR: Kim Yong'ok, 1919 – December 29, 2005), a United States Army officer during World War II and the Korean War and a civic leader and humanitarian.
He was a member of the U.S.
100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and a combat leader in Italy and France during World War II.
He was awarded 19 medals, including the Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, two Bronze Stars, three Purple Hearts, a Bronze Medal of Military Valor, a Légion d'honneur, a Croix de guerre, and (posthumously) the Korean Taeguk Cordon of the Order of Military Merit.
After his military career, Kim dedicated his life to public service and was an active founder and leader of several non-profit organizations for underserved communities throughout Southern California.
He died of cancer at the age of 86.
In May 2016, members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus held a press conference, organized by the Council of Korean Americans, to call on President Barack Obama to posthumously award Kim the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.