SALEM -- Marking the 60th anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War, the president of the Republic of Korea wants to express his country's gratitude to American Korean War veterans by sending them a personal letter recognizing their service and sacrifice.
 
"The Invasion of Inchon, the Pusan Perimeter and the Chosin Reservoir are only a few of the fields of battle where Americans placed their lives on the line for democracy," said Jim Willis, director, Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs. "Of nearly 390,000 Americans who served there, 36,000 gave their lives, including 269 Oregonians."
 
The war was a military conflict between the Republic of South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, backed by the People's Republic of China and the Soviet Union. The situation escalated into open warfare when North Korean forces invaded South Korea across the border between the countries-the 38th parallel-on June 25, 1950.
 
An armistice was signed on July 23, 1953, thus ending the first significant armed conflict of the Cold War; however, a formal peace agreement never has been signed.
 
"I hope these veterans and their families will want to receive an official and personal letter of gratitude from President Lee Myung-bak which further honors their service," Willis said.
 
Korean War veterans and their families are invited to download and submit an application for this letter at http://eng.koreanwar60.go.kr/apply.asp.