By Located just north of Seoul and about an hour south of Dongducheon, is the suburban city of Uijongbu. Besides being nationally famous for serving the best budaechigae in the country the city is also home to soldiers of the Second Infantry Division. Below is a graphic of the locations of current and former USFK camps in Uijongbu:
Out of all of these camps only two remain operational today, Camp Red Cloud in the city’s northwest and Camp Stanley to the city’s southeast. All of the remaining camps have been closed since 2005 as part of USFK’s transformation program to reduce the force footprint in Korea. If you look at the map all of these camps used to be on the outskirts of the old city of Uijongbu. However, as Korea prospered economically so did Uijongbu and the camps were completely swallowed up by the surrounding city.
The urban density of Uijongbu played a part in the decision to reduce soldiers and consolidate camps in Uijongbu. After a number of these camps were closed down the anti-US groups started protesting that these camps were polluted wastelands that were a danger to the surrounding Korean community. During a recent visit to Uijongbu, I decided to see what the current status of the camps really is.
The first camp I started at was Camp Red Cloud:
Camp Red Cloud (CRC) is the home to the headquarters of the 2nd Infantry Division and a few miscellaneous associated with the division headquarters. The camp’s namesake is Corporal Mitchell Red Cloud, a Winnebago Indian from Wisconsin that was post-humanously awarded the Medal of Honor during the Korean War. The camp is quite nice and has a busy golf course that is usually over flowing with Korean golfers. I took no pictures from inside the camp since it is still open and have my own policy of not taking pictures inside open USFK camps due to operational security concerns, but here is a picture of the division headquarters from the 2ID webpage:
From CRC I crossed the busy highway in front of the camp and walked down the road through the small “ville” in front of CRC and towards Camp La Guardia. The ville area in front of CRC is not really your typical soldier “ville” in Korea and is more of what you see in a typical Korean neighborhood. Camp La Guardia like many 2ID camps closed down in 2005. The camp is actually built around an old airstrip that originally gave the camp it’s name by being named after La Guardia Airport in New York. Before closing down, Camp La Guardia served as the home for an engineer bridging company because the runway provided plenty of room to park the large engineer equipment. The engineers are long gone and when I approached the front gate I noticed a ROK Army soldier guarding the gate. I asked him if I can take a picture of the camp from inside the gate and he would not let me. So I took this picture later on in the day from Cheonbosan Mountain that overlooks Uijongbu:
From La Guardia I walked down to the Uijongbu train station which sits adjacent to Camp Falling Water. Camp Falling Water used to serve as the home for the Department of Public Works (DPW). DPW is staffed with Korean workers that are responsible for maintenance operations on the USFK camps. Camp Falling Water is a very small camp, more like a collection of warehouses, that was closed down in 2005 as well.
From the train station I caught a bus to Camp Kyle that sits on the northeast side of the city. The camp is named after 2nd Lieutenant Darwin Kyle who was post-humanously awarded the Medal of Honor during the Korean War. This camp was also closed in 2005 and was home to a maintenance company and a quartermaster company when it closed. At the camp’s entrance I once again talked to a couple of ROK Army guards that told me I could not take pictures of the camp because it was Top Secret. For being some place so Top Secret it sure was easy to get a picture by walking over to the nearby pedestrian overpass and taking a picture of the camp from up there:
No that is not a massive oil slick on the camp as the anti-US groups would have you believe, but just water from an earlier rain shower. I did see some ROK Army trucks moving around the camp, but besides that no activity at all. From Camp Kyle I walked along the side of the camp and followed a trail that leads up Cheonbo Mountain behind the camp and took this overhead view of the camp:
Notice that some how all these green trees are some how growing on this polluted USFK camp. From up on the mountain I could also see Camp Essayons which lies on the western slope of the mountain:
Camp Essayons many years ago was once home to an engineer unit that named the camp after the Corps of Engineers motto of Essayons, which is French for “Let Us Try”. Camp Essayons was last home to a military intelligence battalion before the camp also closed down in 2005 as part of the USFK transformation.
From the very top of the mountain I could see Camp Stanley as well, that lies to the city’s southeast on the slopes of Mt. Surak:
Camp Stanley is named after Colonel Thomas Stanley who was killed in a vehicle accident in Italy in 1944 during World War II.
Camp Stanley is currently still open and is mainly a logistical base for the 2nd Infantry Division. Camp Stanley has actually escaped being surrounded by urban sprawl due to the fact that is located right next to a Korean prison and it’s adjacent rice paddies. The Korean prison is the building you see above with the blue roof. From Camp Stanley you can sometimes hear the prisoners singing songs and cadence from the prison. You can often see them working in the prison’s rice paddies as well. The picture below is of Camp Stanley as viewed from Surak Mountain:
Across the street from Camp Stanley you can see the rice paddies the prisoners work in that helps give the area a distinct aroma during the summer months. The quality of life on Camp Stanley greatly improved two years ago with the opening of the new PX on the camp:
Camp Stanley is also home to the only real soldier “ville” in Uijongbu where one can find the typical juicy bars, pawn shops, chicken on a stick shacks, counterfeit clothing stores, coin & plaque shops, and other typical staples of a “ville” in Korea:
Finally, from Cheonbo Mountain I had a bird’s eye view over tiny Camp Sears:
Camp Sears was once home to a headquarters battery of a short-range air defense battalion. The Camp was named after Sergeant First Class Jerome Sears who was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross during the Korean War. The camp closed as well in 2005. While walking down the mountain towards the camp I could see that some how locals were growing crops along the polluted fence line of this USFK Camp:
Quite shocking that locals would be willing to eat crops grown in such polluted soil. I then walked to the front gate of the camp and found no one guarding the camp and was able to take this picture of the front of the camp:
Once again the oasis of green growing in the middle of the dense urban jungle of Uijongbu is quite striking. The fact is that these USFK camps are much cleaner than an equivalent ROK Army base that has been open for 50 years. The camps in general are much cleaner than surrounding communities as well. The camps have plenty of trees and open space that could be turned into useful parks and facilities for the city of Uijongbu. The local government had big plans to turn the camps into parks and administrative centers for the city. Camp La Guardia and Camp Falling Water would have been an excellent locations to turn into a large city park in the section of the city in desperate need of some green space.
However, as usual the outside anti-US groups ruined things for the surrounding community by pushing their bogus pollution agenda. Because of the anti-US groups the hand over of the land was delayed for two years and when the camps were finally handed over, the land was given to the ROK Army instead of the local government. Many people I know in Uijongbu are very upset by the interference of the anti-US groups.
If anti-US groups like Green Korea really cared about the environment, instead of making bogus camp pollution claims, they should be complaining that USFK should clean the graffiti on Cheonbo Mountain overlooking Uijongbu. This faded unit crest is of the old 702nd MSB unit that was stationed at Camp Sears more than a decade ago:
The mountain also has other smaller patches of graffiti from other units as well. Now this is something that I can legitimately see people complaining to USFK to clean up, however Green Korea is silent. It is because the anti-US groups like Green Korea do not care about the environment and instead were formed to promote an anti-USFK agenda that has since been linked to a North Korean spy ring. Creating as many obstacles as possible to prevent the USFK transformation was the goal of Green Korea and their North Korean puppet masters, not any concern about the environment. So in the end the USFK transformation happened anyway and the only people that lost out due to the anti-US groups were the people of Uijongbu.
If you have an interesting or funny veteran story from your time in Korea I would love to hear it. If it is a good story I am willing to publish it here on the ROK Drop. It doesn’t matter what decade you served just as long as it is interesting or funny. If you have a story to share you can e-mail the story to me at gikoreaonline – at – yahoo.com. Thanks for reading the ROK Drop.
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3:06 am on July 18th, 2007 1
Camp Jackson, located in Uijongbu and home to the 8th Army Wightman NCO Academy and KATUSA training, was not mentioned in your post. As far as I know it is still open, training soldiers and will be for as lesat the next year!
4:04 am on July 18th, 2007 2
Great write of the Uijongbu area and the present and past US Army camps. When I was there Camp Red Cloud was home to I Corps and the airfield had aircraft.
6:10 am on July 18th, 2007 3
That is correct Hugh, Camp Jackson is still part of the "CRC Cluster"
6:57 am on July 18th, 2007 4
Camp Jackson is part of Eighth Army and outside of both 2ID and Uijongbu by being located in Dobong-gu. I was going to include Camp Jackson in a posting of USFK camps in the Seoul area in a future posting.
7:35 am on July 18th, 2007 5
See this camp cluster is Uijongbu is actually my pet peeve in Korea.
I have spend time at all these camps in one capacity or another and its a shame to see them neglected so
If you climbed the small apartment building to the left and rear of Kyle you can see clearly they do not take care of anything there. The barracks looks looted (I was one of the first to move into that barracks) and the grounds are unkept. I too was told the grounds at Kyle were top secret but I am not sure why other than they do not want the public to see how clean the place is.
