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This week, U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-40) attended a dedication ceremony to officially rename the U.S. Post Office at 1400 N Kraemer Blvd., Placentia, CA after U.S Army Private First Class (PFC) Jang Ho Kim.
In the 117th Congress, Rep. Kim led H.R. 6630 to rename the post office in his honor.
“We are able to enjoy our everyday freedoms because of the dedicated service and sacrifice of those who have answered the call to serve,” said Rep. Kim. “While we cannot repay our nation’s heroes, I hope that the U.S. Army PFC Jang Ho Kim Post Office will allow his family, loved ones, neighbors and future generations learn and share his story. I thank my House and Senate colleagues for supporting this effort, and I am thrilled it is finally a reality.”
“I am grateful to see that the soldiers who sacrificed for the country were never forgotten and remembered through this ceremony. As his family, I am proud of him, and I am deeply grateful to Congresswoman Young Kim and the US government for proposing and working on this bill,” said Seop Kim, father of U.S. PFC Jang Ho Kim.
Background:
PFC Jang Ho Kim was born in Seoul, South Korea and immigrated to the U.S. with his family in 1990, living in New York before moving to Orange County. Kim graduated from Valencia High School in Placentia and enrolled in Fullerton College. A budding computer programmer, Kim helped Grace Korean Church in Fullerton set up their website. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in June 2005, completing both Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, GA. He was subsequently stationed in Germany as part of the Army’s 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division before being deployed to Baghdad. He never shared news of his deployment to Baghdad with his family to keep them from worrying.
Tragically, he was one of two soldiers killed when a roadside bomb exploded near their vehicle. He received the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, in addition to four other awards, medals and badges for his exemplary service and sacrifice. PFC Jang Ho Kim is buried at the Riverside National Cemetery.
