From My Service in Korea, I learned…

Bob Henault

I arrived in Korea in April 1974 at Osan AFB and was transported to Camp Coiner and was further assigned to the Military Mail Terminal at Kimpo Airfield. Our barracks were near the passenger terminal and Korean Airlines would park their 2 leased NWA 747s on the corner of our barracks. I walked out the gate a few days later and met an elder Korean gentleman, who owned the small corner grocery and spoke English, as he lived in the USA for many prior to retirement and moving back to Korea. He taught me so much about Korea and the Korean people, that I felt at home from that day on.

After 3 months at Kimpo, our unit moved to Camp Humphreys and on weekends I would travel to different places around the area, but realized quickly that I needed a translator. After 2 months, I was told that I would be moving again, this time to Camp Ames, near Daejeon as the NCOIC of the Post Office on base. Second day there I met a KATUSA MP who asked to play tennis with me, and that day my life changed. I would ask his NCOIC if it would be possible for him to show me places in Korea on weekends that he was off, and he agreed, so several times a month we would visit places with Korean history and I started loving Korea even more.

At Christmas in 1974 he asked me to visit his family with him and I agreed when I met his parents and 5 beautiful sisters, I knew I was in heaven. The family had a Peace Corps volunteer living with them from 1964 to 1972 and they taught the family English, so all were able to speak a little English I started falling in love with one of his sisters, and even told my best friend I met my future wife. In February I asked their father if I could take his daughter to a movie and he said yes, and my courtship of his daughter began. At the end of March, I reenlisted and because I would have to leave for school, I asked permission to marry his daughter and was told if she agreed I had his permission. In April she said yes, so we made arrangements for her to travel to the USA on a fiancé visa when my school was completed and we married in November of 1975 (48 years). And stayed a Walter Reed for 10 ½ years.

In 1986 I was again stationed in Korea as 1SG with the Veterinary Service of 18^th MEDCOM in Seoul and since we were responsible for all Veterinary support on all US bases in Korea I traveled to all areas in Korea from the Sea to the DMZ and became an expert on roads and trains system throughout Korea. In 3 years, I saw more of Korea than 85% of the population of Korea. We spent 3 wonderful years in Korea but again had to leave for a school.

In 1993 we arrived back in Korea again as CSM of a Medical Battalion responsible for all Medical clinics on Army bases, from the Sea to the DMZ, and again drove, trained, or flew all over Korea. This time in Daegu for 2 years, before being transferred to a Dental Battalion in Seoul in 1995, responsible for all Dental Clinics at Army bases from the Sea to the DMZ. In 1997 I was selected as the 18^th MEDCOM CSM and now had all Army Medical, Dental, and Veterinary responsibilities in Korea.

In 1999 I retired from the Army and was fortunate enough to be selected for a Department of the Army position with the United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission (UNCMAC) and for the next 15 years was able to enjoy the greatest job I ever had. Allowing me a total of 26 years in Korea and learning how wonderful the people, history, and the country are.

Naneum Hangup-in-ida

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.

READ MORE STORIES HERE.

From My Service in Korea, I learned…

Michael Matson

My time in Korea started in Dec 82 when I was sent from CSC 2/39th Inf Ft Lewis, Washington to CSC  1/38th Inf Camp Hovey, 2nd Inf Division. Being in a front-line Infantry unit during the cold Korea winter had a lot of challenges. We trained year-round but winters were spent pretty much in the field.

In Sept 83, our unit deployed North to defend the DMZ, manning the guard posts and conducting ambush patrols within the sector the U.S. was responsible for. I spent the majority of my time on GP Collier doing my job as a tow gunner using our gun sights, observing and documenting North Korean movements and activities both day and night.

Serving in such a hostile environment as a 21-year-old was exciting, stressful, and rewarding, knowing were keeping the South Korean people safe. Having served with Korean Augmentation soldiers (KATUSA) was an incredibly rewarding experience. I befriended many KATUSAs and traveled throughout the country with them. I learned and was very appreciative of the Korean culture, which I still hold dear to this day.