La Guardia is worse…abandoned GI cars still litter the front gate and all the good clubs are gone. One club just closed and transferred its staff to the Vegas club. The other club left open has some strange hours….The grounds are unkept and the Barracks again is looted and the bays are left open all year long
I havent visited Sears yet
Essyones (cant spell that name) is untouched but the sign was removed last year and relocated to Stanley for what I thought would be some sort of momument to the camp but instead it was painted over and now reads something like "Warriors begin here" in some reference to the 2ID Welcome Center (its the sign closest to the closed chow hall)
The other sign in the front of the reception center is the Camp Kyle sign.
I think they are phasing out Camp Jackson
8:47 am on July 18th, 2007 6
I love reading this stuff, but…
You missed a few more existing and recently closed (in geological terms anyway, and yeah I'm a fossil) installations.
There's Camp Kwangsa-Ri just north of Uijongbu on the east side of highway 3.
What about Camp Indian (closed early to mid 90s, I think, used to be D Company 44th Engineer Battalion) and North Star Range (might still be open) just to the west of Camp Stanley?
And the old ammo dump (I've forgotten the name of it), that was a short distance north of Camp Jackson which was replaced by Camp Kwangsa-Ri in the late 80's (I think)?
9:49 am on July 18th, 2007 7
Jerry,
I was going to save Camp Kwangsa-ri for a future Dongducheon posting. Camp Indian is before my time but I think I remember my old Chaplain talking about Camp Indian before. Was it a camp on highway 39 just past CRC? You can tell an old USFK camp was there because of the look of the buildings but it is now a ROK compound. Northstar as far as I know is open but I didn't include it because it is just a range adjacent to Stanley. As far as a ammo dump north of Jackson I have no idea.
2:12 pm on July 18th, 2007 8
AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH Kwangsa-Ri is still alive and well and I know because last year I spent 8 weeks there
North Star is still being used….just a couple of days ago I noticed the Red Flag was hoisted by the highway
Never heard of Camp Indian….love to know were it was exactly so I could check it out but I lived in that area in the early 90s and NEVER heard it referrenced
These Ammo dumps are everywhere
Whats interesting to me is all the old camps up in the North area around Musan…..all them have American barracks and gyms but I do not know the former names
2:52 pm on July 18th, 2007 9
I spent a couple weeks on Camp Indian about seven years ago. It was utterly trashed and the buildings were gutted but you could still do some training there at that time.
It was located between Camp Stanley and the small buddist temple that is off to the side as you enter the more central part of Uijongbu. Not sure if it is still there, as it was somewhat off the beaten path, but I believe it was home to an engineer unit.
3:08 pm on July 18th, 2007 10
I think I know what Buddhist temple you are talking about. It must be a small camp because I don't remember seeing it. Next time in Uijongbu I will have to go looking for it.
3:13 pm on July 18th, 2007 11
I will look for it on Saturday
12:17 am on July 19th, 2007 12
kingkitty,
Leave a comment here of what you find out.
12:07 pm on July 19th, 2007 13
Nice pics and excellent post GI! I used to live right outside the gate of Camp Indian from 1991-1993, and it was still there as recently as three years ago. That area used to be called Mongadae, and I used to ride my bike to and from Camp Stanley every day. If you go out the "prison" gate of Camp Stanley, hang a left and stay on the main road for about a mile. The camp will be on your left hand side. It's not on the main road though; it sits back off of the road about 100 meters or so and is nestled in a small village. Depending on which way you went up Surak Mountain, you should have been able to see it from there. I used to hike that mountain every weekend. Good times…
8:50 am on July 20th, 2007 14
[...] A Profile of USFK Camps in Uijongbu [...]
9:44 pm on July 20th, 2007 15
Camp Indian is (was) toward Camp Stanley from Northstar Range. If you look for US type buildings while driving in to Northstar you should see it (unless it’s been demolished to build high-rise apartments, haven’t been there in quite a while).
Ooohhhh, can’t wait for the Western Corridor version. The DPW at Camp Giant used to have a painted map on the wall from about 1960 which showed a whole slew of US camps (including the name of the camp and what unit was there). Most of them have since become ROK camps. Sure hope someone kept it. I’ve got the 1983 camp list (and locations) memorized, since I used to get to visit most of them regularly (not that I had much choice in the matter at that time).
8:50 pm on July 31st, 2007 16
[...] Divison, USFK lone combat unit in Korea is composed of two main hubs. The first hub are the camps located in the Uijongbu area just north of Seoul. Uijongbu is home to logistical, communications, and command & control [...]
2:09 am on August 11th, 2007 17
I was stationed in korea from august 1966 to sept.1967 and was wondering if any of your contacts can find out where c battery 7/17 arty was located and what the name of the camp was. Its been a long time since i was there and i read that jerry said that there was a map at camp giant painted on a wall with a slew of old camps from 1960 with the name of the camps including the units stationed there.
11:28 am on August 11th, 2007 18
Victor,
From what I can find out the Headquarters Battery was on Camp Sabre and the firing batteries were on Camp McIntyre. Do these names sound familiar? Here is a map of the area you can look at as well:
http://members.tripod.com/~RickinBham/CSCV.htm
Hopefully this helps.
8:07 pm on September 30th, 2007 19
I was stationed at the 3rd Light aviation Section, which was just out side of Camp Red Cloud. At that time it was Hg I Coup. I was there 1961-62. I can't find anything about it anywhere. I know that when I left in May 1962 there was talk about making it a company. We were the last section in the US Army, I don't see anything on your map of Uijongbu about it. Are we lost forever ?
10:09 pm on September 30th, 2007 20
Arthur,
I have never heard of HG I Coup. If it was near Camp Red Cloud it has probably been covered with buildings now. Can you remember on which side of CRC it was on?
11:09 pm on September 30th, 2007 21
GI Korea,
When I was in Korea, Camp Red Cloud was Hq For I coup (Sorry about the HG) The 3rd LAS was about a half mile out of Red Cloud
11:56 pm on September 30th, 2007 22
Since it was a light aviation unit I would have to assume that it was probably Camp La Guardia you were on. Camp La Guardia is located about a half mile from Camp Red Cloud and is built on an old airfield. This may be where your unit was located. There is a picture of Camp La Guardia above.
7:22 am on October 15th, 2007 23
[...] A Profile of USFK Camps in Uijongbu Located just north of Seoul, is the suburban city of Uijongbu. Besides being nationally famous for serving the best budaechigae in the country the city is also home to soldiers of the Second Infantry Division. … Related: • A • Profile • of • USFK • Camps • in • Uijongbu [...]
12:35 am on October 19th, 2007 24
does anyone know where i can get recent pics, videos, blogs, websites or anything at all on the little ville right outside of camp stanley? i spent a lot of time there in the mid to late 90's & want to see whats new
1:48 am on October 23rd, 2007 25
I was stationed at Camp Indian 79-80
would love to see what it looks like now…
7:26 pm on December 23rd, 2007 26
[...] The ignorance of this Yonhap reporter Lee Chi-dong who wrote this article is quite evident if you have ever been to Camp Kyle, which judging by Lee’s article, he probably has not. First of all Camp Kyle is not a “vast land” in the heart of Uijongbu. Camp Kyle was one of the smallest camps in USFK which housed only two company sized units. You can see for yourself with pictures of the camp I took earlier this year, which I posted right here on the ROK Drop: [...]
7:10 pm on December 28th, 2007 27
I was at Stanley the day it closed, worked at the compound across the street from the main gate. I have been to all the bases mentioned except Indian, but have heard of it. I think you start to think about the memories after these bases close down. Dows anyone know the name of the Ammo Depot on the way up to Caset right off the main road?
10:36 pm on December 28th, 2007 28
The ammo depot is camp Kwangsa-ri which you can read about at the below link:
http://rokdrop.com/2007/08/06/camp-casey-korea/
3:58 am on December 29th, 2007 29
Thanks for the info, I ment to say I was at the Camp Sears closing in the last entry. I have been at most camps either working or living, love these short history lessons on the camps.
9:05 pm on February 27th, 2008 30
[...] Camp Red Cloud in Uijongbu. www-2id.korea.army.mil/about/history/ [Found on Ask.com] 28. A Profile of USFK Camps in Uijongbu I know that when I left in May 1962 there was talk about making it a company. … Camp La Guardia [...]
11:49 am on February 29th, 2008 31
Memories of Camp Red Cloud and trips to the Ville had long since faded. I'm waiting for a plane at Flint Michigan's Bishop Airport and it all comes rushing back. For there, sitting in the waiting area for a flight to Las Vegas and glaring at me with that evil look that only a former Kijichon can muster is my old Yobo. Even after 30 years, I still remembered her and the stupid 17 year old kid she married and that guy sitting with her was certainly not him. Time came rushing back and I remembered trips to the Papasan Club and Soju hangovers. Oscar champaign and saw dust burning stoves. For a minute, it was 1975 again.
