From My Service in Korea, I Learned – By Paul Hooper
The next day we flew from Osan up to A-222 a short field runway up near P-518. We made two trips hauling troops to Cheju Do where we were told they had rappelling training and some R&R. Flew back Kadena that afternoon.
In May we deployed to Kwang Ju AB to participate in Exercise Capstan Dragon which I believe was the precursor to the Team Spirit Exercise program. During Capstan Dragon we participated in a sixteen aircraft large troop movement from Pohang to A-222.
Over the next three plus years I flew numerous missions similar to that mission. The squadron moved to Yokota AB, Japan in September 1975 and I continued to fly to Korea for individual missions and exercises. We really enjoyed missions that required an Remain Over Night (RON) in Osan as we shopped for tailor made clothes, sneakers, old school clocks, stuffed animals, etc. I loved my time in Korea and watched Korea grow and improve in just those few short years. I knew and looked forward to returning to the Land of the Morning Calm. I was assigned to the 1st Special Operations Squadron at Clark AB, Republic of the Philippines in April 1982 flying the MC-130E aircraft. We routinely deployed to Taegu AB, Osan AB and Suwon AB to fly training missions in the mountains of Korea and support ROK Army Special Operations in blacked out airdrops. I participated in Foal Eagle 1982 and Foal Eagle 1983 operating out of Taegu AB. During those two stays I witnessed one of the most impressive examples of Korean industry and hard work. During Foal Eagle 1982 the traffic was detoured around the bridge and across the river bed. We watched the bridge being completely torn down during our stay. When we returned for Foal Eagle 1983… there was a brand-new bridge. That was fast.
We deployed to Kimhae AB for Team Spirit 1983 and were billeted in a tent city. I was the chief of the Advance Team (ADVON) and coordinated the use of Harvest Bear materials to build a Combined Air Forces Special Operations Base (CAFSOB) which supported USAF and ROKAF
My next assignment was to Headquarters Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) where I was the Chief of the Special Operations Division responsible for USAF Special Operations in the PACAF theater. I deployed to augment the operations staff at the Combined Unconventional Warfare Task Force (CUWTF) at Seong Nam during Foal Eagle, ULCHI Focus Lens, and Team Spirit exercises.
In 1990 while assigned as the AFSOF Liaison Officer to the John F. Kennedy Special Operation Center and School (JFKSWCS) I deployed to the CUWTF to augment the staff during Exercise ULCHI Focus Lens.
In January 1993 while assigned to the 1st Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Florida I made my final deployment to Exercise ULCHI Focus Lens. Visited the Tree House and said farewell to many long time friends… American and Korean. I returned to Hurlburt and retired at the end of January 1993.
I would never have imagined I would be given the opportunity to return to Korea 24 years later. I was invited to participate in the development, operational, and acceptance testing of a Terrain Following System for the ROKAF C-130H aircraft. I spent most of the summer and fall of 2017, six weeks in the summer of 2018, and six weeks in the late summer of 2019 flying out of the Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) facility on Sacheon AB. The best job I ever had. Working with the ROKAF, KAI, and Elbit Systems was a pleasure. During our time off we traveled around Korea like tourist and were able to visit Osan/Songtan, Camp Walker, etc.
On 13 October 2017 we had what we thought was our last flight. We did not think we would be returning. The Sacheon Aerospace Expo 2017 was on-going at Sacheon AB and watched the Black Eagles demonstration from the apartment on Saturday and Sunday. On Monday afternoon, 30 October, Ed and I took the bus from our apartment and went to the base to see the demonstration. Our timing was perfect. We arrived right before the Black Eagles demonstration. We were behind the rope right in front of Black Eagle #1 for start up, taxi, and takeoff. We were in the same spot for the entire airshow.
The Black Eagles put on a great aerial demonstration. One thing that made it better than some airshows I had been to, was that the music being played over the loudspeaker system was choreographed with the flight demonstration. As the eight aircraft flew up initial for landing, an announcement was made in Korean. The Korean next to us told us he had said that two of the Black Eagles were performing their last airshow as the two pitched up while the rest of the team pitched out for landing. As they pitched up “Time to Say Goodbye” started to play. It choked me up and brought tears to my eyes.
As the main group of the Black Eagles were on downwind, the two aircraft flew over inverted, joined the team on the downwind, and landed. But that was not the end. As the aircraft were taxiing in, a ROKAF Warrant Officer came up to the rope and said “Please come with me.” He lifted the rope and took me down the line to where they were gathering people to greet the team. We walked out to the team and Black Eagle #2 gave me a Black Eagles hat.
As luck would have it we ended up returning in 2018 and 2019 and stayed at the Sacheon Grand Hotel
What did you learn from serving in Korea? Let us know –
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