This Week on the S. Korean Peninsula

Flying around the Peninusula! I was lucky to get a lesson on the chinook and Apache helicopters down at Humphreys. While I didn't actually get to 'fly', although it was the most beautiful day, I did get lessons on the simulator.

First stop the Chinook
(L to R)
My driver MSG Silang,  CW2 Destasio, Pilot: CW3 Bochat

Medivac Crew
(L to R)
Pilot: 1LT Crowhover, CW2 Danley, CW 2Konno, CW2 Barclay

The Apache

Two Awesome Pilots
(L to R)
CW3 Gomez and 1LT Ruble

An update on the N. Korean situation:

I need to retract the fact that N. Korea apologized for the box mines that severely maimed two ROK soldiers up at the DMZ. They expressed 'regret'.

The threat of nuclear tests loom.

S. Korean Delegates traveled to N. Korea to inspect the site of the purported family reunion on October 20 through October 26 at Kumgang Mountain at a scenic resort. This will be the first since 170 families reunited in February 2015. Only about 66,000 family members are alive, most of who are 70 years of age or older.

Last week on the Pen

On August 18 I went up to Camp Bonifas at the DMZ for the memorial service for Capt Arthur G. Bonifas and 1st Lt Mark T. Barrett. It's always a good reminder of the grim event that happened in 1976 and the fact that anything can happen. During the service the two ROK soldiers, both staff sergeants, that triggered the box mines on August 4, and seriously maimed were noted by all the officials and in a personal letter that was read out loud from Mrs. Barrett. Hundreds of S. Korean villagers near the border have been injured or killed after stepping on or picking up stray mines.

Memorial Wreaths from ROK and US Veteran's Associations

Each contingency lies a white chrysanthemum  on each of the memorials

US Veterans who were at the incident

Tensions have been high up at the DMZ with S. Korea retaliation of the mine incident by blasting anti North propaganda over loud speakers on the border and the yearly ROK and US military combined exercise. A state of quasi-war was declared by North Korea upon the South. 

ROK Nightmare Range

The Live Fire Exercise at Nightmare Range was really a Live Fire exhibition with local school children, business owners and the Mothers of soldiers dressed in uniform. Music played as a narration of what was occurring out on the range. It was quite spectacular.

An interesting note: The US pulled out there participation of this event a half hour before it was to commence. But they did keep their vehicles parked.

Talks have finished up at the DMZ and the negotiations brought an apology from the North to the two ROK soldiers who were wounded from the box mines. The South with cease the loud speaker blasting of anti North propaganda and the best news that the reunions between the North and South families separated by the war will recommence. 

S. Korea Liberation Day

On Saturday, August 15, South Korea celebrated Liberation Day, commemorating it's victory over Japan. Independent Korean governments were created three years later in 1948. Kim Il-sung was made the first Premier of N. Korean and Syngman Rhee was made the first President of S. Korea.

The KATUSA Veteran's Association held a ceremony honoring Korean War Veterans on Camp Jackson. A KATUSA is a Korean Augmentation to the United States Army. They are qualified Korean soldiers that demonstrate high aptitude and are fluent in English. They are very proud of their service to their county and consider it a great honor to serve. Patriotism is high in S. Korea.

Two Veteran's from the Korean War with DCSM Spano (L) and General Martin (R) the Veteran's are survivors of the battle at Chip-yeong-ni

There was quite a bit in the news about Japan not apologizing for it's atrocities during the War, especially sensitive is the attitude regarding the 'Pleasure Women' as they were called. Young Korean women put into service for the pleasure of the Japanese soldiers. There have been contentious debates over this. Seoul's Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se has called for Tokyo to prove its vows and uphold past apologies.

S. Korea has endured. It is like a Phoenix Rising from the dust of the Korean War. People who have traveled here as little at five years ago cannot believe the truly awesome change.

N. Korea continues on with it's threats. Always when the ROK Army conducts it's yearly exercise Ulchi Freedom Garden in conjunction with the US Military and forces from Australia, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, New Zealand and the UK. The exercise will last 12 days.