2:30 am on March 1st, 2008 32
I was in Korea 86-88, stationed at Camp Kyle with the 61st Maintenance Company 86-87 and with the 61st Detachment at Camp Page 87-88.
Wow, things have changed in and around the Northern Corridor. I just found this site and the other Korea site in the past month or so and it has been a trip back in time and an eye-opener concerning the present day.
The ville in Uijongbu, "Jackson Circle" we called it, I lived a truly hedonistic existence. If anyone reds this and was there in that time frame, I was the guy with the "Ville Monster" jacket. I didn't want the cheesy dragon or outline of the penisula, I custom designed that jacket to match my persona. The jacket is long gone and the memories are a blur but I do know it truly was a single guys paradise…
As far as Camp Kyle is concerned, we were a Maintenance company, wheeled vehicles, radios, heavy equipment, generators, and a tech supply sending out parts to camps all over the area. I guarantee they found nothing more than old oil, nothing of a highly reactive nature was ever brought to Kyle.
9:06 am on March 8th, 2008 33
There is a temple on the mountain behind Camp Kyle, I hiked up there many times. There are also a couple of Korean War bunkers right below the temple, I checked them out a time or two.
2:21 am on March 14th, 2008 34
I was at CRC in 82-83, Cp Stanley and Cp Kyle in 69, and Cp St Barbara in 1970. Cp St Barbara was up just west of Rodriguez Range on route 37 where it crosses the Hantan Gang (river).
Here is a picture of where it was taken from Google Earth. The camp was turned over to the ROKA in 1972.
[img
GI Korea
10:58 am on March 14th, 2008 35
Bruce thanks for stopping by. I have driven by Camp St. Barbara many times before including spending a week living on R228 but never thought to take pictures of the camp. The camp is still occupied and used by the ROK Army to this day. The R228 airfield nearby is pretty run down though. The training area past R228 is used sometimes by US forces and one of my favorite pieces of real estate to train at.
3:54 pm on March 14th, 2008 36
Here is a web page I made about Cp St Barbara. It has pictures from right after the War, to now.
http://www.qsl.net/wd4ngb/stbarbara.htm
I would love to get some recent pictures from the camp area. I really enjoyed the time here, and the beautiful scenery in the area. I walked from Cp. St. Barbara to Unchon-ni, now called Uncheon City, one Saturday. I walked up through the Chinese Tunnel, then went up the back way that goes left just past the tunnel, before Rodriguez Range. This is one of the most beautiful areas I have been to. There is a section that was called the Greek Valley back then. I was told it was called that from a huge battle between the Chinese troops and a Greek unit. On my first tour in 1960-61 I was a truck driver at Camp Casey, and was TDY to Cp. Kaiser (Unchon-ni) for 3 months, so drove this route many times.
If anyone gets any pictures, I would LOVE to see them.
Bruce
4:45 am on March 28th, 2008 37
With F TAB 91-94. Hung mostly at J's Club and Eagles Club before and after they made the move from outside Red Cloud.
5:25 pm on April 5th, 2008 38
HIGH RES PICTURES NOW AVAILABLE OF UIJONGBU IN GOOGLE EARTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7:10 pm on April 5th, 2008 39
Thanks for posting this. I was at Camp Sears twice…75-76 and 78-79. We created the S'Posed to club and PX because those at Camp Kyle didn't like us. The only entertainment was playing Liar's Poker. We changed the old body prep building into a library.
We erected a sign over the front gate that said "Goofy Golf" 
as we were G co 702nd Mt Bn. A fuel dump was next door. Hiked to the temple above a couple times. Drank way too much soju. Sick call was at Camp Stanley.
7:13 pm on April 5th, 2008 40
Oh yeah, one more thing. We almost went to war after a tree trimming incident on the DMZ. All our trucks were lined up ready to pull out. Whatever happened to ARP of CARP? (Cavoulas(me), mark Abraham, rick Reisner and jorge Planas)
10:19 pm on April 5th, 2008 41
NC47,
Thanks the hi-res pictures of Uijongbu on Google Earth are really good. I will have to do a Google Earth posting of Uijongbu sometime.
11:41 pm on April 5th, 2008 42
The post brought back a lot of memories. I was in Uijongbu in A Company of the 51st signal Bat from Sept 63 to Sept 64. I remember going on alert when the tonkin incident happened and I had 15 days to go. I wonder where our bat is located on the photo. Been such a long time everything except Rosies is a fog. I do remember the light air field which we used to fly courrier missions to Stanley and Casey and I Corps Arty on a daily basis.
11:53 pm on May 1st, 2008 43
Man, haven't thought about this stuff in a long while. I was stationed there in 64-65 when there were only two lane roads, foul ditches (pollution???Hah) and dirt paths thru the 'ville. Ah Rosie's
4:47 pm on May 2nd, 2008 44
Well, I was in A Company with Capt TS Jones in 63-64. Yes I do remember Rosie's, Jackson Main, and the alternate area out behind CRC near the 121st evac. Will never forget the value of $2,Belt Buckes, fire extinguishers, and spare tires. What a tour.
7:47 pm on May 16th, 2008 45
[...] patrolling outside the camps. Units at stationed at US military installations in Dongducheon and in Uijongbu were ordered to conduct regular patrols around their installations in search of North Korean [...]
7:28 am on May 17th, 2008 46
Not far from Cp Red Cloud was Cp Mosier. I believe it was home to a Dustoff unit, but was taken over by the ROK Army in the '80s.
I have not been to Korea in 11 years, but would like to return if I can find a civil engineer position.
7:12 pm on June 9th, 2008 47
Tom Davis
I see you was in the 51ST signial company in 63-64. I was in the 3rd Light aviation section just down the road from the 55th MP's and 51st sig. in 61-62. I see you remember a air field there, I know when I left in Jun 62 their was talk of making it a Company, because the 3rd LAS was the last section in the US army. I was wondering if the light air field you were talking about was the 3rd Las ?
9:14 pm on June 9th, 2008 48
GI Korea:
If you get up to the old Cp St Barbara area this Summer, Please try to get a bunch of pictures.
Bruce
12:32 am on June 21st, 2008 49
I'm enjoying this site. I actually have a hand drawn Eighth Army Engineer map somewhere from the 50s with all the camps in the Western Corridor listed. Now I just need to find it, take a picture and find a way to link it.
6:43 pm on July 10th, 2008 50
[...] … rokdrop.com/2007/06/25/the-battle-of-uijongbu/ [Found on Google, Yahoo! Search] 2. A Profile of USFK Camps in Uijongbu Located just north of Seoul and about an hour south of Dongducheon , is the suburban city of [...]
12:49 am on July 27th, 2008 51
Was stationed at Camp La Guardia 1967-1968 with the 59th AVN Co. {I Corp] Enjoyed this web site and the pictures. I wish I would have been more of a photog. while I was there.
2:36 am on July 27th, 2008 52
Ed Messmer,
I see you were at Camp La Guardia. I was at the 3RD LAS(Light Aviation Section) just about a mile out side of Camp Red Cloud (I Corp) 1961-1962 when I left in Jun,1962 their was talk about making the 3Rd LAS into a company as it was the last section left in the Army. It was formed during the war. I can't find any trace of the 3RD anymore. Some have said the they think it was made into Camp Lu Guardia. I was wondering if while you were there anyone ever made coments that this might have been the 3RD LAS before they changed the name? When I was there we had about 30 GI's and about 12 officers as pilots.
Art Parker
4:25 am on July 30th, 2008 53
Art Parker 59th Aviation Company [Corps] was formerly the 3rd Light Aviavtion Section, which was actvated 19 December 1950. At the same time it was reassigned from 8th Army to the First US Corps. The 3rd L A S was redesignated 59th AVN Co. [Corps] 24 September 1963. The 3rd L A S participated in 8 engagements for which it received battle credits. This was taken from a year book I have from when I was there. it's been along time since I have seen it, but it did have this bit of history in it. We had about 80 enlisted and about 10-12 Officer/ pilots and 15 KATUSA's. Another good web site on Uijongbu with pictures and an aerial view of Laguardia is qsl.net/wd4ngb/crc/.htm Hope thi helped out
11:00 pm on August 11th, 2008 54
[...] they are nothing like what you see in the above video. I have posted about the TDC Ville and the Stanleyville before, but the below video gives a better idea of how different the soldier “villes” [...]
