From My Service in Korea, I learned…
It was spring of 1967 I was 20 and getting off a plane at Kimpo International Airport in Korea. Riding in the back of a duce and a half through the Seoul area we saw a country and capital city emerging from the ravages of war. The NCO in charge reminded us the war was not over, the end was still being negotiated at Panmunjom and “incidents” still occurred in the DMZ.
My new home was Camp JEB Stuart B Troop, 4th Squadron, 7th Cavalry on the south end of Freedom Bridge. (Pic #1&1A) We were the reaction force in support of troops on the DMZ. North Korean infiltration was active with ambushes and bombings. We lived in Quonset huts with shower and bathroom facilities about a 100-yard walk away. If you were ever stationed on the DMZ one thing you would never forget were the winters and the bone chilling cold when the winds came out of Mongolia.
At JEB my job was troop supply and in the field at either Guard Post Jane or Beyerl I was ground surveillance radar operator. I had no knowledge of how to do either, I was the new guy and told to learn it. The road to the GPs went by a locomotive that was destroyed in the 50s, I never liked going by it. There were continuously incidents in the DMZ, 2 killed when their jeep hit a mine and 2 more when their Quonset hut was bombed. (Pic 7&8) We also had a bounty placed on us, $800 for every one killed.
January 68 saw the hi-jacking of the USS Pueblo and 31 NK commandos coming within yards of the Blue House, the U.S. lost men in both incidents. Life lessons learned was look for the “old man” they would share and teach the way it really was, if you would listen. Plan, execute and adjust to meet the situations faced. Be a mentor to those you work with as their success is also yours.
In spring of 68 I left for home and back to college. Carried with me were memories of the Korean people; they were happy, industrious and seemed able to solve any problems through creative thinking; they were rebuilding their country. Little did I know I would return.
In the early 80s I was offered two jobs one in the U.S. and the other as a civilian at Osan Air Base, Korea. We let our 3 sons decide where to go and they all wanted to go to Korea. We arrived at Osan AB on 1 April 1983. Things had changed, families were now living on Army and Air Force bases and in the surrounding communities. Many of the Army bases north of Seoul had disappeared or had been turned over to the ROK. JEB Stuart was gone it was now just a barren lot close to Freedom Bridge. The budding changes I had seen in 68 had now taken hold and Korea was expanding into a modern country with high rise buildings and interstate highways stretching from Seoul to Pusan. The ROK army was now taking over patrolling the Military Demarcation Line. There was an ironic change in one of my jobs, instead of drawing arms and proceeding past the old locomotive to the GPs I was now organizing bus tours across Freedom Bridge to Panmunjom for military, civilians and their families. I was also in charge of Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader visits to AF locations to include helicopter flights to remote sites. Seoul and North Korea also announced they would host the Olympics in 1988. Korea was on the move and names like Hyundai, Kia and Samsung would become familiar names in the U.S. In 1986 we departed Korea. I did not realize it then but I had become the “old man” I first found out about at JEB Stuart.
In 2022 I learned of the Korean Defense Veterans Association (KDVA) and the Revisit Korea program. I was fortunate enough to be selected and was able to bring my Osan AB Youth Center Director along. We were both amazed at the changes from the late 80s to the present. Through the times spanning my Korea visitations the growth and modernization has taken leaps forward bringing the Republic of Korea to be an economic leader in the western Pacific. One thing remained the same but a little different. In 2006 my old friend the locomotive moved across the ImJin River to ImJin Gak Park for all to see. The young lady in the picture is An Sol who made a great presentation at KDVA in 2022.
The lessons learned at JEB Stuart lasted through out my career as a civilian whether it be at the Pentagon in charge of the Air Force Survivor Assistance Program or as the civilian deputy at Shaw AFB, S.C.
The growth of the Republic of Korea may best be illustrated by a line in the dirt, 38 degrees north, and a picture from above. Through the years of dynamic changes the only thing I saw not changing is the friendliness of 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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