Victory - Key Resolve March 14,2014

Key Resolve is an extraordinary exercise encompassing all facets of the US Military. At the end of the exercise S. Korea holds a victory party in a swanky hotel in Seoul. 

US Ambassador Lippert making an appearance after his attack. You can see the stitches on his face, but are unable to see his bandaged hand.

In the center dressed in a traditional Hanbok is Scholar Ha, Yeon-soon, our host.

During the Korean War, a young S. Korean boy walked to and from school every day. One afternoon and American Soldier offered the boy a ride in their jeep and a candy bar. Six decades later, Ha, Yeon-soon, is one of the preeminent Confucian scholars in S. Korea and repays this act of kindness every opportunity he gets.

N. Korea uses this exercise each year as an excuse that S. Korea along with the US Military are inciting warfare and N. Korea threatens they will retaliate. N. Korea should be intimidated! Key Resolve is an awesome show of military infrastructure and force behind S. Korea. However...it is an exercise and even N. Korea performs exercises.

The 2nd Infantry Division's 2nd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment conducted their final combined arms live-fire exercise in Korea. This exercise was the last time a 1 ABCT unit will participate prior to their inactivation in July 2015.

Rodriquez Range A little smoky from the live-fire from aircraft, MCLC and tank fire.

With no monsoon season last summer and virtually no snow fall for a second winter Korea is very dry. This drought will affect the food source in N. Korea drastically. We shall see what the summer will bring.

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.

Sewol Ferry - update

It's been awhile since I've posted because a day here in S. Korea seems like a week with all that happens. But since I doubt that most Americans have heard the news regarding the Sewol Ferry tragedy where more than 300 people were drowned or are missing, mostly Danwon High School students, I thought I'd start here.

Life in Korea sometimes resembles a soap opera, the truth is stranger than fiction.

After the disaster:

Danwon High School's Vice Principal, Kang Min-Kyu who had been rescued from the ferry, committed suicide.

The de-facto owner of the operator of Sewol ferry: Yoo Byung-eun went missing. He was the nation's most wanted fugitive and 1.3 million police mobilized in his manhunt for an unprecedented W500,000,000 ($486,500) reward. There were rumors he escaped to a foreign location with the aid of his brother-in-law. France denied him safe haven or sanctuary since he was a wanted criminal.

Six weeks went by when they found his remains in a field 2.5 km from his villa in Suncheon, S. Jeolla. He was lying on his back in a winter jacket. His body was very decomposed, but they were able to take a finger print off of his right index finger. While his head was separated from his body, he was still wearing a hat.

The National Police Commissioner General Lee Sung-han resigns. Lee, a veteran police officer with more than 30 years of experience in the investigative agency. It wasn't determined until June 6th several months later that the body they had found was Yoo Byung-eun.

Three days later Yoo Dae-kyun, Yoo Byung-eun's son was picked up in a southern suburb of Seoul and arrested. His mother, Yoo Byung-eun's wife, Kwon Yoon-ja, was arrested last month and their daughter, Yoo Som-na, has been fighting an extradition order from Paris.

There has been a hunger strike by family members of those killed in the ferry accident in Gwanghwamun square in central Seoul for more than 3 weeks.

Admiral Yi Sunshin overlooks children playing while Sewol parents mourn

 

 The strikers demand expedition of parliamentary passage of a special law to determine the cause of the disaster. They were recently joined by singer Kim Jang-hoon. After fasting for 4 days, Kim performed a concert to mark the 100th day after sinking.

Fifteen Sewol crew members are currently on trial, including the captain and 3 senior officers who are accused of "homicide through willful negligence" a charge that carries the death penalty. The bulk of the charges arise from the fact that they chose to abandon the ferry while hundreds of people were trapped inside.

August 10, the government announced plans to bolster regulations on drunken sailing, a move that comes in line with enhanced public awareness on marine safety following the disaster. I'm not sure if this regulation intimates the crew was drinking as that story has not been released.