SEOUL, Republic of Korea – Rear Adm. Brad Cooper, the commander of U.S. Naval Forces Korea, Task Force 78, and U.S. Navy Region Korea, offered his condolences over the loss of three Republic of Korea Navy sailors during a combined funeral ceremony at the Korean Armed Forces Capital Hospital in Seoul, Oct. 2.
Lieutenant Commander Kim Kyung Min, Lt. Cmdr. Park UShin, and Master Chief Hwang Sung Cheol died when their aircraft crashed during an Alliance maritime operation in the waters East of the Korean Peninsula, Sept. 26.
“Today we join our ROK partners in mourning," said Cooper. "These brave sailors join the heroes written in the annals of Korean history who died not in vain but in service for a grateful nation and honored people. They gave their utmost and in their final act of courage, showed the absolute strength of the ROK-U.S. alliance. This is a shared tragedy, felt by every sailor and experienced by any family member who has waited for their sailor to return."
Cooper accompanied Vice Adm. Lee, Ki-sik, the Commander of the Republic of Korea Fleet.
For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea, visit www.navy.mil/local/cnfk.
