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From My Service in Korea, I learned…

Enoch Ibarra

US Navy

(1976 – 1978)

My first visit to Korea came shortly after my twenty first birthday, on assignment as an US Navy hospital Corpsman.

Having never been to Korea, I didn’t know what to expect and knew very little about the country at the time.

As a member of a very small US Marine unit, attached to a much larger Amphibious Ready Group, it gave me the opportunity to see quite a bit of the country during that first visit.

I was privileged to travel from Pusan to Seoul, and on to Imjingak with a fellow platoon member, and had the privilege of experiencing Korea at my own pace.

After that, my unit reported to the Korean Marine Base at Pohang where we trained side by side with some of the Republic of Korea’s elite Marines.

At Pohang I learned cold weather survival, amphibious raiding, and mountain warfare tactics.  I was immediately impressed by the discipline and dedication of the ROK Marines.

During my time off duty, I had the privilege of being invited into the homes of local people who were immediately welcoming and friendly.  It was through the influence and example of these friends that I gained a deep love for Korea as a nation, and for its people.

Through many of those people who became my friends, I was able to learn much about the culture of the Republic of Korea and some of its traditions and customs.

Nearly a year later, I returned to my unit’s home base in Okinawa and prepared to be sent to a unit in Hawaii, never expecting to have an opportunity of being able to return to Korea.

Almost exactly a year later, an opportunity presented itself to be able to return to Korea.  And, through some difficult negotiations I was able to convince my commanding officer to authorize my return to the Republic of Korea for my last military deployment.

At the time, I knew very little about the actual location or nature of the duties involved.  But I looked forward to this assignment with excitement and great expectations because it would allow me the opportunity of returning to Korea.

Within a couple of weeks of reporting to the headquarters of the Commander of Naval Forces Korea, I found myself assigned to the demilitarized zone, working alongside Army medics of the Joint Security Area at Pan Mun Jom.

There I got a first-hand look at some of the military and political challenges facing the nation of Korea.  It also gave me the privilege of working with young soldiers of the ROK Army who were serving with the United Nations Command.

Through my service in Korea, I learned of its rich history, and the dedication and loyalty of the Korean people to their great nation.  It gave me a deep and abiding respect and love for the Republic of Korea and its people.

From my time spent with Korean community members, military and world leaders I gained a deep appreciation, love and respect for the Republic of Korea and the Korean people.

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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