From My Service in Korea

From My Service in Korea, I learned…

Darrell Lake

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…

Where do I begin this tale of serendipity, discovery, enlightenment, affection, and redemption which has had life-altering consequences, an edification challenging my deepest assumptions of the world and my place in it?

Let my story begin with the end of my emotionally challenging college career avoiding the military draft. Making good enough grades to stay in school without a clear plan for my life had taken a toll. Like many of my fellow students, I was somewhat rudderless, adrift. It seemed impossible to think about making long-range plans. I had three older brothers who involuntarily served in the military and now it was my turn with a very low draft number at the height of the Vietnam War. I had struggled between my patriotic duty to my country and self-preservation and pursued every moral and ethical avenue to avoid the draft. I graduated and taught school for one year, but with the end of teaching deferments, my low draft number sealed my fate. I was drafted and inducted into the United States Army on June 15, 1971.

After basic training at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky I survived being the smallest member of my Advanced Individual Training (AIT) company to become a Military Policeman (MP), training at Fort Gordon, Georgia. MP school was very interesting and challenging, especially the advanced judo classes where I often felt like I was the practice training dummy because of my relatively small size. Everyone wanted to train with me, I was an easy throw! Fortunately, black and blue were my favorite colors.

Much to my chagrin and consternation at the end of AIT when assignment orders were handed out in groups according to your country of assignment, I was in the group going to Viet Nam. VIET NAM was stamped in big bold letters on my manila envelope. My heart sank! I tried to compress the next twenty years of my life into my two-week leave, having an unshakeable premonition of not returning home alive. Transportation orders and arrangements were in a separate cover and I never looked inside my orders envelope, I accepted my fate.

Following this period of disquiet and doom, saying my last goodbyes, I reported to Fort Lewis, Washington. I reported wearing my summer khakis in late October. We were told not to bring our winter issue to Vietnam, they would not be needed. In retrospect, I should have suspected something was amiss when the sergeant at the reporting desk gave me a scowl of disbelief and astonishment. He asked me where I thought I was going and I answered that I was going to Vietnam like my envelope said. He opened my envelope while shaking his head in frustration and incredulity. Then with a straight face, he said there had been a mix-up. I was going to Korea. For two minutes I was disappointed- I was psyched up and ready for “action”! I called my parents and they were ecstatic with the mistake in my deployment orders. Although being what I considered somewhat educated, I was still a rather naive farm boy. My first thought was, where is Korea? There had been a war there?! I had not studied maps since the eighth grade!!

Following a twenty-plus hour flight via Alaska, I arrived at the Army Service Command (ASCOM) in the Republic of Korea in late October 1971 late at night. Not knowing what to expect, I awakened to a muddy, wet, soggy hellhole the next morning. It seemed to be the “armpit” of the world! I could not wait to put this place behind me, so I jumped at the opportunity to hitchhike a ride in a courier jeep to my post. The first leg of my journey took me through downtown Seoul, a cacophony of sound, strange odors, and a sea of people, who at the time appeared to all look alike. Severe apprehension overwhelmed me when the driver of the diminutive M-151A1 attempted to jockey for position among the huge highway transport buses on the unmarked six-lane streets. I sighed in relief when we left metropolitan Seoul only to experience more white knuckles riding over one-and-a-half lane roads careening through ascending mountain passes while still trying to avoid the same large buses in the midst of a desolate, treeless, cold, and wet late October. I wasn’t ready to recommend Korea as a tourist Mecca!!

Arriving at a semblance of civilization, Camp Page, ChunChon, Kang-Won Do, the home of the 226th Signal Company and the 4th Missile Command of the 8th U.S. Army, I thought this might be tolerable for the next thirteen months of my assignment. Certainly better than Viet Nam! However, that fantasy suddenly evaporated when I discovered that I was to be assigned to a Maximum Security Area (MSA) approximately eight miles away from the main base as a guard. Now I understood why Korea was considered a hardship tour. The MSA truly was the “ARMPIT”!!!! Approximately six acres of mud, weapons storage bunkers filled with items not allowed in Korea, no trees, surrounded by a double security fence topped with concertina wire with guard dogs patrolling between and quad fifty machine gun emplacements at all four corners guarding all approaches. My assigned duty was going to be manning the watch towers between the machine gun emplacements, trying to avoid Article 15s and court-martial for falling asleep while working eight-hour swing shifts of nine days on and three days off. Highlights of the base included the barracks, a mess hall, a px the size of a small bedroom, a movie/meeting room the size of a small living room, the CQ, and a basketball court. And did I forget to mention the mud? Mud everywhere! The only other color was green or in military parlance olive drab. My home for the next thirteen months.

