Donald Duk Yong Kim

In 1929, Donald Duk Yong Kim was born in Yongchun, North Korea as the youngest of three sons. His family was like many who faced Japanese oppression and moved to China. They made a comfortable living there but soon faced further Japanese persecution and returned back to North Korea. At age 14, Donald was devastated by his mother’s sudden death. He was very close to his mother and he would continue to feel this loss throughout his life.

Donald lived through numerous wars and witnessed Korea’s resulting independence after World War II. His older brothers who worked high ranking jobs in North Korea diligently protected him from being enlisted for the Korean War. At age 19, he defected from North Korea with the assistance of a family friend on a U.S. military ship headed to Busan. He reluctantly left his family behind to start a new life on his own.

After the Korean War he worked various jobs and opened his own tailoring shop in Seoul. A difficult political and economic environment in South Korea prompted Donald to move to the U.S. where he continued to seek a better life. He voluntarily enlisted in the U.S. Army and took great pride through his combat deployment during the Vietnam War and was honorably discharged at the rank of Staff Sergeant.

After the war, he returned to the U.S., settling in Philadelphia and marrying his wife, Kyung Hi Kim, who was serving in a Nursing Exchange Program. The couple had a daughter named Jennifer and continued to make a living by operating various businesses. They migrated across the U.S. including to New Jersey (shoe store), then to Denver (dry cleaners), and then to Gilbert, Arizona to retire at the age of 70.

Donald was a proud American veteran and often commented that he loved the year round warmth of the Arizona sun and considered living in the U.S. to be heaven. Throughout his life, he survived many wars and turbulent times in many countries on his own. He was fortunate to find a helping hand at difficult moments and at the age of 95 was able to finally find peace and leave a legacy through his wife, friends, and loved ones.