Bill Derby, US Army 1966-69

From My Service in Korea, I learned… the strength, determination and willpower of the human spirit.

The second our Boeing 707 door opened at Kimpo late at night I knew I was in a new country. It was September 1966 as strange new smells filled the air. Both apprehension and excitement ran through my body.

That lasted only a day or two and on the ride up to Uijongbu Camp Red Cloud, I noticed Koreans bent over in their rice paddies working hard. I was assigned to the I Corps newspaper, The Bullseye, as a photojournalist, one of the best jobs I could imagine.

My job duties gave me the opportunity to experience up-close the Korean culture as we covered many stories of Koreans in everyday life, working hard to survive, get ahead and provide for their families. Korea then was rough but a sense of progress and overcoming the hardships of war was seen everywhere. We covered many stories through photography and features showcasing everyday lives of the Korean people and culture. I also developed a love for Kimchi as we covered the harvest later that fall. In winter it was fascinating to see the hundreds of ice skaters only feet from the two-lane road to Seoul enjoying speeding over their frozen rice paddies.

I met many Koreans as our office translator, Mr. Rhee, introduced us to many prominent citizens in Uijongbu. We were even invited to the mayor’s home for dinner. Mr. Rhee told me to be sure and eat all that was prepared. That night was my first taste of dried pollock or squid.

When our Katusa driver took us through Seoul to Kimpo to send our newspaper off to the Stars and Stripes office to be printed in Tokyo, it was a white-knuckle trip with only a few red lights to control hundreds of cars and buses. Our soldier and Katusa newspaper staff became very close along with Mr. Rhee.

My return visit to Korea in 2022 was almost beyond my comprehension of the change 56 years could make. With only one bridge across the Han then, to the 31 bridges crossing that river today.

During our KDVA revisit whirlwind tour of the beautiful country and ultra-modern Seoul, I still noticed how the Korean people and their society treat one another.  Something unique happened while we were at the Republic of Korea-United States Alliance Peace Conference and Gala Dinner.  While we were sitting at our dinner table a distinguished Korean gentleman placed a book in my lap and quickly left.  No one else at my table was given the book, titled “Korean Spirit and Culture III, Chung-Hyo-Ye.” I put it in my suitcase and didn’t review it until a few weeks after returning home. It got my attention.

I learned that most Koreans respect and honor one another. We saw it every day on our trip. They help one another.

The Preface of the book the Korean gave me hit home when I read.

Korean Spirit and Culture III, Chung-Hyo-Ye

“Korea is a nation that has always loved peace and has done everything in its power to preserve it. In its five thousand years of history, Korea has never invaded other countries. Based on the teachings of Hongik Ingan, which means one should ‘live and act for the benefit of all mankind,’ reverence for the Heavens and respect for human life is deeply rooted in the spirit of the Korean people.

What did you learn from serving in Korea? Let us know –

Please email us your story and photos to KDVA.MyServiceInKorea@gmail.com.

READ MORE STORIES HERE.

There is so much to tell you about this great trip but there are two stories that I would like to share.

Arrival – we just arrived at the airport in Soeul I was wearing my 2^nd Inf Div hat and as we are assigned into groups, another vet comes up to me and says, “Didn’t I hear you say that you were assigned to 2/72 Armor?” I replied “yes”, he leaves and returns with another vet who says, “I was in 2/72 Armor what year were you stationed there?”  1967-68 I say and he says “I was there then, in HHC. What company did you serve in?” I was in HHC, (we both did not recognize each other yet) What was your MOS and I asked “Medic” “What was yours” he asked “The HHC Armorer”.  He yells out “that was Smitty” “Smitty”. “Herendez” I reply.  He gets out our unit yearbook and there we are.

Art

Rich

On the trip we are invited to visit the DMZ (a place that most soldiers never got to see). I was lucky and was authorized to travel with my Bn CMDR to Panmunjeom. On one trip I witnessed a North Korean defected and I was fortunate to catch it with my camera.  Well on our trip I stood in the same spot that I was on in 68 and nothing changed.

