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From My Service in Korea, I Learned – Walter Gary Westernoff

From my service in Korea, I learned the meaning of responsibility, vigilance, and commitment to something larger than myself. My journey began when, at just 17 years old, I enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps while still in high school. I graduated in June of 1959, and shortly afterward received an Honorable Discharge from the Marine Corps on July 16, 1959, so I could join the U.S. Army.

After completing basic training at Fort Ord, California with Headquarters & Headquarters

Company, 1st Battle Group, 1st Brigade, 6th Army. I continued my training at Fort Bliss, Texas with the 7th Training Battalion, Air Defense, and later with D Battery, 4th Missile Battalion, 44th Artillery 8th Army—serving under Secret Clearance.

On November 16, 1960, I sailed from Oakland, California aboard the USS General W.A. Mann with 999 Army personnel, along with Navy, Marine, and Air Force members, arriving in Inchon, Korea on December 3, 1960. I became one of the first occupants of Camp Huston in Yoju, assigned to the 4th Missile Battalion, 44th Artillery (APO 71), again under Secret Clearance.

It was at Camp Huston that my path took a defining turn. Although my official records do not reflect the MOS 31K designation, I was trained and served as a Sentry Dog Handler beginning around March 1961. My on-the-job training included obedience, controlled aggression, scouting, detection, first aid, and the daily care and conditioning of my military working dog, Rai (RX 195). As one of six Military Working Dog handlers, each responsible for our own dog, Rai and I patrolled nightly in two- to four-hour shifts, securing the perimeter and protecting the installation. That experience taught me discipline, trust, and the profound bond between a handler and his dog.

As global tensions escalated following the Bay of Pigs invasion in April 1961, Korea became strategically more vulnerable. In response to these heightened conditions, I was reassigned to Camp Sabre near Camp McIntyre, serving with Headquarters Company, 1st Howitzer Battalion, 77th Field Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division (APO 24) near the DMZ. There, I took on the demanding responsibilities of a Radio Man Forward Observer, a role for which I was temporarily assigned the rank of First Lieutenant (1L) to fill a critical personnel gap and ensure the mission could be carried out effectively.

I returned to the United States aboard the USS General W.A. Mann on March 5, 1962, and completed my service at Travis Air Force Base with the 61st Artillery. I was honorably discharged on July 13, 1962, with the rank of E-3.

My military service opened doors that shaped the rest of my life. The U.S. Army put me through college, giving me the education that fueled my professional career and lifelong commitment to service. Because of my overseas service in Korea, I became eligible to join the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), where I later served as Post Commander of VFW Post 1540 in Honolulu, Hawaii from 2020 to 2023. I am also a proud member of the Korea Defense Veterans Association, honoring the legacy and ongoing contributions of all who served on the Korean Peninsula.Most importantly, my service taught me a principle that has guided me ever since: all people are equal, regardless of race, religion, or color. In uniform, we stood the same watch, faced the same dangers, and relied on each other without hesitation. Character, courage, and commitment—not background—defined the people I served with. That truth has shaped my leadership, my work, and my belief in the dignity of every individual.

Through these years—1959 to 1962, from Fort Ord to Korea and back—I learned resilience, leadership, adaptability, and the importance of standing watch so others could remain safe.

These lessons continue to guide my values, my service, and my dedication to helping others.

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.