7:24 am on August 29th, 2008 55
[...] Due to its strategic location a number of United States Force Korea (USFK) facilities have been located either in or around the city since the end of the Korean War. Uijongbu is the current home of the US Army’s 2nd Infantry Division headquarters at Camp Red Cloud, the division’s logistical base at Camp Stanley, and its Noncommissioned Officer’s Academy at Camp Jackson. The city was also home to other USFK camps that closed in 2005 as part of the USFK transformation plan to reduce US military units on the peninsula and consolidate what remained on the expanded Camp Humphreys garrison south of Seoul. I full posting about all these camps can be read here. [...]
8:34 pm on September 10th, 2008 56
[...] Uijongbu, Uisong,… geology.com/world/south-korea-satellite-image.shtm… • A Profile of USFK Camps in Uijongbu Jul 18, 2007 … If you look at the map all of these camps used to be on the outskirts of the old [...]
6:23 am on October 15th, 2008 57
I have enjoyed reading these short stories about this area. I was stationed at Camp Casey back in '54 with 7th Div. I went back to Korea this past May to visit. I could hardly believe the changes since 1954. I traveled from Panmunjom to the Punch Bowl. I spent most of my tour with 45th Div. in Mundung-ni valley.
4:17 pm on November 10th, 2008 58
[...] pro-US army statements I don’t want to get into, but this guy looked around some of the bases. http://rokdrop.com…camps-in-uijongbu/ Blackbird location: Nova Scotia, Canada | | Re: A buttload of army [...]
10:31 pm on November 12th, 2008 59
GI Korea,
I just wanted to thank you for this site and the work you put into it. I'm still trying to find old buddies from Camp Kyle 86-87 and Camp Page 87-88. I just listened to a mix tape I made at Camp Kyle, it was dated 2 Oct 86. The tape sounded fine even after 20 years…
Keep up the good work.
3:27 am on November 13th, 2008 60
To give you an idea on how much Camp Kyle area has changed, look at this picture taken in 1965, before it was named Cp Kyle
http://www.qsl.net/wd4ngb/kumo-ri%20gate.jpg
There is nothing in front of it now except high rise apartments.
I was there in 69, then we moved to Cp Stanley.
3:39 am on November 13th, 2008 61
Bruce,
I can tell you that not too much changed twenty years later when I was there. Those same rice paddies across the road were there, the road was paved though. There were a few houses outside the camp. We would walk up that street on our way to the trail that went to the temple on the mountain. I think most of the growth in that area must have started in the 90's.
6:27 am on November 13th, 2008 62
Shawn thanks for visiting and hopefully you find some of your buddies from your Camp Kyle days.
1:22 pm on November 26th, 2008 63
I was stationed outside Uijongbu with the 13 Helicopter Company (Lucky 13th) in 1959 – 1960. Oh the life in the Vill outside the main gate. Memories of the Moose will remain with me for the rest of my life. Now that they're in their 60's, I really don't want to see them. I L O V E D Korea. Anyone remember the Lucky 13th ?
12:19 pm on December 1st, 2008 64
Bob Biarnesen:
If you have not seen these, I am sure you will enjoy them.
http://www.qsl.net/wd4ngb/stanley2.htm
http://www.qsl.net/wd4ngb/stanley2a.htm
http://www.qsl.net/wd4ngb/stanley3.htm
1:05 pm on December 1st, 2008 65
The Old POL Dump at 13th Trans – We received fuel in 55 Gallon Drums and had to unload by hand. Even saw my Old Hooch – WOW – What Memories !
Bob
2:27 pm on February 16th, 2009 66
ed was there the 59th avn. co 67 to 68 same time u were hope we can talk some day i was with rotary wing. we gave all the fly buys with helop. to kimpo air base go home
2:37 pm on February 16th, 2009 67
i was at 59th avn co. in 66 to 67 with the rotatay wing right out side of camp red cloud about mile away like to know if its still there or what is there today and what does it look like today
2:44 pm on February 16th, 2009 68
arthur i was there 59th avn co in 66 to 67 and i cant find anything about it. like to know if its still there and if i can find any of my old buddies station there
11:47 pm on February 16th, 2009 69
The perimeter of CRC is now surrounded with buildings on three sides and with a mountain on the fourth side. The base you are talking about may be Camp LaGuardia which was shut down back 2005 which is a short walk from CRC.
4:46 am on April 21st, 2009 70
i was stationed there (13th chopper co.) in early 57 till Sept. 58.would like to see some recent pictures of the village just outside the main gate that you mentioned . i recall the village name as Huksong-ni . that would be nice to go back there and visit. lot of memories. thanks, Brian
8:21 am on May 27th, 2009 71
Hello,
I was at Kyle in 99-00. Where did 61st Maint Co end up at when kyle closed. 61st has been in Korea for a while. When I was there, 61st was part of the historic 227th Maint BN. Halfway through we changed to the 498 CSB (P), I cant find either of the Crest for sale anywhere.
12:04 pm on May 27th, 2009 72
It Has Been 48 Years Since I Have Seen Old Camp Stanley – I Am Going There In August Of 2009. Hope I Don't See My Old Moose. I Know She's Got To Be Looking Rough These Days – Then Again, I Don't Look So Good Myself. Any Lucky 13th Old Timers Out There? I Worked Rolling 55 Gallon Drums In The POL Dump. No Wonder I Keep A Sore Back !!!
12:57 pm on May 27th, 2009 73
61st Maintenance moved to Camp Stanley which I believe they are still located at to this day.
12:59 pm on May 27th, 2009 74
Bob enjoy your trip back to Korea. You will be amazed by how much the place has changed.
2:42 pm on July 5th, 2009 75
I spent a year at Camp Sears in G Co 702nd Maintenance Batallion, 1980-81. It was great. Camp Sears was really clean then with the exception of the run down 1950's era quonset hut barracks. I understand they were replaced with new barracks a few years later. I had a lot of fun living and working there. The unit crest painted on the mountain behind the camp in the photo above was from my unit. We used to climb up on the mountain and visit the machine gun nest bunkers. There was a building on the camp that was rumored to have been used as a morgue during the Korean war so some people thought it was haunted. There was a big fuel depot next door so N. Korean artillery was something to ponder, especially when the windows rattled at night from artillery practice somewhere in the region.
I remember The Turtle Farm on my way into the 2nd ID. Trips to TDC and Camp Casey. In Uijongbu I remember Jackson Circle. All the clubs. The dog butcher shop. The black market. A guy that ran a tailor shop just outside the gate of CRC trying to get me to marry a Korean girl in an 'arranged marriage' and many other interesting aspects of life there. Sick call at Camp Stanley (no brass no ammo sir)
It was really interesting to see what's happened to all of the camps in the area as I knew Uijongbu had become just another stop on the Seoul subway system that I would probably not recognize today.
Thanks
2:42 am on July 6th, 2009 76
This may be the wrong place for this post but…
I was stationed at a Nike Hercules Missile Battery from 1973-1976 near a village called Sak-sun-ni (C Btry 2 Bn 44th ADA) close to the coast adjacent to Taean. It is my understanding that those missiles were transferred to the ROK about 1978. I cannot find out if that battery or village still exists. I have searched every internet map and blog (including Ed Thelen's website) but cannot find ANY INFORMATION about the village. A lot of memories about sweeping snow off missiles in the winter time. Anyone out there know anything I would greatly appreciate the info
Much Thanks,
6:27 am on July 6th, 2009 77
Woody, thanks for visiting the site and let me try to help you out. I am looking at my Korean map atlas and just north of Taean there is a small village that may be the village you are referring to spelled 'Sakseon'. I have never been to the village before but it is on the map still which shows it exists. Maybe some readers here have passed through there before.
3:27 pm on July 27th, 2009 78
i served in camp essayons from 1975 to 1976 in A btry 6/bn37fa as a mechanic.i have a goog time there and i miss my friends
7:51 am on August 2nd, 2009 79
Great story! Loved to know about your miitary career; researching the Biarnesen family; if you are ot the one from IL, but the one from Texas, please write back to txwillis@cableone.net. Thanks!
9:39 am on August 31st, 2009 80
If any of you guys were at Camp Red Cloud in 81-82, and spent any time at the far end of the camp, you may have seen this very odd looking antenna.
http://www.qsl.net/wd4ngb/wire1.jpg
I was recently told the the guys in Intelligence thought that it was a Top Secret army antenna, since they had not seen anything like it before, and there were no signs on the building it was on top of.
If any of you saw it, it was my Ham Radio antenna. It is a very directional antenna I built, and put up to talk to my Wife and buddies back in Tennessee in my off time. I had a Korean Ham Radio license, and the OK from the CRC Commander to use it at my BEQ.
After all these years, thought it was funny when I heard this today.
WD4NGB in the States, and HL9JV in Korea the lasst tour.
12:33 pm on August 31st, 2009 81
Bruce, that is way too funny! I wasn't there then, but I was at Camp Sears 75-76 and 78-79…just missed ya. Never was a ham, but worked on radios of some kind my whole life.