I was in attendance when President Reagan gave the speech at Camp Liberty Bell in November. My squad and I were tasked to escort him down to Camp Liberty Bell from GP collier in front of his motorcade. We can be seen in the video of that day, over his right shoulder as he gave that historical speech.

My time in South Korea came to an end on Feb 25^th, 1984, as I flew back to Oakland Army base and exited the service shortly thereafter. My time in South Korea was a very special time in my life and I was honored to support the mission of defending this wonderful country I grew to love.

Thank you for allowing me to share my story.

(SP 4) MICHAEL A MATSON

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.

READ MORE STORIES HERE.

From My Service in Korea, I learned…

Stan Fisher

I have been to Korea three times. The first was as a surprised and reluctant U.S. Army enlistee.

I left 18 months later frustrated by my Eurocentric education, determined to fill some of my knowledge gaps, and filled with admiration for the resilience and perseverance of the Korean people. Soon afterward, I enrolled in a master’s program with an emphasis on U.S. foreign relations with East Asia. The scarcity of reliable source materials in English on Korean history meant that China and Japan got the primary emphasis. I’ve worked over the past 61 years to fill in some of the gaps as more materials on Korea have become available in English.

My second trip was almost 50 years to the day from my departure in 1963. This time I was accompanied by my adult son adopted from Korea. My emphasis was mainly on revisiting some of my old haunts and doing some exploring with the help of the parents of some Korean children I had mentored in the U.S. The Korea I left was mostly gone. The traditional-style house we rented had become so rare that we were awakened one morning by chattering schoolchildren touring the area to see how their grandparents lived. Little of my remembered quaintness of Myeongdong’s alleys remained. I don’t recall a single working traffic signal in Seoul when I left. Now there were wide streets, wide pedestrian crosswalks, and enough cars to make pedestrians wary. Not a single jam-packed made-over Jeep was in sight, made redundant by an integrated and efficient bus and subway system heavily used by a well-dressed clientele. A road trip from Daegu to historic Gyeongju was in a Korean-built Hyundai sedan traveling on modern expressways across a countryside that lacked the laborers and thatched roofs of a half-century earlier. Hillsides and mountains that were bare when I was there are now heavily wooded.

In 2023, a decade later, I was fortunate to be selected for the 2023 Revisit Program of the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. The six-day program (two are mostly spent on arrival and departure logistics) is open to veterans and a companion from the UN countries as a “thank you” for service in wartime and in peacetime. The program emphasizes the close collaboration between the armed forces of the Republic of Korea and the UN member nations. It included visits to Osan Air Base, Camp Humphreys, the Korean Military Academy, Seoul National Cemetery, and the DMZ, which is the bleakest place I’ve ever been. I came away with a strong impression of close collaboration and cooperation between the ROK and U.S. armed forces and a sense of partnership instead of the Big Brother-Little Brother relationship that prevailed during my first visit. The accommodations for our group of about 90 persons—veterans and companions—were first class in Gangnam, the upscale section of Seoul. The food in the hotel was outstanding, with a stupefying number of selections. Some of the dinner meals on the road were mostly Korean, but I think anyone could find something tasty with advice from the tour guides. All meals were cafeteria style except for one box lunch on the road. (There’s an International House of Pancakes on a lower level of the hotel we used and a Burger King is a couple of blocks away.) Forget about currency exchange rates. My American Express was accepted everywhere with no additional fees. And this particular hotel, through some magic, made converters unnecessary for phone chargers.

We were divided into three groups and each group assigned to one of three buses that were bedecked with banners identifying us a revisit participants and driven by drivers who apparently can back the buses through a keyhole. Each bus had a tour guide fluent in English and knowledgeable of Korean history and current affairs. For example, we learned that modern Korea has a problem filling its “3D jobs”—difficult, dangerous, and dirty. And then there were the volunteers—mostly actors between gigs, we were told—who attended to our needs and watched out for our safety, from ubiquitous hand sanitizers to water bottles to checking that all seat belts were fastened.