The first soldier that I encountered, a huge man, greeted me with tears welling in his eyes followed by the blank 10,000 meter stare. He felt truly sorry for the new replacements. Approximately two weeks before I arrived, one of the soldiers, in deep despair had committed suicide behind the barracks. This was not going to be a “Roman holiday”!

I could not perform my assigned duty because I only had a summer issue of clothing and no winter clothing was available anywhere in the country. For over a month, the only duty I pulled was to guard a civilian fuel delivery truck for maybe thirty minutes. After enough time, doing nothing can become strenuous. Most of the time I hitchhiked a ride into Camp Page and went to the library, movie theater, and snack bar. I was growing increasingly bored and concerned, understanding this could not continue. What was next for me was beginning to creep into my dreams, most often as nightmares!?

Feeling sorry for myself and sitting alone in the corner of the mess hall, all of my friends were out in the guard towers, I attempted to celebrate Thanksgiving, thinking of home, the smells, tastes, and the warmth of family. Unwittingly I had a chance encounter with an officer in his dress blues. This officer was working his way around the mess hall on an apparent mission of public relations and esprit de corps. He proceeded to sit down across from me and ask me how I liked my assignment. With a rather cold and disgustingly nonchalant answer, I explained how disappointed I was with the Army. I had graduated from college, taught chemistry and physics for a year, been drafted, and made an MP- during training they emphasized that we were “the best the Army has to offer”. Now I was going to be stuck here for thirteen months watching the countryside turn from brown to green to brown to green with some snow thrown in for color and slowly lose my sanity, much as I could see happening to others that arrived at the same time. Thankfully the officer did not consider my answer insubordinate, but he did sit back in his seat appearing a little startled and nonplussed. He proceeded to ask about my education and civilian experience and then asked if I might have any interest in interviewing for a position that was opening up at the Camp Page dispensary. I said sure and he got up and left. I put this conversation out of my mind, thinking nothing further would happen, and finished the worst Thanksgiving meal of my life, feeling very sorry for myself. Alone.

The next morning I received orders to report directly to Lt. Col. Kroeber, the Camp Page commander. The interaction on that depressing Thanksgiving Day took place so quickly that I failed to recognize him or his rank. Needless to say, I was mortified at what had taken place, but not nearly as much as the captain in command of the MSA. He very vocally expressed his displeasure with me concerning his perception of an indiscretion that I might have committed which might have sullied his command reputation. “WHAT DID YOU DO !!!!” I feigned total ignorance and innocence of the situation.

I was given an escort to Camp Page, interviewed by the medical staff of the dispensary, returned to the MSA, picked up my gear, and returned to Camp Page to be reassigned to work as a med tech for the remainder of my tour of duty. From that point, I had a wonderful, challenging assignment. I was back in civilization. The base did not have a T.O.&E.(Tactical Operations and Equipment) slot to have a real med tech assigned. They had to pick someone and on-the-job train them to fill the position. The current holder was leaving Korea and a new trainee was needed. I trained for two weeks and became the base med tech. My new position gave me the opportunity to work with several Korean civilian employees and KATUSAS(Korean Augmentation To the United States Army). Working with them, I was able to develop new friendships and expand my knowledge of Korea and its people. I began to experience Koreans as individuals, just as all peoples worldwide exist.

One of my most memorable experiences was the opportunity to attend the traditional Korean wedding of one of my civilian coworkers. The wedding banquet introduced me to many new, unusual, and unique foods, many of which over the past years have become favored culinary choices. I became extremely impressed with their culture-wide ingenuity, persistence, industriousness, dedication, and focus. It was often demonstrated to me that we were alike in so many ways with nearly all the same life values. They made me feel “at home”. Spring arrived. All was well. The weather had improved, birds were singing, the meager assortment of trees were leafing out and a few flowers were blooming. I was relatively content with the challenges of my new job and rekindled my interest in dentistry by spending time and observing in the adjacent dental clinic. Learning about the “Irish of Asia” and how friendly and interesting this country and its people are, created a daily sense of adventure.