12:42 pm on August 31st, 2009 82
1960/61 1st Cav 3rd Med tk qwhere you there??
2:14 pm on August 31st, 2009 83
John welcome to the site and if you have some pictures of Camp Sears from back then it would be great if you posted them in the ROK Drop Forums:
http://rokdrop.com/forums/forum.php?id=19
2:33 am on October 1st, 2009 84
i was stationed at stanley 82 and 83 then red cloud 84 to 87 visited korea twice since getting out of the army and if u havent seen it since 80s you wont believe how uijongbu has grown. it amazing!!! the places many of enjoyd r obs or soju are long gone. only familiar face was jimmy still running vfw outside of crc. going back again summer of 2010 my wife of 26 years parents are getting old.
1:26 pm on October 21st, 2009 85
Having served at CRC through 1963 (ripe age of 17), I was astonished by the photogaphs of high-rises, et. al. I was assigned to the Headqurters, I Corps – Corps Chemical Office (staff division in the G-3 Section). At that time, Uijongbu was primitive! A warren of shacks – many constructed with 'aluminum siding' in the form of flattened beverage cans – with heat provided by charcoal fireplaces piping their heat through pipes running underground. We slept (when I stayed the night – agains res) on the 'floor' (ground) with a heavy comforter above the the piped heat rising from below. Red Cloud was entirely surrounded by rice paddies with a perimeter fence that had mamasans throwing MPC (Military Payment Certifiats) over the fence when there was a currency exchange. Would write more, but space doesn't
2:49 pm on October 21st, 2009 86
4:41 pm on November 27th, 2009 87
Hey Cavoulas, I think I remember you. I was stationed at Camp Sears in 79-80
12:47 am on November 28th, 2009 88
Hi Michael! Yes, I remember your name, and a bit of your face. Age takes some of that away from you.
You're the only person I've been able to find since getting out in '82…hope all is good. Anyway, Happy Turkey!
5:32 am on December 2nd, 2009 89
i was stationed at camp Kyle,61st maintenance company. I took care of the mail and the genorators. I was the only female in my squad, but they were the world's best. even though Top thought we were "dirt Bags".
How I'd love to go back to see it again. I wish I could find my Rock coin.
4:29 am on December 3rd, 2009 90
any body from 59th avn. company i was there in 67 to 68 cant find any body for that company
4:34 am on December 3rd, 2009 91
any body know about 59th avn co i was there in 67 to 68 right out side crc rotary wing
5:31 am on December 25th, 2009 92
Merry Xmas, John. I got out in 81 and found a couple guys since then. One is Michael Johnson and I think he was either a Vulcan or FAAR Radar guy back then.
I looked up another guy, Grady Fike, who is now the Directorate of Logistics at US Army Redstone Arsenal Alabama.
I spend a lot of time looking at old photos and articles about Uijongbu, good memories. Can't believe how much stuff they built now where old Camp Sears is. There's a huge mall and apartment complex where the rice paddies used to be across the street from Camp Sears.
Glad to hear from you and it's nice to be remembered
Mike
12:00 pm on December 28th, 2009 93
was in co.b 11th engrs.Camp Stanley 1967&1968 HAD a good time there and have some funny memories.
8:36 am on January 4th, 2010 94
Was at Camp Essayons for about 2 years. Went there for a year and got extended for another 6 months. Was there from 1982-1/2 till Nov. 1984. Got married over there and I'm still married to her. Why she puts up with me I'll never know, but I'm glad she does. Been back 3 times and would like to go again. Sorry to hear that it closed down in 2005. Went to Germany from 1980-1982 came back to Fort Hood and 6 months later I was in Korea. Not sure if I could find my way around Uijeonghu now. Sure have gotten a lot larger since 1984. Would like to thank everyone for all the new information. I remember Camp Red Cloud, 2rd.D., Camp Indian, The Turtle Farm, the six mile run every Friday. I drove the 5 ton-long bed trucks. Going to the ammo dump 2- times a week. Thank you GI Korea for helping me remember all that I have forgotten. So many good times.
Doug Calhoon
3:16 pm on January 21st, 2010 95
I was stationed at Camp Sears (G co.), G-force, we called ourselves, and Camp Edwards (C co.)during my time in Korea back in 1982-83. I remember it like it was yesterday!It's great to see the 702nd unit crest is still painted on the mountain! Mend The Broken Sword… that was the Battalion Motto. Thanks for posting these pics! the bring back a lot of memories! Ron
8:05 am on January 23rd, 2010 96
I was located at Camp McIntyre in 68-69 1/17 Arty. TDY I was with 335th Maint. Bn out of Seoul As an 18 yr old kid I learned pretty fast. Got a lot of good memories. But, have some health questions now about spraying of chemicals. Anyone with infro let me know
9:57 am on January 23rd, 2010 97
Glen Bellou:
I was in D Company 4th Maint Bn in 69-70. We were at Stanley, and we had a Detachment at Cp St Barbara. While I was there, we took over the mission of the 335th at Cp McIntyre when the 335th Maint was deactivated some time in early 1970 best I remember.
This was during the early phase of the big troop reduction that took place in 1970-71.
Here are some pictures of Camp McIntyre.
http://qsl.net/wd4ngb/cpmcintyre.htm
If anyone has any pictures to add to it, please email them to me at the address on the page.
12:46 pm on February 3rd, 2010 98
I was stationed at a place called Kumo-Ri ordnance center in 1960 and part of 61. They must have changed the name of this camp because I can't find any mention of it now. There were to ordnance companies located there
1:43 pm on February 3rd, 2010 99
Ralph:
Kumo-ri became Camp Kyle in the late 60s. Camp Kyle closed in Oct 2005.
Kumo-ri
http://www.qsl.net/wd4ngb/kumo-ri%20gate.jpg
7:33 am on February 4th, 2010 100
I was stationed here in 1958/1959. WOWWWW Those days he ville was almost exclusively mud huts, surrounded by walls. I was with the 51st Signal, and we had four companies on the MSR (military for two lane dirt trail) that went west from the ville across the mountains and connected to the road that went to Check Point Charley (1st Cav) to the north and south into Seoul. The tallest building then was a meat market at the junction of the MSR from Seoul to CRC, where the west branch that we were on joined it. That building was two stories high. To the south there was an Atomic Cannon detachment and to the east there were engineers and a flight line. Further east was the 8th Infantry (? bent beer can division, now inactive) and north of the was Camp Santa Barbara, which was home to 1st Corps artillery. A little north of there was a MI detachment that had a listening post. Another MSR ran from Camp Santa Barbara bacj to the 1st Cav area.
One memory was in the fall when papason made macgu (Korean rice wine, however that is spelled) after the rice crop was in, and the kimchi was in earthen pots buried to ferment. papason had to get his pig to Seoul to get money for the next year. Also no pick up trucks and no refrigeration. Enterprising as they were, they fed the hogs the lees of the rice after the fermentation was complete and the wine bottled. Old mister pig would gobble that up anmd eventually pass out from intoxication from the alcohol in the lees. Papason would then tie him on the back of his bicycle and pedal like hell for Seoul. He sure didn't want mister pig wakening with a hangover before he got him to the market in Seoul. So there they went with papason pedaling and mister pig strapped on the back, feet in the air enjoying his alcoholic stupor. Yes things have indeed changed.
4:23 am on February 5th, 2010 101
11:16 pm on February 7th, 2010 102
I was with 38 Ord (123d Signal, actually) at Kumo-ri (Camp Kyle) 1965-66, and am posting old pictures of the area at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/88857036@N00/page1/
Feast your eyes on life there in the previous century.
Anybody know what Camp Sears was called before it became Camp Sears It was 13th QM as I recall , then became some transportation outift when everything got changed 31 Dec 65.
1:13 pm on February 8th, 2010 103
Steve, fantastic color pictures of 1960's Korea. I especially liked the ones of Uijongbu. The difference between the city now and then is just incredible.
10:02 pm on February 8th, 2010 104
When I saw ROK Drop's picture of Camp Kyle I though it was science fiction, like those "what life will be like in the 21st Century" things you used to see in Popular Science. I looked for those little airplanes flying around that we were all supposed to be using instead of cars.
I still wish there was a MAP showing the locations of the various camps around Uijongbu. The photos are nice but I just can't remember where exactly the places were. There is a website with a map, but it only shows places north of Uijongbu.
11:18 pm on February 8th, 2010 105
Steve thanks for visiting the site. At the top of the posting is a Google Earth map that depicts where the camps are located in Uijongbu.
If you have Google Earth installed you can zoom in even further because they do have good imagery of all the camps in Uijongbu.
