Submitted by the Chattanooga (Tenn.) Chapter

The Chattanooga (Tenn.) Chapter recently helped honor one of its members for his service during the Korean War.

Former Army Capt. Jack Martin received the Republic of Korea Ambassador for Peace Medal. This commemorative medal is awarded by the South Korean government to U.S servicemembers who served during the Korean War or in United Nations peacekeeping operations until the end of 1955. It is an expression of gratitude for the sacrifices made during the Korean War to help restore and preserve the freedom and democracy of the Republic of Korea.

Martin was recognized for his service as a rail transportation officer in Incheon, Korea. There, he commanded a contingent of about 50 people and was in charge of the railroad that provided the essential supplies for the military stationed in South Korea.

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The Aug. 26 event was unique for the chapter because the award was presented to Martin by another chapter member who served in Korea 50 years later: Gen. Burwell Baxter “B.B.” Bell III, USA (Ret), who commanded U.S. Forces in Korea from 2006-08.

“General Bell spoke not only as a soldier who once carried responsibility on the same peninsula, but also as a historian," said Lt. Col. Ray Mitchell, USA (Ret), chapter president. "His reflections traced the arc of a war often called the 'Forgotten Conflict,' offering a living bridge between past and present.” 

For the Chattanooga Chapter, the ceremony was more than an award; it was a testament to memory, to service, and to the truth that it is never too late to honor those who bore the weight of history.

"It was an honor to witness," Mitchell said.