From My Service in Korea, I Learned – Colonel Harold H. Nicklas Jr. (US Army Retired)
The Army assigned me to Korea after a few weeks of Berlitz Korean language training. I served 1963- 1964 with US Forces Korea (USFK) and B Company, 502d MI Bn stationed at Tracy Compound, just south of Yongsan. As an Army “Butter Bar” (2d lieutenant) I worked several positions, initially preparing staff reports from our field offices involving in-country domestic disturbances which included providing the price of rice and its availability from our field offices to USFK daily. I quickly learned the great importance of rice to Koreans, its availability and how it gauged the mood of the country.
While also working as the principal liaison officer with the Korean National Police (KNP) investigative services, I learned the value and professionalism of a centralized police force, the importance of the KNP fingerprint section in doing our investigations. I also learned the value of my basic phase Korean.to open partnerships. I also learned how our KNP contacts returned our small favors with unforgettable Harley Davidson motorcycle escorts to the airport for departing members of our unit. I still recall how the officers would do acrobatics all the way to the airport and standing on the seat of the motorcycles.
Despite the language differences every KNP officer I worked with was so grateful for our in-country presence, technical advice and logistical support. In return we learned new procedures from the Korean exchange officers and Korean Augmentation to US Forces (KATSUA) working on our bilaterial security operations.
I was fortunate to volunteer conversational English lessons to high school students and learned about their dedication to study and hopes for higher education in the USA so they could return to help build a better Korea.
I was also our unit “Orphanage officer” and I learned how Korean value children, and was happy to learn about and find willing Korean business to supplement our monthly unit donations. These kids would melt our hearts and I learned how fortunate we were to work with Korean agencies to foster adoptions by Korean and US foster parents.
I was the pay officer so each month I rode the “UN train car” on the Korean National Railroad train thru the country to our field officers and to Buson and return, so I learned how deforested much of the country side was 10 years after the war, but I could see great progress everywhere and see segments of new highways being built. Since I carried several briefcases of won and I learned about inflation since most of Korean workforce had basic substance wages, so if extra money was available from the rapidly inflating won, our staff would add additional gold on their rings to counter inflation. And I also learned the hard impact of inflation on the buying power and costs of daily living of our staff when the Army reissued our Military Payment Certificates and the Korean government devaluated the won.
I was greatly honored when on May 28th, 1964 by being invited to the then – Ministry of Home Affairs, to receive a “Letter of Appreciation” presented to me by Minister Yang Chan Yang (with my leadership Majors’ Lally, Ayres, Captain Freeman and my KNP representative Mr. Lassiter in attendance).
At the time I thought I would never see the Far East again, so I took thirty days leave towards the end of my tour to visit Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Japan. This deepened my love of Asia and I learned what Korea could and did accomplish in the last five decades by mirroring these Nation’s achievements as free democracies.
I visited Korean again in 1974-1976 when stationed in Japan with US Army Japan. We had among our missions being the US Army “rear” for US Korea Forces and I had the opportunity to continue working intelligence activities in Korea, I happily learned how much those ten years had changed Korea for the better: there were trees, domestic produced vehicles, a better economy, infrastructure and how the Korean Intelligence agencies and KNP had progressed,
During my first tour in Vietnam in 1968, I was assigned to a small base camp near the Cambodian border. We were honored by a visit of the Korean National Judo team which flew in for a demonstration. I was amazed at their skills and willingness to make visits to small outposts which I learned represented the Korean Government returning our support to Korea by supporting US activities in Vietnam.
During my second tour in Vietnam IN 1970, I was in a neighbor unit to the famous Korean “White Tiger “Division and addition to feeding my “addiction” to Kim Chi by trading our C – ration peanut butter cups for the Korean Kimchi ration, I learned how Korea paid back our years of mutual defense assistance by shedding Korean blood supporting the US.
While assigned over twenty-five years with the US Army Staff, the US Army Intelligence Command, Defense Intelligence Agency as an action officer with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and even in my last assignment in the Army part of “Star Wars,” I continued working operations to support Korea, shared intelligence and continued to learn from and be impressed by the dedicated, professional and highly proficient Korean Intelligence agencies.
In these assignments, I also supported the DOD POW/MIA Accounting Agency by providing intelligence to recover US Servicemen remains in North Korea and in 2003 as a Staff member of the Senate Select Committee on POW/MIAs in Vietnam helped expand our mission to Korea and our delegation visited North Korea to learn about both US and Korean fallen heroes in the north.
My last visit to Korea was passing through the five-year-old Inchon Airport in 2007 while working police training projects in Mongolia. I learned again how advanced Korea has become exemplified having the world’s best international transit airport.
It has been a lifetime honor and privilege to support Korean defense for almost half a century. I was so proud to learn in 2002, DoD recognized our service and authorized the Korea Defense Service Medal for US Korean Vets who supported the defense of South Korea retroactive to 1954. I have mine proudly on my retired uniform. If you have not request yours, the details on and how to request this medal are on the KDVA website.
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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