(Washington, D.C) - “The enactment of the Korean American VALOR Act is a significant step toward rectifying the inequity in care for those who fought alongside us in Vietnam,” said Jack McManus, National President, Vietnam Veterans of America. The VALOR Act expands eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs benefits like medical and dental care to over 4,000 veterans of the South Korean armed forces who served in Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975.

“Our government offered healthcare to generations of allied forces prior to the Vietnam War; our Korean brothers in arms — now American citizens — have until now been unjustly denied access to care that they earned through service,” said McManus.

President McManus emphasized VVA’s commitment to collaborating with members of the Korean Vietnam Veterans community and the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that the VALOR Act is implemented in a way that maximizes access to healthcare for Republic of Korea Vietnam Veterans.

Under the VALOR Act, the VA will be able to furnish healthcare upon receiving a request from the government of South Korea and after forming a reciprocity agreement providing reimbursement from the South Korean government for care expenses.