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.
What did you learn from serving in Korea? Let us know –
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