A tree planting ceremony has been held in the U.S. state of New Jersey in memory of a captain of an American ship that rescued thousands during the Korean War.

The SS Lane Victory cargo ship, captained by Leonard LaRue, rescued some seven-thousand people during the Hungnam evacuation in the late 1950s.

At that time, U.S-backed South Korean and UN troops retreated to the northeastern port as Chinese forces made a surprise entry into the war to back North Korea. 

Kim Duk Ryeong, Executive Vice Chairman of Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation, planted the tree on the grounds of St. Paul's Abbey where LaRue resided as a monk, until he passed away in 2001 at the age of 87.

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