From My Service in Korea, I Learned – James R. Kinney

As an enlisted Air Force Chinese linguist trained at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center in Monterey, California, I served sixteen years on four tours of duty to Osan Air Base, Korea from 1976 to 1998.  Regrettably, as a 19-year-old E-3 during the first part of my first tour, I was quite reckless and irresponsible.  I did not properly capitalize on the great opportunities afforded to me.  This fact continues to be a great regret for me.  However, given a second chance by my Air Force mates and a patient front-line supervisor, I was able to thrive during the final months of that first tour.

Throughout that first tour I worked alongside a group of dedicated Korean civilian professionals who displayed the hard work and dedication of the Korean people.  Their drive and level of expertise was inspiring.  Additionally, while escorting Korean laborers working outdoors inside our fenced Restricted Area, I observed their ingenuity and problem-solving skills coupled with their physical strength and mental acumen in the harshest winter and summer conditions.

On a personal note, during the final months of that tour, I fell in love with my Korean soulmate after being introduced to her by some of my fellow linguist mates.  Many visits to her in Myongdong in Seoul and eventually her family in Mukdong in Seoul and a marriage proposal later, we were married at the military chapel at Osan Air Base.  We remained married until her passing in 2023.

During the other three tours to the same Air Force squadron at Osan Air Base, my wife and I toured throughout Korea on Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) tours.  As a history buff, my wife taught me so much about 5,000-year Korean history over those many years.  During those years I became very close to every member of her family, and I learned that her mother, father, and older brother had all been evacuated from Hungnam, North Korea to Pohang, South Korea when the US Marines were evacuated by the US Navy during the Korean War.  Her family’s story of those years and all of the years after relocating to and settling in Taegu was both amazing and inspiring.

The highlight of my military duties over those two decades of service in Korea was my brief work as one of two USAF Chinese translators during the ROK-US negotiations during the resolution of the situation concerning the hijacking of a People’s Republic of China Civil Aviation Administration of China  (PRC CAAC) Hawker Siddeley Trident 2E aircraft (REGNR B-296) from the PRC to Camp Page, Chunchon, Korea on 5 May 1983.  It was such a relief to know that we were able to help ensure the safety of Chinese civilian passengers on the aircraft that was on the ground at Camp Page that afternoon and evening in May 1983.

Finally, working alongside Korean civilian linguists and analysts continue to serve as an inspiration to me.  Through the years and after forging friendships at work, at unit picnics, combined unit sports days, and a fantastic Combat Dining In, I was left with tremendous admiration and respect for the Korean people which remains with me to this day.  There isn’t a day that goes by that I do not reflect back on those years and those experiences in Korea working alongside the Korean people.  I remain grateful for all of those experiences and friendships in Korea.

Sincerely,

James R. Kinney, CMSgt, USAF (Retired)

UNQUOTE

Hawker Siddeley Trident 2E

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.

