The Korean government has announced that Lt Col A G Rangaraj, who commanded the 60 Para Field Ambulance of the Indian Army during the Korean War, will be the Korean War Hero for July 2020, reports Asian Community News.
“During the month of July 2020, the photo of Lt Col A G Rangaraj will be put in the War Memorial and other public places in Korea. This gesture is a token of appreciation from the heart of Korean people for the sacrifices made by the participating nations,” said the Defense Attaché of the Embassy of Republic of Korea in New Delhi, Col Lee In.
The decision was taken by the Korean Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. Lt Col Rangaraj was the Indian Army’s first Para Commando, and he was also the recipient of the Maha Vir Chakra in later years.
The medical unit under the officer consisted of 364 men, and during the course of their deployment in Korea, they received several commendations from the Korean government for displaying bravery under fire while providing much needed medical relief.
In 2010 former South Korean president Lee Myung-Bak had remarked that if it had not been for the help and sacrifices of the Indian people, Korea would not have turned out to be what it has become today.