Retired Captain Monika and retired Lieutenant Colonel Tim Stoy have been early supporters of the National Museum of the United States Army, and recently doubled their contribution after watching the vision for this historic project become a reality. Captain Stoy’s mother, Hae, has also made a significant contribution to the Museum, both families donated in honor of their late husband/father, Kyungjin Choi, a Korean citizen who served with the 8240 Army Unit of the United Nations Partisan Forces Korea from 1950 to 1953.
Kyungjin Choi was born in Pyongyang Province while Korea was still occupied by Japan. After the Japanese occupation ended in 1945, and the country separated to prevent the Soviet Union from occupying the Korean Peninsula, Kyungjin was sent to a boarding school in Seoul for high school. When the UN Forces liberated Seoul, he joined the partisan forces being trained and equipped by the U.S. Army and undertook many missions into Pyongyang Province. He served in the 8240 Army Unit of the United Nations Partisan Forces Korea from 1950 to 1953.
Kyungjin, Hae, and their five children immigrated to the United States in 1973 and settled in Springfield, Va. Monika went on to serve as a Captain in the U.S. Army. While serving in the Army, Monika met her husband Tim, who served in the Army Intelligence from 1981 to 2012 retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.
“This project owes a special debt of gratitude to the Choi and Stoy families, both for their Army service, and their contributions supporting the Museum, to help ensure that Americans are able to learn the stories of all Soldiers,” said The Army Historical Foundation, President retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Roger Schultz.
The Stoy family has been great volunteers of the Foundation spreading the word about the Museum and encouraging many veterans and family members to purchase commemorative bricks. Monika has also participated in the Foundation’s Soldier Experience Series, where she highlighted her father’s service in support of the U.S. Army.
This project owes a special debt of gratitude to the Choi and Stoy families, both for their Army service, and their contributions supporting the Museum, to help ensure that Americans are able to learn the stories of all Soldiers.
The Stoy and Choi family are part of the Museum’s Circles of Distinction program, which is comprised of individuals, foundations, and corporations that have donated more than $50,000 to the Capital Campaign for the National Museum of the United States Army. These donors will have their names showcased on the massive granite wall in our Lobby.
To learn more information on how to join other donors in the Circles of Distinction, contact Julie Kaplan, Assistant Vice President of Development at Julie.Kaplan@armyhistory.org or (703) 562-4175.
