The mood here in S. Korea is grim as the tragedy of the Sewol search mission continues. As I travel around this beautiful country of lovely people I am reminded on a daily bases of their sadness. The rain falling is like tears from the sky, the weather hampering the search for missing family members.

S. Korea will survive this as it has survived the separation of families torn apart by the 38th parallel. But this disaster will remain in everyone's heart and we will not forget. Each time I see a Ferry or look to the waterways, I will remember the children sleeping in the sea.

Yellow ribbons hung by people wishing for the safe return of the missing passengers blow in the wind as a person sits alone on the seawall on Jindo Island on Thursday. (Yonhap)

Freedom American Style in South Korea CALFEX

Rodriquez Range

Dusting off my reporting skills I attended Operation Foal Eagle CALFEX (Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise) up at Rodriquez Range in Pocheon, S. Korea.

There must have been about 30 reporters and journalists there to report on the exercise. I went for a different reason, but I wasn't sure what it was until I drove past the Security Guard quarters to the gate. I observed three protestors peacefully demonstrating that they want Peace and not War.


There was my story. No, not the fact that there were people in S. Korea that wanted peace and not war, who in their right mind doesn't want peace, but it is the fact that they CAN protest about it.

A couple of days before I was at Rodriquez Range attending a 'Memorandum of Understanding' (MOU) between the ROK mechanized 8th Infantry and the US 2nd Infantry Division honoring 60 years of the ROK Alliance.  Not a legally enforceable document, but a tool to help strengthen the relationship among the participants and giving the residents of Pocheon-si that reside around Rodriquez Live Fire Range, a vehicle to voice complaints.

(L to R)
Gen Thomas Vandal Command General 2ID, Mr. SEO, Jan Won Mayor Pocheon City, Mr. Yoo, Jae Hwan Head of Local Residents and Maj Gen Jegal, Yong Ju Command Gen 8th Mechanized Infantry

Attending the MOU and listening to Mr. Yoo, Jae Hwan Head of the Local Residents voice his concerns at first made me groan. It was just like in America regarding residents who move near an airfield and complain about the air traffic or people who move near a railroad track and complain about the train whistle warning of it's approach. But suddenly, when I realized what was really happening, I was filled with pride.

At the CALFEX a reporter voiced her story about the expense of staging a two prong attack with 350 military personnel Blackhawk helicopters, Kiowa Warrior helicopters, ROK K1 armored tanks, personal carriers and 105mm Howitzers and how that money spent could be better used to help the poor. At the time of writing this blog I do not know the percentage of participation between the Department of Defense and the ROK.

Myself with Lt. Sang eun Jeong
Lt. Sang joined the military because her Grandfather was a soldier. 

But here I am thousands of miles away from the United States of America;  through our friendship and alliance with S. Korea and our presence, they have the freedom to voice their opinions and concerns. Freedom is priceless, people will fight for it, shed blood and die for it.