From My Service in Korea, I Learned – Brian L. Goldbeck

Seems I was destined to serve in Korea even though my first assignment in the mid-1970s was shifted from Korea to Hawaii where I painted rocks.  Almost went again from Hawaii on  “Operation Paul Bunyon” in 1976  when North Korean soldiers chopped up two American officers in the Demilitarized Zone ( DMZ). My next actual assignment to the ROK was as an Army Reserve officer in the 1980’s. On arrival, I was told, “Geez, you’re here already. (Common experience for reservists.) Go away and come back tomorrow.” The next day I was asked if I’d serve on the executive staff of a newly re-activated Military Police Battalion. My reply:  “Sure. I’m a reservist so whatever you want for two weeks.” Tasked with writing some security standard operating procedures (SOPs) over my remaining 12 days, I found another similar  MP battalion, copied their SOPs, tweaked them to fit the new unit’s mission, and was done in two days. Felt like I’d seen the unit’s number before during my personal genealogy search. Sure enough, it had been my father’s unit in Cairo during WWII. Sadly, he passed decades earlier, so I couldn’t share that moment with him. The next year, I was the Deputy J-5 Civil-Military Affairs Officer at Combined Forces Command (CFC) then at Camp Red Cloud. There were two high points.  First, my boss had served in Vietnam. He responded quizzically when I said ,“Welcome Home!,” acknowledging it was the first time anyone had said as much. That’s pretty sad.  The next year I was tasked with locating all historical items in the headquarter (mirror from former President Chun, etc.) and making a handling recommendation (return, move to a museum, send to the U.S. for storage, etc.). Making my rounds, I discovered a closet with a bunch of live, non-deactivated unexploded ordinance – grenades, mortar and artillery shells, mines, etc. After I called ordinance disposal, they cleared the building (that made me a lot of friends and some interesting nicknames) till the bomb disposal unit and carriers could remove them for detonation at a nearby range. Boom! Once, when my car needed to exit onto a busy six-lane city street in Seoul and with buses bearing down on us, a local policeman stepped into the street and snapped a crisp salute.  All/all traffic stopped as we exited. Asking my ROK counterpart about it, he said that since virtually all Korean males then served in the military, that policeman’s gesture was one of “help – I really need this,” and it worked. While our dad’s generation had some of that, today it’s not a very common American experience and thus is no longer a wide-spread bond found in the U.S. beyond those who have served in recent conflicts.

Brian L. Goldbeck

MAJ, USAR Retired

P.S. I’m a retired Senior Foreign Service Officer who served at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul 1984-6 and 2000-3. I was IMA’d to Korea from 1984-1991 (also doing tours with USFK, 8^thArmy, etc.) and then USFJ 1991-2002, with 28 years in all between four years active and 24 in the Reserves.  It was a fascinating complimentary straddling of careers.

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.

From My Service in Korea, I Learned – Larry Smethers

In September 1967, I was drafted into the Army and ordered for basic training at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Fort Polk is near Leesville and Lake Charles, Louisiana.  I signed for an additional year to choose a training program for Army Communications Center Specialists.  After basic training, I was sent to Fort Gordon, Georgia, near Augusta, Georgia.  After completion in February 1968, I received a promotion from private to SP4 with secret clearance and orders to report to Vietnam.

On January 23, 1968, the USS Pueblo ship was captured in international waters off the coast of North Korea by North Korean forces.  My orders and those of my unit were changed from Vietnam to South Korea.  I flew from Fort Gordon, Georgia, to Fort Lewis, Washington, then to Fort Richardson, Alaska.  Fort Richardson is adjacent to Anchorage, Alaska.  In 2010, Fort Richardson merged, with nearby Elmendorf Air Force base to form a joint base, Elmendorf-Richardson.  I flew from here to Tokyo, Japan stopover and then to Kimpo, Air Base, South Korea, 9 miles west of Seoul.  I moved on to the replacement battalion in Ascom City, Korea, to wait for my assignment.  I was assigned to the 6th Medical Depot at Ascom City, Korea in February 1968.

The 6th Medical Depot had several divisions and sections commanded by LTC Earl G. Pepmiller.  There were Headquarters Division, Optical Division, Stock Control Division, Medical Equipment Division, Maintenance Division, Motor Pool, and Unit Supply. The Detachment-Orderly Room was at a separate location from the Depot.  We normally used buses back and forth.  The Detachment area included our living quarters which were Quonset Huts. KATUSA personnel and Korean nationals were assigned throughout all divisions and units of the Depot.  They were very hard and efficient workers and motivated to achieve the mission of the 6th Medical Depot.  The Korean people are very friendly and expressed gratitude for our participation in the defense of their country.

My assignment with the Depot was as S-2/3 Security, Plans and Operations NCO at Depot Headquarters.  I was also in charge of the required Saturday morning training as a training NCO.  I had an office designated “War Room,” which contained a large safe for classified documents that I handled due to my Secret Clearance. Training on Saturday morning included all subjects required by Eighth Army and 65th Medical Group.  After leaving Korea, I received the Eighth U.S. Army Certificate of Achievement Award for performing the duties of an E-7.

