From My Service in Korea, I Learned – Peter Thompson

I enlisted in the Army in April 1958 and did basic training at Fort Dix, NJ. After basic training, I spent 8 weeks at Fort Gordon, GA, attending MP school. At the end of this training, all but one man was sent to Korea. We flew from Augusta, GA, to Seattle, WA, where we spent most of a week waiting for a troop ship to take us to Korea. The ship stopped in Kodiak, AK, to drop off some families and then on to Yokohama, Japan to drop off more passengers and give us a few hours of shore time. Then it was on to the port of Inchon and debarkation. We were trucked up to ASCOM city to await assignment. After a few days about 24 of us were sent to Hq & Hq Company, US Army Port Inchon. This facility was based on Wolmido Island which is off the coast of Inchon harbor.

I enlisted in the Army in April 1958 and did basic training at Fort Dix, NJ. After basic training, I spent 8 weeks at Fort Gordon, GA, attending MP school. At the end of this training, all but one man was sent to Korea. We flew from Augusta, GA, to Seattle, WA, where we spent most of a week waiting for a troop ship to take us to Korea. The ship stopped in Kodiak, AK, to drop off some families and then on to Yokohama, Japan to drop off more passengers and give us a few hours of shore time. Then it was on to the port of Inchon and debarkation. We were trucked up to ASCOM city to await assignment. After a few days about 24 of us were sent to Hq & Hq Company, US Army Port Inchon. This facility was based on Wolmido Island which is off the coast of Inchon harbor.

At that time this facility was responsible for moving all the troops and material in and out of the country. Since, at that time, the Inchon harbor was undeveloped and tidal elevation changes could reach 30 feet, all troop and material movement was handled by various watercraft and barges operated by members of this company. Military Police assigned to this unit would be doing guard duty at various locations around the port. Since this island is offshore and the predominant weather in the winter comes down from the north, the temperatures get very cold. Doing duty outside in this weather just standing around was not something to look forward to.

When we arrived on the island the personnel sergeant called me in and asked if I would be willing to take the job of the post mail clerk. Since this would be an inside job I jumped at the chance. This job consisted of going to the main post office on shore twice a day, collecting the bags of mail for our units, and returning to the island to sort and distribute it at mail call. In addition to this, I also had other duties which included

assisting the training sergeant during Saturday training sessions. The company commander had a specially prepared Jeep for his transportation, and I had the job of driving him to his various duties. One of these was to go to Seoul on payday to exchange script dollars for Korean won to pay the indigenous help on the base.

 I would put on my M1911 45 caliber pistol, the commander would get the money bag with the cash, and off we would go. After a stop at the officer’s club for lunch, we would go to the exchange. The money that would fill a small satchel on the way up would fill two duffel bags on the way back. In 1958 and 1959 Korea was a proud country but it had seen the ravages of war. Many people had little or nothing. The roads, what few of them there were, were still torn up from war. There were no private automobiles, and the only businesses were small shops selling necessities. I had the opportunity to return to Korea in 1983, just 24 years after I had left. I was amazed to see the transformation. There were superhighways filled with cars. Beautiful buildings and hotels filled the city, and it was obvious the people were prospering. I was taken aback to be thanked as a representative of a country that had assisted them in creating a modern, prosperous society. My service in Korea is a part of my life that I am most proud of.