Jang Ho Kim
Private First Class, U.S. Army

Jang Ho Kim was born on 26 December 1985 in Seoul, South Korea. In 1990, his father, Seop Bae 'Steve' Kim, his mother, Sang Soon Kim, Jang Ho, and sister Jang Mi (Michelle) Kim, moved to the United States from Seoul. They lived in New York before moving to Placentia in Orange County, CA.

So,when two soldiers came to tell them Jang Ho had been killed in Baghdad, Steve Kim knew it had to be a mistake. When the soldiers handed him Jang Ho's death certificate, he didn't believe it. The document listed Kansas as his son's birthplace and additionally stated he was killed in Baghdad, Iraq. "I thought it was a mistake because my son was born in Seoul, South Korea and, during two phone calls after he left for Germany, he said he was in a safe place and not in Baghdad," said the disbelieving dad. "I didn't trust this document, so they called someone in the military. They were told when a soldier is born outside of the United States, they change his birthplace to a U.S. state. His had been changed to Kansas. It was him," Kim said. [This information from the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin; Imani Tate, Staff Writer; 31 May 2012; http://www.dailybulletin.com/20120601/slain-soldier-didnt-tell-parents-of-his-assignment-in-iraq]

In a combat operation in Baghdad on 13 November 2006, PFC Jang Ho Kim was the driver and PFC Allman was the gunner, in a 2-man Humvee. Both men were assigned to the Mortar Platoon, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment 'Blue Spaders.' Their Humvee was the first vehicle in line in the combat patrol and it was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED). Both men were killed instantly. The explosion was so great that it took three months to separate the two soldiers' remains, which could be identified only by DNA.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart
National Defense Service Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon
Combat Infantryman Badge

Burial

Private First Class Jang Ho Kim is buried at the Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, CA.

Personal Note

Since Jan Ho's death, Steve, Song Soon and Michelle Kim have become American citizens to reaffirm their personal beliefs in American freedom and their appreciation for Army officials' thoughtful consideration during a time of horrific tragedy.