Steve Tharp, commander of Lewis L. Millett American Legion Post 38 in South Korea, attended the CPL Jang Myong-ki Memorial Ceremony on Nov. 23, 2021, held at Camp Bonifas, South Korea. Camp Bonifas is home to the United Nations Command Security Battalion-Joint Security Area, whose primary mission is to monitor and enforce the Korean Armistice Agreement between North and South Korea.
CPL Jang, Myong-ki, a Korean augmentee to the U.S. Army, was killed on Nov. 23, 1984, during a firefight after a defector ran across the Military Demarcation Line that separates the two nations. Thirty North Korean guards pursued him across the border and opened fire.
CPL Jang and Private 1st Class Michael A. Burgoyne were the first United Nation Command soldiers the North Koreans guards encountered. Jang and Burgoyne fought back the North Korean guards, which enabled the UNC Joint Security Force to outflank the North Korean pursuers and pin them down inside the Sunken Garden. The United Nation Command soldiers defeated the North Korean pursuers and kept the defector safe.
CPL Jung was killed, and PFC Michael A. Burgoyne wounded during the firefight. Three North Korean guards were killed and five were wounded. Eight North Korean pursuers were captured.
A memorial wreath was placed by Commander Tharp during the ceremony.