Veterans Day 2014

I spent this Veterans Day here in S. Korea and it has been right up there with my most memorable for a few reasons.

The first is because I attended Chief Warrant Officer 5 Ralph Rigby's birthday party.

At least that is what he called it. Actually CW5 retired after serving for 42 years and is the last continuously serving Vietnam War draftee. His Mom, Dorothy, standing next to him at the ceremony smiled when he recollected his reaction to being drafted. He was going to move to Canada which was close to their up-state New York home and could visit periodically. But Dorothy wouldn't have it, "We do not quit in this family!" 

CW5 receiving his ROK wings from Gen Chun

Rigby's first and last assignment...S. Korea. He will be missed.

The second reason is because I attended the Veterans Day ceremony on Camp Red Cloud.

They played all the service melodies where the representing service members stood and sang. It was the first time I had heard the ROK service members sing their song and it was very moving.

Col (R) William M. Alexander then gave a wonderful speech on the history of how Veterans Day came about and Medal of Honor recipient Ronald E. Rosser who served with the 2ID in the Korean War and a touching tribute to his father who also served.

But I can't let Veterans Day pass without out mentioning our soldiers in Afghanistan. I was hoping at this time last year we would be out of Afghanistan.

49 service members were Killed In Action during 2014 as of October. May they Rest In Peace. Please thank the next service member you see for their service today and everyday.

All photos by 2ID photographer PAK

Freedom of Speech

Freedom of speech is alive and well in the Republic Of Korea. As an American I feel very proud of this as I know we had an important part in their freedom. Living in South Korea I eagerly watch as the South Koreans are afforded a life full of promise.

Today in the province of Dongduchon, just outside the gates to the US Military base Camp Casey there was a large, but peaceful protest complete with a Korean drum performance and coffee the national drink. During the time I was there it was mostly older people who had relatives or whom themselves fought in the Korean War or remember it's suffering first hand.

Rarely have I seen so many older ladies out making a statement of participation.

The reason for the protest is that the ROK government along with the US government have decided to keep the Forward Operating Base known as Camp Casey, 11 miles south of the DMZ. Camp Casey was supposed to be downsized in the summer of 2015 allowing for a southern move of US forces. 

This decision is against what the people of Dongduchon want. However, the people of Dongduchon make it quite clear, according to Roh So hyun whom I spoke with, that they are not angry with the US government, but the S. Korean government for making this decision against their wishes. 

They held the protest outside of Camp Casey to bring attention to the protest. Tomorrow there will begin a protest in front of a Republic Of Korea government building.