The Korean War Project began in 1979 as part of a family history. The founder is Hal Barker, a photojournalist, writer, designer/inventor/journeyman carpenter, a graduate of North Carolina State University in History, and founder and initial contributor to establish the Korean War Veterans Memorial Fund in Washington, D.C., administered by the American Battle Monuments Commission.

He is the son of a Korean War Veteran. Barker traveled to South Korea in 1989 as a guest of the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Korea. He became the first foreigner since 1953 to stand on Hill 931, the main peak of Heartbreak Ridge.

Other sources of information about US fatalities in the Korean War

US National Archives has published lists of fatalities in a PDF format grouped by state. Additional fatality information at Korean War Educator