The 2nd Infantry Division in S. Korea Celebrates The Holidays

Being in the military family brings many new experiences. There is the anticipated melancholy of being away from loved ones and family. Just when you think the holidays are going to be hum drum you are surprised with how the military family rallies.

Here in S. Korea on the various camps there have been all kinds of holiday celebrations, from tree lightings complete with Santa and awesome hot chocolate to concerts with the 8th Army Band and the Korean Kook Soo Ho Didimdance Company and choral fetes by the American High School and the Uijongbu Kindergarten!

Camp Casey and Yongsan even lit Menorahs in honor of the Jews in the military. I happen to be Jewish so I was very happy about not being left out.

Camp Casey during Chanukah

Tank Lighting Camp Casey in Dragon Valley

The Middle School Band at Camp Casey

The High School Choir at Camp Humphreys

The Korean Kindergarten at Camp Red Cloud

Santa Claus visitin Camp Red Cloud

The Korean people are very special. While most Koreans do not celebrate Christmas they take great joy  and pride in celebrating with us. I have enjoyed meeting the mayor of Uijongbu and his wife and the Mayor of Yangju and his wife and many other Korean dignitaries. They come to all of our community events in the spirit of friendship and the Alliance.

Many thanks to the Army photographers that took most of these photos.

Happy Holidays

2 Infantry Division Holidays

Home for the holidays: Being a soldier, often times means being away from your loved ones for the holidays and it can be a lonely time.

The military held Thanksgiving Dinners at all the DEFACs (Dining Facilities) in S. Korea and let me tell you they pulled out all the stops from roasted pig to lobster, the food was outstanding. The best part for me though was watching the Command Teams, serve the soldier. It's one day where the PFC can tell the General what he or she wants!

Here we have a chef, General Vandal, DCSM Spano, CSM Brinton serving up Thanksgiving dinner at the JSA (Joint Security Area) on the border of North and South Korea.

The Chefs

The Spread

We visited JSA, Camp Stanley, Camp Casey and then flew back to Camp Red Cloud for an awesome Thanksgiving dinner of our own. It was great to see so many soldiers enjoying enormous amounts of food and enjoying the football games on the big screens and listening to the band play live music. It was as good a Thanksgiving as you could get here in S. Korea, where we have a lot to be thankful for.

Besides all the wonderful people in my life and new adventures I was especially Thankful for one more helicopter ride in a Blackhawk. I didn't even mind the doors being on.

DMZ

The other day I got to go up to the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) between North and South Korea. It's got to be similar to living in either East or West Germany except that war could literally break out at any time. No one wants to talk about it, but the motto of the 2nd ID, Fight Tonight, has been known to be reiterated as (Fight Right Now)!

There have been incidents over the years. The Axe Murder Incident occurred on August 18, 1976. A work force was to prune a poplar tree 75 meters east of the Bridge of No Return. Two soldiers, Captain Bonifas and Lieutenant Barrett were slain, four US enlisted men and four ROK soldiers were injured when the N. Korean soldiers attacked. The N. Korean attackers fled back to N. Korea on the Bridge of No Return.

The Bridge of No Return is the spot where all the POW's were repatriated after the end of the Korean War. It's an eerie place where you can still hear the foot steps.

The Military Armistice Commission (MAC) building houses four level of meetings essential to the upkeep of the Armistice Agreement, which was signed on July 27, 1953. These meetings are conducted in a hostile environment in this blue building, half on S. Korean soil the other half on N. Korean soil.

I am standing on the N. Korean side.

All the guards wear sun glasses so their eyes will not reveal any emotion and they stand in a Taekwondo position of readiness. This guard must stand only half exposed to N. Korea.

Guard in N. Korea.

Asia and US Partners

Living here in S. Korea, I often wonder how we are perceived here in Asia. Needless to say I was not happy about our budget politics publicity. I felt this opened up doubts regarding the inner workings of our great country, the United States of America. Apparently I am correct.

US wants Asia partners to strengthen their militaries - Pacific - Stripes

2nd Infantry Divisions 69th Birthday

The 2nd Infantry Division was formed in Bourmont France 96 years ago. It bears the Indianhead patch and while no one really knows why that image was selected, it's thought to be because the Indian was the first people of America. The distinctive unit insignia is: Second to None and the motto is: Fight Tonight.

During WWI the 2 ID earned the most Medal of Honors.

One of the most interesting points of note about the 2ID is that it is partially made of of Korean soldiers, called KATUSAs (Korean Augmentation to US Army). This program began in 1950 by agreement with South Korean President Syngman Rhee. Some 27,000 KATUSAs served with the US forces at the end of the Korean War.

Today at the birthday celebration I had the honor of meeting Mr. Kwak, Kyeong Chan. Mr. Kwak is a U.S. Bronze Medal Recipient. I believe he may be one of the few KATUSAs who has been awarded a US Bronze Star. At 70 years of age he wears his medal proudly. He participated in the Hweong Sung Battle in Kwang Won Province.

Pictured here from left to right is CSM Spano, Pvt Tyler Brown, Gen Vandal, Mr. Kwak, Mr. Kim and WO Lily. Pvt Brown holds the distinction of being the youngest member of the division while WO Lily is the most mature, although truth be known there is another soldier who holds that distinction. Mr. Kim is a KATUSA who fought in Vietnam.

Happy Birthday 2nd ID...may you have a peaceful year!

Overwhelmed

Being newly married and new to the military is overwhelming. I like to think I can do pretty much everything or at least give it my best effort. After a week of jet lag, my effort was little to none, exactly when my husband had to return stateside or TDY as the military calls it. Having him in the US and me in S. Korea definitely through me for a loop around the roller coaster.

Living on a US Military base is almost like living in small town USA. I say almost because even though everything is americanized...most of the civilians who work here are S. Korean. So I pretend I'm in small town USA, dropped right in the middle of Los Angeles.

Driving in S. Korea is my favorite because while there are rules, they are made to be broken. I'm a natural at this. You can pretty much do as you want as long as you're aggressive. It's the timid who cause the accidents. If you make a mistake you just turn on your emergency flashers as a quick apology.

Shopping in S. Korea is definitely an experience. I like to grocery shop off base. I can generally figure out most of what I'm buying although there are always surprises. Like the 'plain' yogurt that is definitely 'plain', but sweetened. You must be directed to the checkout line. Picking a line yourself is bad manners and you will get charged for bags if you do not bring your own. This is not automatic, you also have to ask for a bag, because not bringing one is stupid! My favorite thing about shopping in the grocery stores, beside how they wrap the fruit like a present is the fact that all the shopping carts are disinfected!