Another key turning point in my story occurred when I was offered a position as an English language conversation instructor to an informal class of college students. Nearly all educated individuals in Korea could read and write English to some extent. In fact, some textbooks were in English, however, conversation was a bridge too far and this created a demand to practice spoken English. This class began when a Korean civilian nurse who worked in the dispensary was preparing to emigrate to the United States. Three of the medics put this class together to help this individual’s transition by meeting for informal English conversation in the local coffee/tea rooms where locals meet socially, somewhat like an early version of Starbucks. Friends and siblings began to attend as well and the class grew to 8-10 individuals. As I arrived in Korea the last of the original instructors was preparing to leave Korea. One day he asked if I would be interested in continuing this class and meeting ordinary Korean individuals who were nothing like what I had experienced immediately surrounding the military base and to learn about Korea and its people. I met the class and we mutually agreed to continue. I had a most delightful evening interacting with “real” Korean civilians.

This revealed a whole new world, opening my eyes to a depth of understanding unavailable to most transient soldiers. Their rich cultural history and customs as well as common values stimulated many lively and edifying conversations. I had found a second home and a new path of adventure opened to me. I found myself enjoying this cultural revelation so much that I extended my tour by six months to finish my military obligation in Korea, rather than be assigned to a less ideal position in the U.S. This allowed me to travel in Korea and Japan thereby opening my horizons even further. People the world over value the same basic things. Family, security, and hope as part of the Family of Man.

An equally serendipitous and remarkable story is that I met my future wife in the conversation class. Over many months we became friends and after much soul-searching and overcoming familial objections on both sides, we agreed to wait until she finished college to continue our relationship. This was to be an adequate test of our commitment to each other. Twenty-two long and seemingly endless months later she joined me in the U.S. and we have been happily married for nearly fifty years. With her help, encouragement, and unquestioned support I earned a Master’s Degree in microbiology, Doctor of Dental Surgery, and practiced for thirty years with her by my side. This led to a daughter who is also a practicing dentist.

I am eternally grateful to Lt. Col. Kroeber, a most judicious and thoughtful man, for the opportunity that I was given to serve in a meaningful capacity which led to my experiencing the real Korea. One never knows how the ramifications of a seemingly small gesture and chance encounter can work to produce immeasurable consequences in someone’s life. Indeed the hand of our Creator often works in mysterious and unfathomable ways. It is to our own detriment when we lack faith. Serendipity? I don’t think so!

I had an opportunity to visit Korea in 1993 and was astounded by the changes that had taken place since my time there in 1973. I was amazed at how modern everything had become in so short a time and still Korea had maintained its essential cultural identity. The progress from a war recovery economy to modernity was astounding! This spoke volumes to the resourcefulness, ingenuity, dedication, and determination of the Korean people.

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…

It was spring of 1967 I was 20 and getting off a plane at Kimpo International Airport in Korea. Riding in the back of a duce and a half through the Seoul area we saw a country and capital city emerging from the ravages of war.  The NCO in charge reminded us the war was not over, the end was still being negotiated at Panmunjom and “incidents” still occurred in the DMZ.

My new home was Camp JEB Stuart B Troop, 4^th Squadron, 7^th Cavalry on the south end of Freedom Bridge. (Pic #1&1A) We were the reaction force in support of troops on the DMZ.  North Korean infiltration was active with ambushes and bombings.  We lived in Quonset huts with shower and bathroom facilities about a 100-yard walk away.  If you were ever stationed on the DMZ one thing you would never forget were the winters and the bone chilling cold when the winds came out of Mongolia.

At JEB my job was troop supply and in the field at either Guard Post Jane or Beyerl I was ground surveillance radar operator.  I had no knowledge of how to do either, I was the new guy and told to learn it. The road to the GPs went by a locomotive that was destroyed in the 50s, I never liked going by it. There were continuously incidents in the DMZ, 2 killed when their jeep hit a mine and 2 more when their Quonset hut was bombed. (Pic 7&8) We also had a bounty placed on us, $800 for every one killed.

January 68 saw the hi-jacking of the USS Pueblo and 31 NK commandos coming within yards of the Blue House, the U.S. lost men in both incidents.   Life lessons learned was look for the “old man” they would share and teach the way it really was, if you would listen.  Plan, execute and adjust to meet the situations faced.  Be a mentor to those you work with as their success is also yours.

