A group of U.S. House lawmakers called Tuesday for President Barack Obama to award this year's Presidential Medal of Freedom to late Korean-American war hero Kim Young-oak.

Reps. Judy Chu (D-CA), Charles Rangel (D-NY), Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Mark Takano (D-CA) made the appeal during a joint press conference at the House Rayburn building, saying the late retired Colonel Kim contributed to safeguarding and promoting the U.S. founding ideals of freedom and equality.

Joining the campaign are a total of 26 House lawmakers and two senators. The others include Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA), Sens.

Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA).

Kim, a son of a Korean independence fighter, was the first minority officer to command an Army combat battalion in American history. He served during the World War II and the Korean War.

After retirement from the military, Kim dedicated the remainder of his life to the socially weak. (Yonhap)