There were two mess halls available, one in the detachment area and one at 121 Evacuation Hospital, which was adjacent to the 6th Medical Depot.  I usually ate lunch at this location.  On December 23, 1968, after 11 months of captivity in North Korea, the crew of the USS Pueblo was repatriated to the 121 Evacuation  Hospital located 10 miles west of Seoul at Acom City.  The Pueblo crew was flown by helicopter from DMZ to the helicopter pad at 121 Evac Hospital.  I was one of those to witness this arrival around mid-morning.  As far as I know, the USS Pueblo is still in North Korea as a tourist spot and museum.  I was in Maui, Hawaii around January 17 2018, when someone pushed the wrong button, sending out a false incoming missile alert from North Korea, oops.

In the summer of 1968, at Ascom City, the USO had a show which featured the 1968 Miss Debra Barnes, the Kansas winner from Moran, KS, and other Miss America participants.  Also, that summer, new MPC (Military Payment Certificates) were exchanged from the old issue to the new issue.  You took your old MPC money and exchanged it for a new issue in one day.  After 16 months and 2 days, I departed Korea and reported to HHC 67th Signal Battalion, Fort Riley, Kansas, 5th Army to serve out the remainder of my service.

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.

From My Service in Korea, I Learned – David Teichman

From my service in Korea, I learned just how strong the bond of camaraderie, caring, and concern for your fellow soldier can be. Stationed at Camp Essayons with the 6-37^th FA from June 1974 to July 1975, I served as a Captain and the Battalion Motor Officer. My responsibilities included ensuring the readiness of our battalion’s military equipment, a task that required meticulous record-keeping and detailed reporting.

I worked under a battalion commander who was exceptionally detail-oriented and strict, demanding nothing short of perfection. One of my key duties was preparing the monthly 2406 report, which documented the condition status of our military equipment. The report had to be exactly nine pages long, and given the limitations of typewriters at the time, the best we could achieve was an original copy with three carbon duplicates. This meant the report had to be typed twice—for eight copies and an additional time to reach the required nine.

I had a Specialist 4 clerk who handled the typing, carefully ensuring accuracy before I reviewed it. Once I was satisfied, I would take the report to the battalion commander’s Quonset hut, where he would scrutinize it line by line, checking for typos and misspelled words. Each submission was a meticulous process, reinforcing the importance of precision and attention to detail.

During the winter of 1974-75, my clerk fell ill, and for one month, I had to type the report myself. I found myself alone in the battalion motor pool office late at night, braving the bitter cold, with only a five-gallon diesel can heater providing warmth. A blinding snowstorm raged outside as I worked diligently to complete the task.

Suddenly, the door burst open, allowing a gust of snow to swirl into the room. Through the icy blast stepped my fellow captain and hoochmate, Captain Jim Schlesinger. In his hand, he carried a thermos of hot coffee.

Surprised, I asked, “Jim, what are you doing here at this time of night, in the cold, in this blizzard?”

He simply replied, “I knew you were down here by yourself, typing on this antique typewriter, and I thought you might need some hot coffee.”

As he poured each of us a cup, he added with a grin, “I really hope this tastes okay because I couldn’t find a pan to heat the water—so I used Mr. Cho’s starch pot.”

We both had a hearty laugh. Mr. Cho was our houseboy, responsible for laundering, starching, and ironing our fatigues. At the time, heavily starched fatigues were the standard, and Mr. Cho took great care in his duties. The idea of using his starch pot for coffee water was both amusing and oddly fitting given the circumstances.

This unselfish and unsolicited act by Jim made a lasting impression on me. Even decades later, I remember it vividly. It was a simple yet profound reminder of what it means to care for one another. He left a warm, comfortable hooch, braved a blizzard, and traversed a considerable hill—all because he cared about a fellow officer. This moment has stayed with me throughout my life, influencing how I interact with others. His kindness exemplified the deep sense of brotherhood that military service fosters, a lesson I carry with me to this day.

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.