From My Service in Korea, I Learned – David Teichman
From my service in Korea, I learned just how strong the bond of camaraderie, caring, and concern for your fellow soldier can be. Stationed at Camp Essayons with the 6-37th FA from June 1974 to July 1975, I served as a Captain and the Battalion Motor Officer. My responsibilities included ensuring the readiness of our battalion’s military equipment, a task that required meticulous record-keeping and detailed reporting.
I worked under a battalion commander who was exceptionally detail-oriented and strict, demanding nothing short of perfection. One of my key duties was preparing the monthly 2406 report, which documented the condition status of our military equipment. The report had to be exactly nine pages long, and given the limitations of typewriters at the time, the best we could achieve was an original copy with three carbon duplicates. This meant the report had to be typed twice—for eight copies and an additional time to reach the required nine.
I had a Specialist 4 clerk who handled the typing, carefully ensuring accuracy before I reviewed it. Once I was satisfied, I would take the report to the battalion commander’s Quonset hut, where he would scrutinize it line by line, checking for typos and misspelled words. Each submission was a meticulous process, reinforcing the importance of precision and attention to detail.
During the winter of 1974-75, my clerk fell ill, and for one month, I had to type the report myself. I found myself alone in the battalion motor pool office late at night, braving the bitter cold, with only a five-gallon diesel can heater providing warmth. A blinding snowstorm raged outside as I worked diligently to complete the task.
Suddenly, the door burst open, allowing a gust of snow to swirl into the room. Through the icy blast stepped my fellow captain and hoochmate, Captain Jim Schlesinger. In his hand, he carried a thermos of hot coffee.
Surprised, I asked, “Jim, what are you doing here at this time of night, in the cold, in this blizzard?”
He simply replied, “I knew you were down here by yourself, typing on this antique typewriter, and I thought you might need some hot coffee.”
As he poured each of us a cup, he added with a grin, “I really hope this tastes okay because I couldn’t find a pan to heat the water—so I used Mr. Cho’s starch pot.”
We both had a hearty laugh. Mr. Cho was our houseboy, responsible for laundering, starching, and ironing our fatigues. At the time, heavily starched fatigues were the standard, and Mr. Cho took great care in his duties. The idea of using his starch pot for coffee water was both amusing and oddly fitting given the circumstances.
This unselfish and unsolicited act by Jim made a lasting impression on me. Even decades later, I remember it vividly. It was a simple yet profound reminder of what it means to care for one another. He left a warm, comfortable hooch, braved a blizzard, and traversed a considerable hill—all because he cared about a fellow officer. This moment has stayed with me throughout my life, influencing how I interact with others. His kindness exemplified the deep sense of brotherhood that military service fosters, a lesson I carry with me to this day.
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.
Your contribution may be just what someone needs to hear in order to feel connected and supported.
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