2:50 am on February 9th, 2010 106
I just found this annotated map of the Uijongbu area, camps and places of interest identified by somebody who seems to have been there in the late 60s:
http://wikimapia.org/8204315/Camp-Essayons
There's a similar one for Seoul at
http://wikimapia.org/#lat=37.5765896&lon=126….
3:49 pm on March 20th, 2010 107
Someone made a reference about a ammo depot above camp jackson, well if my memory don't fail me the name of the depot was Tobondong Army Depot. I am a 2ID GI stationed at Camp Essayons in 1974-1976. Then is was the 6/37 FA (155 tow and 8 in Howitzer. Also Camp Mossier is the area where a MASH unit was stationed. The famous TV show "M.A.S.H" was filmed in this area. If you can watch reruns you'll see the mountains around Uijonbu. The 2d ID DIVARTY HQ's was at Cp Stanley. My years (2 yrs) (yeah! extended) there were great and live with me as if I was there yesterday. 1978-1979 Served with 1/9Inf (Manchu)(Keep Up the Fire) at Cp Greaves. I always will be an Indianhead.
11:47 am on May 3rd, 2010 108
The "honey bucket man" was still coming around to gather "product" in late '89 to early '93 at a couple places I'd lived. But, not quite the same as when you were there… they had trucks similar to what's used in the states for port-o-johns. They came around regularly collecting from the outhouses and I'd been told sold for use on rice paddies. Waste not, want not? Or, if it works and isn't broken: Why fix it?
The term "butterfly" I remember hearing too… or na-bi in Korean (나비). I'm not certain, so much is a blur, but think I may have heard tales of the "butterfly club" at CRC while stationed there 88-89. There were still houseboys around then too.
12:11 pm on May 3rd, 2010 109
Heh, something else came to mind after posting the prior comment… a pop song came out while I was there and it became a big hit… "butterfly" song ("Horang Nabi"… hahn ma ri ga… ah-ssah) It was a fun(ny) song…
7:46 pm on May 3rd, 2010 110
Funny story about the pig and they were certainly enterprising! I saw similar in 88-93, but pigs or other livestock (among other unusual sitings) on the back of motorcycles or “water buffalo” small three wheeled tractors.
The wine I think you meant was the creamy white “raw” type…? 막걸리 – makkoli, mac-gu-li, mak-gul-ri, or however it’s spelled in English.
11:28 pm on May 3rd, 2010 111
No tractors back then. Someone mentioned honeybuckets, those were carts pulled by water buffalo. They took it to the rice fields and deposited it in a honey well (pit) from which it could be distributed into the fields. Getting caught behind one on a road was a "special pleasure" (NOT).
One young trooper I went over with ended up for a BN CO driver, I guess his Col was a real pain. One day he had a "sterring problem" and drove into a honey pit. Came back a slick sleeve private. We had a Co Commander who was way gung ho. One night when we were in the fiels, he decided to sneak up on the guards and capture the unit. So he got some NCO's, painted their faces with grease and snuck through the fields. Near the encampment, they brst across a field and dived for cover; right into a honey pit. Never tried night exercises again.
Someone also mentioned buterflies. The "girls" called GI's who went from one to another (rather than giving them all their business) butterflies. The NCO club at CRC was The Butterfly Club. At least back then, when that was I Corps HQ.
6:37 am on May 5th, 2010 112
Actually saw an Atomic Cannon on the History Channel the other night. 280MM cannons, fired with powder bags. Had a range of about 20 miles. They had a tractor at the front and a mirrored tractor at the rear. The cabins were connected by intercom. They had to steer front and rear, like a ladder truck in a fire department. They were always zeroed in by the other side, and expected to get one salvo off before becoming mangled metal.
There was also a detachment of Turkish soldiers west of Ui Jung Bu. Tough hombres those men, certainly never wanted to mess with them. They caught a 'slicky boy" one night and ran a cleaning rod from a M-1 in one ear and out the other. Hung him above their main gate by the cleaning rod. They only had one roll of wire surrounding their camp, but for some reason had little problem with having things being stolen in the night. After a week of so, the I Corps Chaplain had to plead to have them take the body down and return i to the village. As I said, tough hombres, and I guess not very politically correct.
7:14 am on May 5th, 2010 113
I was at Hdqs Company 51st Sig Bn in 64-65. I was still hearing the story about the Turks. While I was there they started using civilian security guards instead of us for guard duty. Prior to that they started issuing 12ga bird shot with orders to fill the slicky boy's butts with it if we saw any (guess they got tired of the thefts). I got two in one night
1:52 pm on May 5th, 2010 114
Tom, I was in HQ Co at the same time. I was late coming back in after curfew when that alert happened. Slipped right in the gate unnoticed
. I remember a small EM club right across from the HQ gate.
8:57 pm on May 5th, 2010 115
I had a rock coin too! Love to be able to find one, my original is long gone.
11:04 pm on May 5th, 2010 116
Sounds as if things changed in the intervening 5 years. Some day I have to get my slides out and convert some to jpeg images. I too was in the HQ Co of the 51st. Its now Airborne and at Fort Bragg, Next to us was the 55th MP and A and B Co were about a half mile further down the road. Our CO was a Ranger, so we got to wake them with our morning double time past their compunds and back. One time we made C Co which was back in town almost to the intersection with the road to Seoul. The two lanes of black top ended at the 55th's compound and it was dirt acrossd the mountains.
We had two block barracks, connected by a latrine. As I recall, everything else was those ubiquous quonset huts. The EM Club was right past the gate guards and was Debbies Club as I recall. Across the MSR was the motor pool to the right, and straight ahead up the hill was the NCO Club, Ike's Club (I think). Of course in the NCO Club you could also but whiskey by the bottle and clear liquors (gin and vodka) we eighty-fice cents and the Canadians and Bourbons were a dollar and ten cents. With ciggies at a dollar a carton, its a wonder we survived our youth.
In the summer I went on R&R (I&I lol) to Japan. I returned on a Saturday to find the company clearing the parade gounnd below the flag poles. The found an abandoned ammo dump (small arms and motor rounds) out by the fence on the road side.
But, did you still sing:
I want a girl, jusat like the girl who lives in Ui Jung Bu,
She has a hootch, oh what a hootch, not one room but two,
We sleep on a bed and not the floor,
Dont you ever call my girl a whore,
I want a girl, just like the girl who lives in Ui Jung Bu
I was in Korea in 1980, and it was culture shock then. I believe the new airport is where the old Kimpo field was previous;y and that would make sense. I was on a business trip to see Sam Sung and made the trip to Suwan (all of these are the old GI spellings) and found they actually had a 4 lane highway. The offered to drive me up to Ui Jong Bu, but based on current maps I would have been completely lost. Between us an CRC they were a line oh houses (literally and figuratively) down the MSR and rice paddies behind that extended right up to the main gate. Looking at the maps today there is a bridge over the Han north of Seoul. The Army used to operate a ferry there, which was the back way and a short cut to Kimpo and ASCOM City. It was cable connected and had a gas engine that pulled a rope loop that powered the ferry across the river.
Could relate a story about the 51at and Singhman Rhees house, but this post is too long already
11:35 pm on May 5th, 2010 117
Ah yes. I lived in the block barrack closest to the mess hall. Worked in the Sig maintenance facility. Remember the "surf" movies that were shown in the little 16mm theater? I have a bunch of slides somewhere but no idea how to convert them.
12:15 am on May 6th, 2010 118
You get something called a dedicated scanner (slide converter, photo scanner). They cost from $99. I have one that was about $300. Do it. Post the slides on Flickr: Vintage Korean Photos or Army Korea. I was there in 1965-66 over at what became Camp Kyle and have posted mine from those years on Flickr. it would be great to see yours.
I had buddy in the 51st, Calvin Ching (Lt.). Know him?
4:20 am on May 6th, 2010 119
Yep, I worked up on the hill also. About six months in I got assigned to an inspection team traveling the whole I Corps area. That was a great gig as it got you out of all of the dreary guard mounts (about every three days at that time)and you were generally treated very well in the compounds you stayed in. My favorite was the MI group on the DMZ above Santa Barbara. Literally no reveille and no taps and their mess hall was open 24 hours, and you ordered from a menu of what they had in stock.
Also remember the little "Radar O'Reilly" theater behind the barracks. They used to show us all of the cold weather "scare movies" and told us how to be protected agianst a winter attack. Winter attacks would be expected as they could move their tanks and heavy equipment across the rice paddies. All went well until one of my buddies asked, "Captain, when did they attack to start the Korean War"?
I have found the slide convertors on the intenet for under $50.00. Essentially its a "scanner" that goes on a USB port. It is somewhat of a cumbersome job, though they have models to load several slides at a time. I would not convert them all anyway, so I will likely try one of the less expensive models. Just save them in a jpeg format (that would probably be the default anyway)and save them as you please.
