On January 24, 2026, a distinguished and deeply meaningful award was presented to Grandmaster Jack Corrie on behalf of his father, CLIFFORD CORRIE, in recognition of Clifford Corrie’s service during the Korean War (1951–1953). The award was made possible through the efforts of Taekwondo Grandmaster Lion Choi, following the sharing of Clifford Corrie’s military history, his role in the fight to liberate the Korean people, and the profound, lifelong commitment to Taekwondo and to Korea that emerged within his family as a direct result of that service.
For over 43 years, Grandmaster Corrie’s Taekwondo dojang in Folsom, California, has remained in continuous operation. Throughout these decades, he has dedicated himself to sharing the gift of Taekwondo with students and communities worldwide. He has often reflected that had Clifford Corrie and countless other American servicemen not answered the call to serve, the Korea known today one that has shared the cultural and martial gift of Taekwondo with the world might not have existed in its present form.
The medal was presented as a surprise by Grandmaster Choi during a formal event, on behalf of a Korean representative. The award itself carried profound symbolic significance: the metal was forged from melted shell casings from the Korean War, and the centerpiece was fashioned from material taken from the fence at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
Clifford Corrie received several Purple Heart medals for combat wounds sustained during the war. However, the most enduring wound proved to be the post-traumatic stress disorder he carried upon returning home, which profoundly affected the remainder of his life. As a machine gun operator serving on the front lines, he witnessed combat and loss that remained with him until his passing.
Many thanks to Lion Choi for his presentation of this historic medal to Grandmaster Jack Corrie. Many thanks also to Jack Corrie for his inclusion of this medal and story in the United States Taekwondo Museum.
And most importantly a special “THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THIS COUNTRY CLIFFORD CORRIE” and all others who served!