Purple Heart Holder Deported After Decades in U.S. Due to PTSD and Criminal Record
The story of a U.S. military veteran with PTSD and a criminal record who was ordered to leave the country he had lived in for nearly 50 years and return to South Korea.
Sae Joon Park, a former U.S. military member with a Purple Heart and PTSD, was ordered to leave the United States in June 2025 and return to South Korea despite living in the U.S. for nearly 50 years. Park's case highlights the complex challenges faced by immigrants with criminal records and mental health issues who have served in the U.S. military.
After completing his service in the Vietnam War and receiving the Purple Heart for his injuries, Park struggled to reintegrate into civilian life, developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that contributed to a series of arrests and convictions over the years. Despite his service and combat injuries, his criminal record made him ineligible to remain in the United States, leading to his deportation order.
{{IMAGE_PLACEHOLDER}}Source: The New York Times
