Thanks from Korea are never too late

Thursday, June 21, 2001 | 10:49 a.m.

Talk about snail mail.

The Korean government intended last year to honor former North Las Vegas Constable Lou Tabat for his military service on the 50th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War.

But a snafu held the document up, and Tabat just received it in time for the war's 51st anniversary on Monday.

A big part of the problem: The Korean government sent the letter from President Kim Dae-jung to the American base where Tabat last served in 1948.

"It didn't matter to me that it was late -- it was a letter from the president of Korea, so I was proud to get it anytime," said Tabat, a longtime pro boxing judge.

"I had no idea I was even going to get this letter of appreciation. I have talked to other Korean War veterans and they did not mention receiving one."

The letter is a two-page document written in Korean on the left page and English on the right.

Dated June 25, 2000, the letter says in part: "I would like to offer you my deepest gratitude for your noble contributions to the efforts to safeguard the Republic of Korea and uphold liberal democracy around the world."

Tabat, who was constable from 1974 to 1998, served in Korea as an Air Force flight chief for a dozen F-86 jet fighters. Before being sent to Korea, he served at Randolph Air Force Base. The Korean document was sent from that post office. Tabat retired as a staff sergeant in 1961.

"I can only assume the letter was either misplaced or lost," Tabat said.