Wine & War

SAVE THE DATE for the inaugural event in our Wine & War series on July 27th!

This year marks the 70th Anniversary of the signing of the Korean War Armistice. Discover the stories of Medal of Honor recipients and other service personnel who fought in the “Forgotten War” while enjoying a selection of Korean wines.

This event promises to be an unforgettable experience for wine lovers and history buffs alike. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to taste Korean wine and cuisine while exploring the impact and legacy of the Korean War.

Keynote Speaker

Brigadier General Stephen Curda is the first Korean American U.S. Army Reserve General Officer to reach Flag Officer rank. Born in Seoul, South Korea, he endured a number of hardships as child. In the early 1970s at age 12, he was adopted by an American family and was brought to the United States.  

Upon graduating college with a BA in Psychology, Dr. Curda was commissioned as a second lieutenant, and his first assignment was to be stationed in Korea. Since then, he has commanded units at every echelon from the platoon, company, battalion, brigade, and general officer command. His diverse overseas duty locations include the 2 nd Infantry Division, Republic of Korea; Joint Task Force-Bravo, Soto Cano AB, Honduras; Ft. Davis, Panama; Baghdad, Iraq and Kabul, Afghanistan. His staff experiences include Support Operations Officer for the Special Operations Command – South; S3 Operations Officer, 49 th Trans Battalion; S4 Logistics Officer and Chemical Officer, 45th Infantry Brigade (Separate); Director of Distance Learning, Joint Special Operations University in Hurlburt Field, Florida and numerous other staff positions.

Dr. Curda resigned from his commission to pursue a graduate degree at University of Oklahoma. While working on his doctorate, he was recruited to join the Oklahoma National Guard. Upon his graduation, he took a faculty position at Florida State University and, at the same time, transitioned into U.S. Army Reserve.

In February 2003, he was mobilized and deployed in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM and served as a Deputy and eventually Interim Senior Advisor of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research for the Coalition Provisional Authority. Upon returning from deployment, he assumed command of the 451 st Civil Affairs Battalion. He also commanded the 308 th Civil Affairs Brigade. Immediately following his Brigade Command tenure, he was mobilized and deployed in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM and served as the US Forces – Afghanistan J9 Director, responsible for all US civil/military operations in Afghanistan. 

Upon returning from Afghanistan, he was selected to be a general officer. He commanded the 351 st Civil Affairs Command (CACOM), Mountain View, California, where the CACOM was responsible for all Civil Affairs support activities in the U.S. Pacific Command, including the Combined Forces Command in the Republic of Korea. He was recalled to active duty and served as the commander of the 9th Mission Support Command in Fort Shafter, Hawaii. The 9 th MSC was responsible for all of the U.S. Army Pacific Reserve Forces located in Alaska, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Saipan, Korea, and Japan and consisted of over 3,600 Soldiers and civilians across seven time zones. Dr. Curda coined the phrase that “The U.S. Army Reserve Sun rises and sets with the 9th MSC.” He retired from the service in 2017. 

We are thrilled to announce that Zaya 1943 Korean Steakhouse will be catering our highly anticipated Wine & War event! Prepare your taste buds for an extraordinary culinary journey as Zaya brings its exquisite Korean cuisine to the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center.

Whether you are a seasoned food enthusiast or simply curious to explore new flavors, Zaya 1943’s culinary expertise will leave an indelible mark on your palate. Join us for an evening of wine, delightful cuisine, and captivating conversation as we savor the flavors of Korea in a truly unforgettable setting and remember those who served in the “Forgotten War.”

Don’t miss this opportunity to experience Zaya 1943’s exceptional catering firsthand. Stay tuned for further updates, including a sneak peek at the menu soon!

We are thrilled to announce that our friend at Prehistoric Perk Coffee Company LLC will be making and serving Dalgona Korean Coffee at our highly anticipated inaugural Wine & War event on July 27th!

Prehistoric Perk is a veteran-owned and operated coffee roasting company located here in the Heritage Center lobby. Prehistoric Perk got its start on a deployment to Afghanistan when founder Vince was troubled by the bland coffee selections. To remedy this, he ordered his coffee roaster and a few bags of specialty single-origin beans. He then began serving his creation to other service members and military contractors who just couldn’t get enough, and thus, the Prehistoric Perk Coffee Co. was born.

Don’t miss a chance to “Fuel Your Evolution” while tasting this excellent Korean-style coffee as you learn more about the “Forgotten War” and those who served in it!

**This event is a members-only event. Please consider becoming a National Medal of Honor Heritage Center member.**