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From My Service in Korea, I learned…

Song Pak Stisher

“Resiliency through Building Cultural Respect, Trust and Friendship”

As a newly commissioned Second Lieutenant in 1990, my first assignment in the Army as a Medical Service Corps Officer (70B) was a Medical Platoon Leader at the 568th Medical Company (Ground Ambulance), 52nd Medical Battalion, at Camp Humphreys, Pyongtaek, Korea. Camp Humphreys was quite different back then, a fenced in perimeter of post surrounded by pig farms and rice paddies. I can still smell the pig farms as I often ran the 10 mile perimeter o dark thirty in the morning.

My unit, the 568th Med Co, was a very unique in a sense it was a multi comp TOE unit consisted of US Army active duty personnel, Korean Service Corps (KSCs) and Korean Nationals (KNs). We didn’t have any KATUSAs assigned to 568th, however, our sister company, the 560th Medical Company did. I was assigned as one of the three Platoon Leaders at the 568th and within my platoon, I was in charge of about 30 KSCs, along with my platoon sergeant. The KSCs were unique in their skill sets as medics and civilian service members, fluent in both Korean and English. They were also senior in grade and time in service. They were well trained and skilled in various medical treatment and evacuation operations. I quickly gained a tremendous respect for them as I was a brand new Lieutenant who was their new leader. But I also faced some unique cultural challenges.

I was a 22 year old, Korean American, a female US Army Officer in charge of a group of very seasoned KSCs and this was their very first experience working for a woman, someone who was half their age, without much time and grade and very “green.” They didn’t really know what to expect from me, never mind taking orders from me. I quickly realized this was a very difficult situation for the KSCs, who have traditionally reported to male leaders in a male dominant society and culture. I also realized that respect is not simply given but earned and this was a two way street. I had to first prove to them that I respected their contributions and commitment to the unit’s mission. We were able to do this through various field training exercises, team building  and leadership training. Over time and collaborations, we were able to build mutual trust, respect and acceptance of each other. We accomplished many missions and tasks throughout the 12 months we spent together at Camp Humphreys. I can honestly say that by the end of my tour in Korea, we became family.

As I look back to my time in Korea and the unique experience gained working with the KSCs at 568th, I can still remember all of their smiling faces. I will never forget friendship, culture and humanity we shared during our time together. And best of all, it truly taught me the importance of resiliency when challenged with unique cultural differences and how we can all overcome these challenges through mutual respect and trust. We believed in our motto “Katchi Kapshida” – Let’s Go Together.

This journey was very special to me as I had returned to Korea to serve since my family immigrated to the US in 1978. I hope to revisit Korea soon and walk through the journey one more time.

Thank you for allowing me to share my story.

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

Sharing your experiences from serving in Korea can be a powerful way to connect with others who have had similar experiences. By sharing your story, you may be able to help others who are currently serving in Korea or who are preparing to do so. You can share insights about the culture, the people, and the challenges you faced while serving. Your story can also help to shed light on the sacrifices that service members and their families make in order to protect our freedoms. So, if you have a story to share, we encourage you to take the time to put it down in writing and send it to KDVA.MyServiceInKorea@gmail.com along with any photos that help to tell your story.

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