In spring of 68 I left for home and back to college.  Carried with me were memories of the Korean people;  they were happy, industrious and seemed able to solve any problems through creative thinking; they were rebuilding their country.  Little did I know I would return.

In the early 80s I was offered two jobs one in the U.S. and the other as a civilian at Osan Air Base, Korea.  We let our 3 sons decide where to go and they all wanted to go to Korea.  We arrived at Osan AB on 1 April 1983.  Things had changed, families were now living on Army and Air Force bases and in the surrounding communities.   Many of the Army bases north of Seoul had disappeared or had been turned over to the ROK.  JEB Stuart was gone it was now just a barren lot close to Freedom Bridge.  The budding changes I had seen in 68 had now taken hold and Korea was expanding into a modern country with high rise buildings and interstate highways stretching from Seoul to Pusan.  The ROK army was now taking over patrolling the Military Demarcation Line. There was an ironic change in one of my jobs, instead of drawing arms and proceeding past the old locomotive to the GPs I was now organizing bus tours across Freedom Bridge to Panmunjom for military, civilians and their families.  I was also in charge of Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader visits to AF locations to include helicopter flights to remote sites. Seoul and North Korea also announced they would host the Olympics in 1988.  Korea was on the move and names like Hyundai, Kia and Samsung would become familiar names in the U.S. In 1986 we departed Korea.  I did not realize it then but I had become the “old man” I first found out about at JEB Stuart.

In 2022 I learned of the Korean Defense Veterans Association (KDVA) and the Revisit Korea program.   I was fortunate enough to be selected and was able to bring my Osan AB Youth Center Director along.  We were both amazed at the changes from the late 80s to the present.  Through the times spanning my Korea visitations the growth and modernization has taken leaps forward bringing the Republic of Korea to be an economic leader in the western Pacific.  One thing remained the same but a little different.  In 2006 my old friend the locomotive moved across the ImJin River to ImJin Gak Park for all to see.  The young lady in the picture is An Sol who made a great presentation at KDVA in 2022.

The lessons learned at JEB Stuart lasted through out my career as a civilian whether it be at the Pentagon in charge of the Air Force Survivor Assistance Program or as the civilian deputy at Shaw AFB, S.C.

The growth of the Republic of Korea may best be illustrated by a line in the dirt, 38 degrees north, and a picture from above. Through the years of dynamic changes the only thing I saw not changing is the friendliness of the Korean people.

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…

John Loghry

As a young kid, this was the very first time I had ever been out of the US. It was a big shock to me, but also very enlightening. I learned a lot about Korea and the Korean people. The more I learned about them, the more I realized how similar we are.

The scariest thing that happened while I was there was the “Paul Bunyon campaign.” My barracks were right next to the helipad at 2nd S&T Battalion Camp Casey, Korea. I heard the helicopters and other commotion all night for a few days. We all thought for sure we were going to war, especially after we went to DEFCON3. That eventually calmed down but was always in the back of my mind.

I was fortunate enough to get overnight passes pretty often and stayed off-post with my Korean girlfriend. One of the best things she ever did for me was to teach me some of the old Korean songs/ballads. One of the famous ones I remembered was something like shang hi co hecta la. Trust me when I say, I can still sing that song through its entirety. Another song was very popular when I was there in 1976. It was a love song titled “Sarang Hae”. I still love that song. And yes, I still can sing every word to that song too. I and another GI from 2nd S&T would rent bicycles from the local pawnshop and ride down through the village of Tongducheon / TDC singing these 2 songs. The Koreans would freak out, especially the older ones. I remember it all, just as if it were yesterday, but it’s been 47 years for me.

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…

Mark Campbell, Chaplain, Lt Col USAF (Ret)

From my service in Korea, I learned that a nation’s deep commitment to high standards allows it to flourish.

When I landed at Kimpo Airport in June 1998 it was the first time I had set foot anywhere in Asia.  Sadly, I had misplaced a book I was reading and gave up all hope of ever finding it, only to be approached by two very young security personnel who were holding my book and asking if it were mine.  What an amazing introduction to the respect, kindness, and determination of the Korean people!

During my year at Kunsan Air Base many relationships were formed with Korean people who worked on the base, and in particular with a young officer of the ROKAF who also was assigned to the base.  With these friendships I learned about the high value Korean people place on family, respect for others, social customs, the delicious food, and the amazing industriousness of the people (for example:  shopkeepers seemed to live at their shops, always working; and young students were seen after dark returning from after school courses).

