Osan UN Forces First Battle Memorial Hall Distributes 'Smith Unit Commemorative Coins' for 70th Anniversary of Jungmireung Battle

[Suwon Ilbo=Seo Dong-young] The UN Forces First Battle Memorial Hall in Osan (Director Kim Dong-hee) announced on the 16th that it will distribute 'Smith Special Task Force commemorative coins' on the 25th to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Osan Jungmireung Battle and UN Forces Participation Day (July 27).

The memorial hall has been issuing commemorative coins annually since 2018 as part of its project to honor fallen soldiers of the Smith Unit.

This year's 'commemorative coin' features Raymond E. Adams (then U.S. 24th Division Lieutenant) and Clarence R. Agee (then U.S. 52nd Artillery Battalion Corporal), selected in alphabetical order by surname among participating veterans. The coin displays their images, names, unit affiliations, and ranks at the time. Raymond E. Adams was recognized for his military exploits and received the U.S. Distinguished Service Cross.

On the day of the event, visitors can receive one commemorative coin per adult by participating in a simple memorial photo verification mission in front of the old and new UN Forces First Battle memorial monuments outside the memorial hall.

Operating hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with distribution limited to the first 100 people on a first-come, first-served basis and subject to early closure upon depletion of inventory. Distribution will be conducted via walk-through format while adhering to COVID-19 quarantine guidelines including mask-wearing, hand sanitization, and social distancing.

Kim Dong-hee, director of the UN Forces First Battle Memorial Hall, stated, "I hope this event prepared for the 70th anniversary of the Osan Jungmireung Battle and UN Forces Participation Day will serve as a meaningful occasion for local residents and us to remember and express our gratitude to the Smith Unit and UN Forces who fought for the freedom and peace of our nation."

Meanwhile, the 'UN Forces First Battle Memorial Hall' is a national patriotic facility and public museum located at Osan's Jungmireung, where the U.S. Smith Unit, the UN ground forces, engaged in its first combat with North Korean forces on July 5, 1950, shortly after the outbreak of the Korean War.

For more details about the event, inquiries can be made to the UN Forces First Battle Memorial Hall (031-377-1625).