In Chul Kim
Corporal, United States Marine Corps
April 26, 1981 – December 7, 2004
Age – 23
Warren, MI
Operation Iraqi Freedom
9th Communications Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA
Died in a non-hostile vehicle incident in Anbar, Iraq
Everyone describes In C. Kim as a shy young man who tried hard to fit in.
“He was quiet and daydreaming,” said his uncle, Christopher Kim. “Once I saw a picture he drew. It was a boy lying down on the grass and looking at the sky and daydreaming.”
Kim, 23, of the Detroit suburb of Warren, Mich., died Dec. 7 in a vehicle accident in Iraq’s Anbar province. He was assigned to Camp Pendleton.
After growing up in Seoul, South Korea, Kim moved to Michigan with his family five years ago. His parents named him In Chul because “In” means “merciful” in Korean and “Chul” means “pride.”
One day, military recruiters piqued his interest with talk of benefits and travel. He took a test and scored especially high in mathematics. He was a Marine by August 2001, a few months after graduating high school. One of the attractions of the Marine Corps was its ability to help him learn more about American culture and help with his English. He graduated from Warren Mott High School in 2001. After high school, Kim faced a choice about where he wanted to go next. It was the sense of adventure that led him to try the military route.
“First of all, he wanted to learn English, then he wanted to learn about America,” his father said. “He wanted to serve his country.” Cpl. In C. Kim of Warren, Michigan joined the United States Marine corps in 2001, hoping to become a doctor of Eastern medicine once he had earned enough for college tuition. Shortly before returning for a second tour of duty, in a filial gesture, he bought his father a new car. Kim was on his second tour in Iraq. Fear did little to hold Kim back as a child. He would often lead hikes in the woods.
Kim spent six months in Iraq last year. Two months ago, he returned for another six-month stint. He was awarded the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and the National Defense Service Medal.
In C. Kim also is survived by his mother, Kyoung Kim, and an older sister, Sun Kim.
One of his Marine friends remembered him with the following –
“Kim I miss you so much. that night after making it to BIOP I had a great time laughing with you. When I saw your truck go in smoke I was so frightened. Sitting behind your vehicle only feet away providing security and not seeing any movement or sounds on or off the radio and having a clear view from being a fellow gunner that night. I just want you to know I had a son at that same moment, finding out once we got back to base and checked the status on him. I was very sad along with the rest of our crew but also filled with happiness because I knew I will always have a connection with you through my son. his name is Brian.
Kim I love you and send my love to your family. I barely pulled through a vehicle accident where I was called twice then awoke from a coma two weeks later. you were a very good friend when I got to that unit and living in your room when I first got there was great. cause I was able to learn stuff from your life. I miss you brother see you again after this life is over.”
Cpl James Halliwell of Santa Barbara, CA