Serving with Compassion in Korea
As the red-tailed Northwest Airlines plane made its approach to Kimpo Airport in November 1966, I gazed out of the window and saw snow-capped mountains over the peninsula. I was soon to begin my 13-month tour in Korea, a young second lieutenant assigned to a maintenance company as a supply officer. It would be a very cold winter, especially for a guy from Hawaii, but my assignment would bring me many warm moments to cherish. I wondered what to expect during my upcoming year-long tour far from the beaches of home.
Back in 1966, Korea was a poor, underdeveloped country still emerging from the destruction and strains of the Korean conflict. The mountains were bare, and people struggled to eke out a living. Many resorted to extreme measures just to survive. People lived in shacks, picked up twigs to warm their home, stole, carried heavy loads on their backs on A-frames, steered ox-driven carts over narrow dirt roads, women sold their bodies. Many women were forced to abandon their infants, who were sent to numerous orphanages in the country.
One of my additional duties was Custodian of the unit’s orphanage fund. Our fund was typical of the many that were sponsored by units throughout Korea to provide financial support. The orphanage committee met monthly to determine how we should help the children. We often used the collections to purchase bags of rice wrapped in straw to nourish the orphans. During each monthly payday, I would collect donations from the soldiers passing through the pay line.
A signature activity of the orphanage fund was hosting a Christmas party for the Korean orphans at our mess hall. We greeted the cute, warmly-bundled children arriving in deuce and a half trucks. It was heartwarming to see the soldiers showering the orphans with love and affection. They treated the orphans with numerous Christmas gifts purchased from the PX. It was a sincere display of the Christmas spirit from young men spending the holidays far from their loved ones. Most of the soldiers were paid less than a hundred dollars per month, but were extremely generous in supporting the orphans. They could have spent their money elsewhere, but they chose love and compassion instead. I am sure that the orphans never forgot the kindness and generosity of the young soldiers. I would like to think that they all led happy and exemplary lives made possible by the men in uniform.
I am grateful for the kindness shown me by the Korean people. Even though I am of Japanese ancestry and Korea was long under harsh Japanese occupation, the people always treated me with respect. They were hard-working, kind and courteous. They cleaned my room, laundered my uniforms, polished my boots, invited me to their homes, helped me with arts and crafts, taught me to appreciate classical music, prepared our meals, and shared their steamed rice with me. I have visited Korea numerous times since then, and am amazed at the tremendous progress it has made over the years. It is a tribute to the tenacity, labor, determination, resiliency and spirit of all those wonderful people in the Land of the Morning Calm.
Ira Tagawa
Colonel, USA
Retired
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