Living history President Yoon Suk Yeol awarded Navy Capt. Elmer Royce Williams, retired Army Col. Ralph Puckett and Marine Corps first lieutenant Baldomero Lopez the Taegeuk Order of Military Merit, for their service during the Korean War. 2023.4.26
Yoon awards highest military order to 3 U.S. veterans of Korean War President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday awarded Korea's highest military order to three American veterans of the 1950-53 Korean War. Retired Army Col. Ralph Puckett, retired Navy Capt. Elmer Royce Williams and the late Baldomero Lopez... 2023.4.26
![President Yoon Suk Yeol bows to Navy Capt. Elmer Royce Williams, center, and retired Army Col. Ralph Puckett, left, before awarding the Taegeuk Order of Military Merit, the highest military order, during a luncheon celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Korea-U.S. alliance at a hotel in Washington on Tuesday. The late Baldomero Lopez, a first lieutenant who served in the Marine Corps, was also awarded the Taegeuk Order of Military Merit posthumously. His nephew received the order on behalf of the late Lopez. [YONHAP]](https://image.koreajoongangdaily.com/10530944.jpg?imageId=10530944&width=240&height=184&format=webp&format=jpg)
![President Yoon Suk Yeol (R) confers the Taegeuk Order of Military Merit on retired Navy Capt. Elmer Royce Williams during a luncheon celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Korea-U.S. alliance at a hotel in Washington on Tuesday. [YONHAP]](https://image.koreajoongangdaily.com/10569297.jpg?imageId=10569297&width=240&height=184&format=webp&format=jpg)