I was accompanied again by my son because all the family, including my wife, agreed that my wife’s back problems with chronic pain and limited mobility made the trip risky for her, especially the long flights back and forth. As a result of her decision, I was particularly attentive to the obstacles that might confront persons in my age group. (Oh, to be even 75 again!) My guess is that none of the veterans was younger than 40, and a few appeared to be in their 80s. One veteran in my group used a wheelchair when off the bus. His companion or one of the volunteers pushed him at each of the outings, and he seemed to fare just fine. A nurse also accompanied the group. She needed her skills when one member of the group injured his hand. My verdict on accessibility is this: If you do not have chronic pain, have a companion who can assist you with your personal needs in the hotel, and you can cope with the airport before and after the trip, fill out the application, and pray to be selected. Every veteran deserves at least five days of being pampered and catered to.

As for me, I obviously long ago embraced the catch phrase we heard everywhere from the U.S.

military in Korea: 같이 갑시다! “We go together”

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.

READ MORE STORIES HERE.

From My Service in Korea, I learned…

Oscar Russell

(1991-1992)

Before deploying to Korea

During 1991, I was with the 3^rd ACR. We were deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. In one action my Squadron was attacking the Ar Rumayia Airfield. I quickly used direct fire to engage and destroy an Iraqi Republican Guard D-30 Artillery Piece and captured 4 Republican Guards making them my prisoners. I was awarded an ARCOM with V device for Valor for this action. In June of 1991, I was awarded the “Order of the Spur”.

After performing combat duty in the Gulf War

I was reassigned to Camp Casey in Korea. My unit was Co. D, 2^nd Battalion, 72^nd Armor. One evening I left the local watering hole and was on my way back to the barracks. On the way I noticed this little girl. She was black, and I thought it odd for her to be on the streets this late. I approached her and asked her if she lived nearby. The child responded in Korean language, and this is when I realized she was Amerasian. She spoke little broken English. I decided to follow her to make sure she would be safe.

She entered an orphanage. Once inside and safe, I continued to my barracks. The thought of that little girl haunted me. I was determined to see if I could help. The next opportunity I went to the orphanage to offer whatever help I could.

My offer was initially met with caution but as time went by, they (people running the orphanage) became increasingly trusting in me to the point where I would read the kids bedtime stories and help tuck them away. The kids really looked forward to my visits, and I was tackled every time I walked in the door.

Thanksgiving

At Thanksgiving I marched the entire troop of orphans to the Battalion’s Dining Facility. As we approached the gate, the guard hesitated for a split second then realized, my company were just kids. I had 4 holding tight to one arm, 4 holding tight to the other arm, and one on the back of my neck. They had never been on base before, and I was determined to get them a meal and I had extra money.

The Mess Hall

When we walked into the hall all eyes were on us, it got quiet.

I expected to pay for each meal out of my own pocket. Then as I was taking out my wallet, one by one, the soldiers in the Battalion came up to the head count and paid for their meal. They came by our table and started interacting with the children.

I noticed some of the soldiers tearing up only to be followed by an outburst of fun and laughter. They wanted to know everything about the kids and how they could help. Shortly after, they started trickling into the orphanage.

Christmas

With Christmas coming, I wrote home asking friends and family to send clothes, books, crayons, and anything they could spare. The outpouring was magnificent. I brought the kids to the Base for Christmas dinner. This time, three on one arm, three on the other arm, and one straddled around my neck. The mess Sergeant said, “these kids do not pay” and then a repeat of our visit from Thanksgiving transpired.

Going back to the world

I was soon coming up on my return to the U.S. I could not force myself to tell the kids good-bye. I only asked my fellow soldiers to keep with the tradition and to help the children the best they could.

My chain of command became aware of my kindness and generosity.

I was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation from the Board of Governors of the USO, and $200 which I spent every penny on the kids. I received my third ARCOM for Meritorious Service and Volunteer work while assigned to the unit.

As I transitioned to go back stateside, I noticed soldiers that I had informed of the Orphanage were spending more time with the kids, so I slowly disengaged without saying goodbye.

I was also picked to spend time with a host family.

My tour of Korea was a learning experience, it was priceless.

If I could do it all over again,  I would have held my kids one last time and said goodbye.

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.

READ MORE STORIES HERE.