The Sighman Rhee story is there was a partially completed home up in the mountains west of the compound. I assume that was still a dirt trail then, and about half way across there is a valley and a stream. We got off before the bridge and forded the stream and turned south. A couple of miles back was the abandoned home. Near it the stream cascaded down a natural ten foot waterfall into a pool about fifty by thirty feet. The mountain water was clean (by Korean standards anyway) and we swam in the pool. In the summer they let us check out duece and a halfs for recreation. We would load one with beer and truck down to the ville and pick up some "ladies". The other truck got turned over to our cooks and supply who always managed to find steaks to grill. Made for a lot of fun, until them folks in O Country at the top of the hill began to wonder why they were eating liver all the time, and there were stories of the troops feasting on steaks in the hills. About half of the company lost a stripe or two over that, and the days of checking out a truck for recreation were done.
12:07 pm on May 18th, 2010 120
Anyone from the 280MM guns "B" Battery stationed not to far from UiJongbu back in 1959? Where any of you around when we put on the demonstration for Sigman Rea? When we fired those guns the ROK's in the near by ROK army compound were so frighten that they were actually jumping out the windows of their barracks.
12:24 pm on May 20th, 2010 121
I was at Camp Essayons in the 11th Engineer Battalion from June 1965 to September 1966 this site brings back memories.
1:30 pm on June 23rd, 2010 122
Hey mate this is one of the best sites I've ever seen! Great job with the photos. I can't believe how so much has changed especially the ville. Though it would though, Korea is becoming a wealthy country. I was at Camp Stanley 85-86, it was brilliant. Anyone remembers the names of the rock club and the r&b club w/gold door at the bottom of suicide hill?
Oh and what's the name of the little camp that every unit had to take a turn and guard up by the DMZ?
11:19 pm on June 23rd, 2010 123
@ HannaMan, Thanks for visiting the site and I am glad you are enjoying it. The camp I think you are referring to Warrior Base near the DMZ.
4:43 pm on June 24th, 2010 124
GI Korea Yes! You have done great work with this site, thanks again. It was called Warrior Base? If I remembered it was called something like 42 Charlie or the other. I remembered it had barracks, mess, mini-recreation, barber, mini-PX and motorpool on the hill. It was locked up tight with ROK guards at main gate and we guarded the left and right flanks. My unit was there and had to leave couple of days early because a sister unit was in the field by DMZ and misfired, the North went ape shit!
Anyone that remembers please let me know!
Oh the name is #HannaMan as in number1Man
10:36 am on June 26th, 2010 125
Vince LePasti I was stationed at Camp Stanley 85-86 and I used to go to Uijonbu lots. There was a DJ in the Silver Moon just outside the main gate CRC that I used to see! Me and my chingos used to go to CRC looking for the world chicks but never met many. A female friend of mine many years later told me she was at CRC around the same time as a clerk and she said most of the females were married or were into other women that's why we never saw many american GI girls.
Can U believe that!
11:59 am on July 6th, 2010 126
Was stationed with 567 med amb. unit attached to 43rd MASH in 69/70 not far from Uijonbu. Later moved as "Doc" to (TDy) 2/71 Hawk unit and 335 Maint on same hill at? Samsoni? Have had Prostate cancer, skin problems, loss of hearing, migraines– filed a Agent Orange claim but was denied twice. Would like to locate any one who may have been in these units and the name of the camp. Need to know how close we were to the DMZ! any info would be appreciated!!!
1:22 pm on July 11th, 2010 127
Does anyone have pics of the turtle farm? I would like to see how it looks now, I remember it was just some open bay barracks when I was there briefly in 85. Much appreciated.
12:54 am on August 21st, 2010 128
Happened to find a group of pictures "during the day" (circa 1958) of seould, Kimpo and Ascom City RePo Depot. The mind makes the changes hard to believe.
http://news.webshots.com/album/552294761HksIZo?st…
Yep, I also flew on a C-124 to and from R&R. EM on the top deck officers on the bottom. Bad planning, as one young GI got airsick and managed to hurl right through a hole in the floor onto a Colonel below.
4:24 am on August 21st, 2010 129
Does anyone have an idea of how many US camps there have been in the ROK since the war? Also, does anyone remember an incident in probably late '68 where a grenade exploded, I think in a mess hall somewhere up north. It was a 7th ID infantry unit from Camp Casey. A good friend who I was in AIT with was killed when it went off.
5:26 am on August 21st, 2010 130
Stanley in 85-86? Me too! C Co, 2d Med Bn!
11:34 pm on August 22nd, 2010 131
Great article. Brings back memories. Stationed at Kamp Kyle,61st Maint. Co in 1994 – what an experience!
6:38 pm on September 4th, 2010 132
I'm the widow of Sgt.Johnny A. Grimes. John did his basic training at Ft. Lewis, we spent time at Ft.Bragg NC, until his orders where cut for Korea. We thought he would be safe, well I thought that…John died after a 6 year battle for his life which ended 2006. The 3 disease's that took his life are all related to agent orange. Though he was stationed at Camp Red Cloud, I have pictures of him at Camp Warner, and I think the other is Casey, not sure. John put a claim in with the VA, it was denied 4 days before he passed away. He ask me to not to give up…so here I am. I need a Buddy Statement if anyone can help and understands that VA term. There are others I'm sorry to say. Please contact me at Mara51t@yahoo.com. God's Blessings To You and Yours. Marie
6:39 pm on September 4th, 2010 133
I'm the widow of Sgt.Johnny A. Grimes. John did his basic training at Ft. Lewis, we spent time at Ft.Bragg NC, until his orders where cut for Korea. We thought he would be safe, well I thought that…John died after a 6 year battle for his life in 2006. The 3 disease's that took his life are all related to agent orange. Though he was stationed at Camp Red Cloud, I have pictures of him at Camp Warner, and I think the other is Casey, not sure. John put a claim in with the VA, it was denied 4 days before he passed away. He ask me to not to give up…so here I am. I need a Buddy Statement if anyone can help and understands that VA term. There are others I'm sorry to say. Please contact me at Mara51t@yahoo.com. God's Blessings To You and Yours. Marie
11:27 pm on October 15th, 2010 134
some pictures of Camp Indian 79-80
http://philspages.com//Mong_Ga_Dae_Raiders/
Had the time of my life there
6:20 am on October 16th, 2010 135
Here are some pictures of Camp Indian 79-80
http://philspages.com//Mong_Ga_Dae_Raiders/
Had the time of my life there
2:32 pm on February 15th, 2011 136
i to was at cp essayons in 1974-75 i remember it well would like to here from anybody who in was in cp essayons during that time my number in 208-590-0727 went back in 1987-89 again in 1991
11:52 pm on February 24th, 2011 137
Land Jan 1964, Surveryor/FO for the 6th Bat 12 Arty at Camp Jackson just south of Camp Red Cloud. Left Jan 1965 for the 7th Bat 8th Arty in Ft Bliss TX. Did my AIT at Ft Sill OK in 1963. Out Oct 29 1965.
2:12 am on February 27th, 2011 138
Was assigned to 567th Ambulance Co. Dec '59/May '60. I think the unit was at Camp Mosier during this time,can someone verify please. Thanks for the photos and memories. I'm slowly forgetting everything.
11:02 pm on February 27th, 2011 139
Roy, I was with 567 Amb on the hill from 43rd MASH hosp. at Camp Mosier in 69-70. understand that it was closed later in the 70's. Always remember the walk down to Mosier to mess hall, the Koreans always knew when payday was and when MPC was about to change colors. You buy MPC ,GI? Most of my time was spent as Doc TDY with 335 Maint/ 2&71st d batt missle over at Samsoni. I think it was Camp Jonathan williams then. Came back to 567 in Nov of 70 to come back to states. Only time I every saw the Cap or Top was at payday or getting another truck or getting promoted. Don't have hardly any slides of 567 hill or Mosier.
12:45 am on March 10th, 2011 140
Love the pictures alot has changed in 25 years was at camp Kyle in jan 86 to jan 87
1:10 am on March 10th, 2011 141
They just started building the new motor pool before i left
6:09 pm on March 26th, 2011 142
I came across your site about the units in Korea this evening, I was stationed at Camp Sears from march of 1982-march 1983. The camp was as you noticed very small, but was the nicest unit I served in during my entire 7 years of military service. the size of the camp made the unit feel more like a home.The camp was in a stage of being refurbished when I arrived, we had no quarters for the enlisted men, so we had to bus to and from Camp Red Cloud. There was not a lot to do for recreation but we enjoyed the local villiages and scenery. I personally made several Korean friends who would have me over for dinner on occasion.
The entire experience for me as an 18 year old from small town USA was amazing.
