From My Service in Korea, I learned…
Michael Matson
My time in Korea started in Dec 82 when I was sent from CSC 2/39th Inf Ft Lewis, Washington to CSC 1/38th Inf Camp Hovey, 2nd Inf Division. Being in a front-line Infantry unit during the cold Korea winter had a lot of challenges. We trained year-round but winters were spent pretty much in the field.
In Sept 83, our unit deployed North to defend the DMZ, manning the guard posts and conducting ambush patrols within the sector the U.S. was responsible for. I spent the majority of my time on GP Collier doing my job as a tow gunner using our gun sights, observing and documenting North Korean movements and activities both day and night.
Serving in such a hostile environment as a 21-year-old was exciting, stressful, and rewarding, knowing were keeping the South Korean people safe. Having served with Korean Augmentation soldiers (KATUSA) was an incredibly rewarding experience. I befriended many KATUSAs and traveled throughout the country with them. I learned and was very appreciative of the Korean culture, which I still hold dear to this day.
I was in attendance when President Reagan gave the speech at Camp Liberty Bell in November. My squad and I were tasked to escort him down to Camp Liberty Bell from GP collier in front of his motorcade. We can be seen in the video of that day, over his right shoulder as he gave that historical speech.
My time in South Korea came to an end on Feb 25th, 1984, as I flew back to Oakland Army base and exited the service shortly thereafter. My time in South Korea was a very special time in my life and I was honored to support the mission of defending this wonderful country I grew to love.
Thank you for allowing me to share my story.
(SP 4) MICHAEL A MATSON
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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