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Art Smith, Jr.– From My Service in Korea, I Learned …

Art Smith, Jr.

1967-1968

There is so much to tell you about this great trip but there are two stories that I would like to share.

Arrival – we just arrived at the airport in Soeul I was wearing my 2nd Inf Div hat and as we are assigned into groups, another vet comes up to me and says, “Didn’t I hear you say that you were assigned to 2/72 Armor?” I replied “yes”, he leaves and returns with another vet who says, “I was in 2/72 Armor what year were you stationed there?”  1967-68 I say and he says “I was there then, in HHC. What company did you serve in?” I was in HHC, (we both did not recognize each other yet) What was your MOS and I asked “Medic” “What was yours” he asked “The HHC Armorer”.  He yells out “that was Smitty” “Smitty”. “Herendez” I reply.  He gets out our unit yearbook and there we are.

Art

Rich

On the trip we are invited to visit the DMZ (a place that most soldiers never got to see). I was lucky and was authorized to travel with my Bn CMDR to Panmunjeom. On one trip I witnessed a North Korean defected and I was fortunate to catch it with my camera.  Well on our trip I stood in the same spot that I was on in 68 and nothing changed.

 


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