First Korean American Casualty in Iraq
Korea Daily and The Korea Times, News Report, Compiled and Translated by Aruna Lee, Posted: Apr 27, 2004
The Korean American community has seen its first casualty in the Iraq war, report two Korean language newspapers that publish in the United States.
U.S. Marine Brad Shuder, 21, Lance Corporal, was killed during a battle this month near the besieged town of Fallujah, according to the Korea Daily and The Korea Times.
Shuder was adopted when he was 22 months old and brought from his native South Korea to El Dorado County, California. Last year, he completed his first tour of duty, coming home after seven months in Iraq. Soon after coming home, however, he volunteered for a second tour or duty.
“My son was not afraid to return to Iraq. After spending seven months there, he did not hesitate to go back,” says Brad’s father, Glenn Shuder.
"Brad was hit with a mortar attack. Brad was killed and another corporal died," Glenn Shuder told his local newspaper, the Mountain Democrat.
Before leaving, Brad mentioned to his father that he had a feeling he might not come back this time.
Shuder was killed on April 12.
Brad’s friends say he wanted to join the military from high school. His plan was to open a bakery after completing his service.
Despite the fighting in Iraq, particularly in the area of Fallujah, the Korean government has tentatively decided that by the end of June they will send in more troops, becoming the third largest military presence after the United States and Britain.
Korea’s troops, numbering 3,000, will be stationed in Arbil, located in northern Kurdish sections of Iraq. So far, none of the Korean troops have been killed.
With an airport and roads connecting Iraq to Iran, Turkey and Syria and a direct train route to Baghdad, Arbil is an important location for supplies coming into and out of Iraq, according to one U.S. official.
Whether or not to send troops to Iraq is a major issue for many Koreans, following a period of political uncertainty at home. Many Koreans oppose their government sending in more troops..
Well-known author and Zen Monk Beob Jung Snim, who is seen as Korea's Thich Nhat Hanh (famous for speaking out against the Vietnam War), recently addressed a crowd of over a thousand on issues of war and forgiveness.
Speaking from Gil Sang Temple in Seoul on a day when Koreans commemorate the dead, including those who have died in the Iraq conflict, Beob Jung spoke of the need for countries around the world to forgive, rather than seek vengeance. Referring to the attacks of Sept. 11 in New York, he said that the United States was only making matters worse by seeking to avenge itself on countries it deemed guilty.
Related Stories and Links:
Arlington National Cemetery Information on Brad Shuder
Quick Release of Korean Hostages in Iraq Due to Amicable Iraq-South Korea Ties
Focus on Iraq < NCM Coverage
Fallujah < NCM Search
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