Once I read some of the history and visited Korean museums, I began to realize that in many respects South Korea is a modern-day David boldly standing up to Goliaths of our time.  This nation, through its hard work, innovation, and orderliness excels in showing the world what can be done.

Some of the highlights of my year in South Korea include:

• A flight in a F-16 fighter jet
• Deep conversations with many Korean people and visiting Korean homes/restaurants
• Developing a profound respect for the perseverance and resilience of Korean people
• Learning a little Korean language (on a solo visit to Seoul ordering a simple meal in Korean from a small restaurant! Yay!)
• Invited to assist in leading worship in various Korean churches
• Seeing God work in the lives of US GIs and in the lives of our host nation individuals

In my work as a chaplain, I visited several Korean churches and came away challenged by the devotion to prayer, energy in worship, and joy–even through very trying times–experienced by the people I met.

During my year in Korea without my family, my wife (also a USAF officer and nurse) bravely continued to care for our four children, keep the home, and fully served in her active-duty assignment (sometimes working nights)—this allowed me to serve unaccompanied that year in Korea.

Someday I hope to visit again the Land of the Morning Calm.  As I have regaled my family with stories of my year in Korea without them, it would be very fulfilling to share the experience of this modern-day David.

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…

Jim Collins

I was privileged to serve in 2ID/Korea for my first assignment in the Army, 1977-78, and my first Aviation assignment in 1980. Korea made a great impression on me…as a Soldier, a Lieutenant, and a leader. My experiences shaped my military and later civilian career and as a volunteer in retirement.

I was assigned to 2ID/Korea as a new Armor 2LT in early 1977. During my officer training to be a tank platoon leader at Ft Knox, nary a word was said to any of us headed to Korea about what to expect, other than it would be cold. I arrived and was shocked to find I would be assigned to an Infantry unit, not with tanks, but with jeeps. When I reported, I then discovered that 1/3 of my platoon were KATUSAs. I had no training or idea what a KATUSA was or how I would communicate with them. Thankfully, I was blessed with a great group of Soldiers who trained ME how to be a LT and Platoon Leader and demanded that I treat, and ensure all of my Soldiers were treated respectfully. This was essential as soon, as we were deployed to the DMZ for two month-long rotations, conducting armed reconnaissance missions that demanded the utmost in skills and reliance upon each other. These brave and patriotic young Soldiers were truly the best teachers I could ever asked for!

In 1980, after completing flight school, I was reassigned to 2ID/Korea as an Aeroscout Pilot and Unit Trainer, with the mission of flying the Buffer Zone and South Boundary fence, from the vicinity Chorwon, along the Imjin River and out to the Western Islands. Additionally, I trained our unit pilots to fly the P73 Seoul transition around Seoul. It was a challenge to fly both the DMZ and Seoul transition due to intense security to prevent any inadvertent overflights. To see Korea from 1000 feet every day..from the mountains along the DMZ to Freedom Bridge and the Imjin and out to the Sea was an awe inspiring joy and challenge.

I later returned to Korea for a month, in 1996 as part of the III (US) Corps Staff planning team. We were challenged to update and plan the Defense Plan for 8th Army, and then brief GEN Luck at 8A, MG Tommy Franks at 2ID, and our Allies at FROKA and TROKA. To accomplish this task, we traveled by vehicle and helicopter and were amazed at how Korea had changed from primarily agricultural to a mega city-state in just 15 years.

Prior to the 2023 Revisit Program, I was able to return to Seoul in February 2020 as a Volunteer StemCells courier for time: matters, a German organization that arranges courier support worldwide for StemCells for leukemia patients. Imagine my luck, on just my second mission, to fly into Incheon, take the subway to Dap-Simni-Dong, and in the middle of a snowstorm….find my way to the Hanyang University Hospital, for pickup and then delivery to Hackensack University Hospital in New Jersey. I have completed 60 total StemCells missions worldwide, but being able to navigate to Hanyang University was my most enjoyable and challenging mission!

In summary, my service in Korea was a significant personal, educational, and life work experience… learned to live and work with a patriotic and hard working team of US and Korean Soldiers, dedicated to the defense of the ROK. I consider both of my years in Korea to be my foundation for life! Thank you for the opportunity to share!

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…

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.