November 2010

The South Korean government flew cousin Barbara and Burley Smith to South Korea in order to award Burley a Medal of Honor for his part in the heroic evacuation of 14,000 Korean civilians in December 1950.	The civilians were taken aboard Burley's SS Meredith Victory, a US Merchant Marine cargo ship at the heavily mined Hungnam Harbor, thus preventing the Chinese and North Korean armies from murdering these civilians.
Burley Smith (lower right) on board the SS Meredith Victory. (circa 1950)
Touring a South Korean War Memorial	Upon receiving the Korean Veteran's Medal of Honor.
The U.S. Dept. of Commerce Maritime Administration, issued a citation letter stating, "The courage, resourcefulness, sound seamanship and teamwork of her master, officers, and crew in successfully completing one of the greatest marine rescues in the history of the world have caused the name of the Meredith Victory to be perpetuated as that of a Gallant Ship."
The man stands out in a crowd !