What did you learn from serving in Korea? Let us know –

Please email us your story and photos to KDVA.MyServiceInKorea@gmail.com.

READ MORE STORIES HERE.

What did you learn from serving in Korea? Let us know –

Please email us your story and photos to KDVA.MyServiceInKorea@gmail.com.

READ MORE STORIES HERE.

John Romias

4/1954 – 8/1955

Kim Soon and me, 1955

What did you learn from serving in Korea? Let us know –

Please email us your story and photos to KDVA.MyServiceInKorea@gmail.com.

READ MORE STORIES HERE.

MG William Thigpen

The value of teamwork and “what right looks like”

What did you learn from serving in Korea? Let us know –

Please email us your story and photos to KDVA.MyServiceInKorea@gmail.com.

READ MORE STORIES HERE.

By Staff Sergeant Allen Wheeler

From My Service in Korea, I learned…

What did you learn from serving in Korea? Let us know –

Please email us your story and photos to KDVA.MyServiceInKorea@gmail.com.

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By Sgt. 1st Class (Ret.) Vincent L. Abril

“Cultural connection beyond the big picture”

From My Service in Korea, I learned why the ROK-US alliance has remained so strong since the Korean War. I felt accepted and loved through the many military and civilian relationships I built over three tours, totaling eight years of service on the peninsula. I learned to embrace and love Korean culture. I learned firsthand how the resilience and determination of the Korean people led them to become one of the world’s economic powerhouses and exporters of culture through music, film, and food. I also learned so much about myself through interactions with military and civilian friends and family who accepted me as one of their own.

My journey to Korea began in Puerto Rico in 1999 when a huge opportunity knocked at my door at the San Juan Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) when an army career counselor told me I could serve in Korea after committing to joining the active army. I could not believe my ears. I had heard so much about the Korean War from elders on the island who served in the 65^th Infantry Regiment during the war. I was overwhelmed with excitement, so I signed a contract that day to seal the deal.

I arrived in Korea for my first assignment with the 20^th Support Group in Daegu. A couple of months later, I was sent to the port city of Busan, as I joined the 4^th Quartermaster (Airborne) Detachment, where I served for over two years as a maintenance foreman working exclusively with Korean Nationals. During this time, I met my wife through my platoon sergeant. She was a Korean National employee herself, working for the Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR) division on base. After tying the knot, we spent the remainder of our time traveling across the peninsula before receiving orders to Heidelberg, Germany.

Fast forward seven years, and we received orders back to Korea in 2010. This time, I returned to Korea with my own little family. I was assigned to the 2^nd Combat Aviation Brigade, where I traveled the peninsula, covering stories about the successes of our servicemembers and the ROK-US alliance as the brigade’s public affairs manager. During this time, our son was born. My wife worked as a bank manager on base, and we both immersed ourselves in the Korean and military communities before departing in 2014 to Fort Bliss, Texas.

While in Texas, we missed Korea very much. To our surprise, my branch manager offered us another opportunity to serve in Korea. Without hesitation, we made it official and landed right back to where it all started in Daegu. I was assigned to the 19^th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, serving as the commanding general’s public affairs manager for two years before finally being approved to retire from the army.

Julie and I moved our family to Suwanee, Georgia, in 2019 after retirement to be close to a large, vibrant Korean community where we enjoy the best of both worlds. When I look back on it all, Korea has played a significant part in my life. When we say “Katchi Kapshida,” some may take it as another cool phrase, but we lived it every day where the rubber meets the road with our military and civilian counterparts and family members. Whether living in a highrise apartment forging relationships with our Korean neighbors or sleeping in a tent together during military field exercises, indeed, “We Go Together.” We are beyond grateful for the opportunity to be a part of history as we lean forward in the foxhole together, deterring aggression and maintaining an alliance that has remained incredibly strong for over 70 years.

What did you learn from serving in Korea? Let us know –

Please email us your story and photos to KDVA.MyServiceInKorea@gmail.com.

READ MORE STORIES HERE.