You mentioned in your blog that on the mountain side behind the camp was the faded unit insignia of G company 702 maint. Bt. That crest was started and completed in a weekend with little more than an idea, rope we had in supply for climbing gear. I along with others helped draw out the diagram, and with raidios we would talk to those painting in order to get it as close to the real thing as possible. I wish you could have seen the end result when finished, it was really accuarte and could be seen for miles.
I suppose the funniest story I recall from that time was seeing a farmer riding a bicycle with a huge pig strapped on the back, only to have that little piggy decide he wasn't going to market and break free from his bindings. The farmer chased the pig into and around camp sears for several minutes, we even took bets as to how many laps around the post the pig could make before being caught, I picked 4 as I recall, I do not recall who won but what a crazy site to see. I believe we all laughed for most of the day re telling that story.
Another story comes to mind regarding the utter foolishness of the local drivers, the traffic was stopped for some reason blocking the entrance to the camp, there in the line of 50 or more vehicles was one Army gas powered tank recover vehicle and behind him hinking like mad was this local farmer who was in a half cab/van sort of truck piled high over the top with crated eggs. After about 30 minutes of hearing this guy honk his horn like a mad man, the tank commander had enough and gave the order to fire the engine, once running the driver then revved the engine wide open the cut the iginition several times, on the last time of turning the ignition back on a wall of flame came flying out of the open rear exaust, I can only imagine the sheer hooror this farmer must have felt as the cab of his truck was momentarily engulfed in flames, his entire winshield was covered in soot and some of the egg cartons were, well id bet you could have gotten some over easy if you had checked, needless to say he no longer honked the horn for his remaining time stopped in traffic. To this day that image is still as vivid as the day it happened.
Danny Woodard
3:24 am on March 27th, 2011 143
Hi, Danny. We were stationed at camp Sears at the same time. I was there from Aug 82 till around April of 83, when I transferred to Camp Edwards. Drop me a line at ironzo@AOL.com. Ron
7:57 am on March 27th, 2011 144
The old ammo dump spoke about above near Camp Jackson was To Bong San Ammo Dump. It was the largest ammo dump in South Korea. I worked there in 1969-1970. I have a Stars And Stripes article about it somewhere. It also was home to an air defense unit which had an outpost atop Dobongsan mountain.
7:23 pm on June 10th, 2011 145
L
I would like to hear from anyone who was stationed at camp essayons from 1972 through 1973. I was assigned to headquarters battery redeye section. I don’t remember names except the captain I was under, captained8 schoeny, a he’ll of a good man. If you. Were there at that time, you might remember general “gunfighter”, who used to make us run 7 miles every morning. I can be reached at 505-429-0360
7:57 am on June 29th, 2011 146
I am surprised that Camp Pililaau is not mentioned. 51st Signal was there until we turned it over to the ROK’s and moved to CRC. It may have been before most of ya’lls time. I was with the 51st from 70 – 71.
12:18 pm on July 9th, 2011 147
I was at camp sears 80-81. What a fun place to be. Anyone remember the “Sun Club” it was about a dollar taxi ride from camp sears. Our co was capt wargo. He married a korean girl with kids. Camp sears looks the same.
10:20 pm on July 15th, 2011 148
Camp Essayons alum here, T.V. Hill Microwave on top of the hill at the back of the camp; July 1967-Aug 1968. I remember if you caught a “Kimchi Kab” from in the ville and asked them to take you to Essayons they didn’t know what you were taling about…but they knew 11th Engr. Camp.
We ate out of one of the Engineer company’s mess hall (don’t ask me which one that was long ago), I remember the engineers coming in from the field caked in mud and us signal people would come down from the hill is civies.
Of course I also remember too many nights of drinking too much beer at the EM club and trying to crawl back up the hill in the middle of night. Still it was a good time.
6:42 pm on July 28th, 2011 149
Jim,I too had a great time. I was one of those engineers caked in mud that came in from the field (June 65 – Sept 66). I was actually a heavy equipment operator and tractor trailer driver with C Company 11th Engr. Battalion. We use to test drive our jeeps and three quarters up the road going to TV Hill. Had a great time in the Vill. Rosie had the warmest beer in town.
9:17 pm on August 12th, 2011 150
The ammo dump in Uijombu was the Do Bong San ammo dump. 696 Ordnance Company(ammo)and an ADA air defense unit which the Ordinance Company did not get along with. It set at the foot of Do Bong San Mountain, and was closed around 1970(Spring time when I was transferred. I have a “Stars And Strips” newspaper about this ammo dump. It contained enough ammo to blow South Korea off the map the article says. I was a gate guard, at this dump. There was also a Korean sentry dog platoon there, and I helped agitate the dogs every morning as part of there training.
9:23 pm on August 12th, 2011 151
PS:The ammo dump north of Uijombu was connected with Do Bong San ammo dump. We had a detachment there. I think the classified weapons were kept there,but no sure,
10:10 pm on October 13th, 2011 152
Former USArmy Medic 73-76, 560th Med Co Ambulance at 43rd MASH located in Uigongbu. Sent south on TDY to PyongTaek and the 544th Dispensary. Any folks previous members or recollect these locations or units? Drop me a line if you do.
8:52 am on October 16th, 2011 153
I have been to the Uigongbu Mash a few times.
8:37 pm on October 16th, 2011 154
I recently found an author named Martin Limon that wrote a series of books about two 8th Army CID agents set in early to mid 70′s Korea. Interesting reading.
7:57 pm on October 18th, 2011 155
8:12 pm on October 22nd, 2011 156
Does this look familiar to anyone? How many of us got this photo
IMG00008-20111022-2229.jpg
9:53 pm on October 22nd, 2011 157
I don’t know about the numbers, but I have seen that “.jpg” part a couple of times before.
5:09 am on October 24th, 2011 158
1964, landed at Kimpo and was housed in the reception area. We weren’t allowed off base of course. 19 and stuck in what resembled a prison camp in the middle of rainy season. Feeling really sorry for myself I walked down to the fence. There, on the other side walking down the road was a beautiful young girl in a red dress slit up the side. Hmmmm….might not be so bad after all
Welcome to Korea
4:54 pm on October 24th, 2011 159
I got to Ascom after getting off the plane at Kimpo with fourteen cents in my pocket. I was stuck there about five days.
1:55 pm on November 6th, 2011 160
Hi GI Korea, I tried to copy and paste a .jpg photo I’d love to share with everyone however it didn’t work. How do I share this photo? I can email it and you share it?
9:13 pm on December 14th, 2011 161
The ammunition supply point at the base of To Bong San was he 696 Ordnance company which operated ASP 56 in Ui Jong Bu and ASP 63 in the 1Cav area news Yong Tae Ri. I was stationed there 1959 the 1962. We also built a swimming pool at the base of the mountain. I could find no trace of either ASP during my last visit o the area.
3:25 pm on December 15th, 2011 162
I was stationed at Camp Red Cloud, 1950-53. 51st Signal Bn, R&M Co, I was a high speed radio operator. I am now a member of the 51st Signal Bn Alumni Asso. We have annual Reunion. We have been to Ft. Bragg, NC, Ft. Lewis, WA, and Ft. Gordon, GA. We are always looking for 51st Alumni. We open to all Alumni from Korea, Panama, Grenada, Iraq and Afghanistan. Contact me at signal.51st@gmail.com or www51stsignalbattalion.com or call me at 817-326-4773 Semper Constans, Tommy Thompson (TX)
9:52 pm on December 17th, 2011 163
I was stationed at camp la guardia (D troop 4th sq 7th cav) from April 84-may86 .major Harmon was our company officer and first sergeant Powell. I was a helicopter structural mechanic there. I really had good times and fond memories of the camp and the city.The lucky club was my favorit club to hang out. Lol.
10:45 pm on January 29th, 2012 164
hannaman uijongbu has changed alot no more jackson circle outside main gate at red cloud only 2 clubs vfw jimmy still running it as he did in early 80s when i was therebut moved up where i think paradise club use to be.ive been back there last 3 years things very expensive now but still lots of fun.
10:13 pm on February 24th, 2012 165
Hey Vince thanks for the response. Well I guess things cannot always stay the same. What about TDC (Tong Du Chong), and Itaewon in Soeul still fun there as well? I miss the place, some of the best times in my life!
11:35 pm on February 25th, 2012 166
hanna man heading back n july gonna hit tdc again not the same as use to be but gonna go have some fun.havent been to itewon heard its changed alot still appreciate 2nd id area ill let ya know how it goes
3:55 pm on March 14th, 2012 167
Vince have a good time my govnor! I’m so jealous. I loved TDC (Blackrose Club was the best). Ya I understand that 2nd ID areas are still the most fun parts of the country for GIs. Take some pics and share when U return.
3:41 pm on April 18th, 2012 168
I was stationed at Camp Kyle from 1993 – 1994 and remember the barracks really well. Hard to believe it was almost 20 years ago….can remember it like yesterday.