Some how USFK servicemembers have co-existed for decades with soju and now all the sudden Osan leadership has decided to ban it:
Soju, the potent liquor sometimes called Korean vodka, was banned here Tuesday from servicemembers’ dorms.
The ban will apply to the 3,800 airmen and soldiers living in dorms at this fighter base.
The action comes after a spate of recent incidents in which servicemembers suffered health problems believed to be at least partly related to soju.
Two servicemembers this weekend had to be taken to the base emergency room because of the effects of heavy drinking, base officials said. It’s believed soju, which is known for its stealthy, sneak-punch effects on drinkers, was among the types of alcohol the two were drinking.
“This is counter to good order and discipline, and does not ensure that we’re ‘Ready to Fight Tonight,’ which is our mission,” Air Force Col. Jon A. Norman, commander of Osan’s 51st Fighter Wing, told Stars and Stripes on Tuesday. [Stars & Stripes]
I have never taken a soldier to the aid station for drinking too much soju, however I have had on multiple occasions taken soldiers to the aid station for drinking too much beer. For some reason Colonel Norman doesn’t seem like he wants to ban beer. I also find the whole “Ready to Fight Tonight” claim quite interesting as a rationale for banning soju but not other forms of alcohol in soldiers’ rooms. How is someone more “Ready to Fight Tonight” drinking shots of vodka then they are drinking a bottle of soju? I’m just a dumb grunt so maybe some of you smart Air Force guys can explain this to me.
This decision bares all the signs of a possible increase of alcohol related incidents on Osan Airbase (if anyone knows chime in) and the base command coming up with a policy to make it look like they are doing something about it.
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11:11 pm on July 16th, 2008 1
Dont know much about these alcohol related incidents, but i have heard that the ban came because one airman died, whilst drinking soju alone in his room.
6:14 am on July 17th, 2008 2
Something called “unattended death” comes to mind…
7:10 am on July 17th, 2008 3
GI, I said the same thing you did, at first. But I will say this about Col Norman: he did not direct this policy to show that he is doing something about it as you say above. He made a call like a leader should. He did not ban alchohol or close the clubs and Class VI. He just said: soju…not on my base. Sure it’s debatable. This will affect very few personnel. It will still be for sale in the Shinjang bars and supermarkets.
Face it, soju is crappy synthesized alcohol that doesn’t require any artisanship to produce, and doesn’t have any character or soul like real beer, better whiskeys, or good wine. It’s sole purpose is to make you drunk quickly, without too much bloat. I gave it up forever about 5 years ago. Life is too short to drink cheap beer or soju.
7:38 am on July 17th, 2008 4
To think, that all these years, I thought the whole idea of “drinking” was to get drunk. Who knew that it was supposed to be a show of artisanship or character? While my drinking days ended many years ago, if I thought to pick it up again, I now know what will do the job most effciently
(But I already knew that from my three tours in Korea) Good times!
8:42 am on July 17th, 2008 5
Dave the thing is that COL Norman is saying he is banning soju because two airmen were sent to the hospital for drinking too much and that it prevents airmen from being ready to fight tonight.
Like I said before I have never taken a soldier to the TMC for drinking too much soju, beer and other hard liquor on the otherhand I have taken soldiers to the TMC before. Also the ready to fight tonight rationale makes no sense considering soldiers can get drunk drinking other forms of alcohol. If the concern is the ability to fight tonight then servicemembers shouldn’t be drinking at all. It just seems like a hollow rationale that servicemembers will see right through.
This just seem reactionary and not addressing the real problem which is why were these two servicemembers sitting in the barracks by themselves drinking soju in the first place? Young servicemembers have plenty of issues that cause them to drink and banning soju doesn’t solve them.
9:10 am on July 17th, 2008 6
9:19 am on July 17th, 2008 7
I can imagine it now:
Poor Johnny’s mom sitting on her porch wailing in desperation, ” The tragedy, if only my boy could have gotten the good stuff from the class six before those black marketing adjummas! He could of died with some class!”
I’m sure Col. Norman’s command decision will comfort her.
10:13 am on July 17th, 2008 8
There are several senior members of USFK and 2ID who say more and more that the “fight tonight” idea is outdated and unrealistic considering current plans. Back when the US Army was patrolling the DMZ it may have had some validity, now there are about 30 or so US soldiers on the DMZ. Those soldiers are the only US soldiers ready to “fight tonight.”
Thr trouble is, no commander wants to tell his boss that his unit is not ready to “fight tonight” - its a big hand wave.
10:29 am on July 17th, 2008 9
Alcohol is alcohol. Soju is no more tasteless than a number of clear alcohols. The ban makes no logical sense, it is a knee jerk reaction.
10:54 am on July 17th, 2008 10
Pitiful Piss Poor Leadership (PPPL). General LaPorte whole-heartedly supports and commends this decision!
11:47 am on July 17th, 2008 11
Any boycott on any Korean product is good.
3:42 pm on July 17th, 2008 12
Col. Norman:
“If people choose to drink and they’re legal to do it, I think that’s fine. But they need to do that responsibly. It takes a good ‘battle buddy’ and a good ‘wingman’ to watch out for each other.”
You gotta love this same old tired refrain coming from USFK leaders.
6:19 pm on July 17th, 2008 13
Dan, my friend, I said produce, not consume. But hey, when I was a young punk, I drank whatever was cheap.
Seriously guys, we all know that soju is some nasty chemical $hit that leaves you feeling really bad in the AM. And if you’re drinking it in a kettle or ammo bowl mix, it’s real hard to notice. Sadly we have a dead kid here who may not have drank a fifth of Beam or a case of beer on the same occasion. Not to defend leadership’s decision, but it was made, and is confined to the dorms (barracks for you Army bubbas). Everyone, over 21, at Osan can still go downtown and drink themselves silly on Jinro. There are no restriction on liberty, curfew, or alcohol consumption in general. Just no friggin soju in the dorms. Small stuff. I know Col Norman, and I’m telling you that he is not the same kind of guy as prior Osan and USFK leaders.
Knowing what I know, I believe that the “being ready to fight tonight” excuse is just for show with the locals. The real reason is that soju is some nasty $hit and the old man doesn’t really want any more alcohol poisoning fatalities.
Cienfuegos, are you saying that it’s OK for our youngins to not drink responsibly or to not have someone else with them? C’mon man, it make good sense. Sure it has become a slogan, but at the very least it is good advice.
6:38 pm on July 17th, 2008 14
“Cienfuegos, are you saying that it’s OK for our youngins to not drink responsibly or to not have someone else with them? C’mon man, it make good sense. Sure it has become a slogan, but at the very least it is good advice.”
Actually, I think the wingman policy probably reduces the amount of off base incidents. However, I completely disagree with making it policy instead of a recommendation, and I also disagree with applying it as a reaction to every incident that comes along. Because some young airman drinks his weight in soju alone in his dorm, shouldn’t make some MSgt have to go and get a buddy because he wants a nightcap before turning in. Now I know that’s not what has been done, but the same rational could be used for eliminating all alcoholic beverages in dorms, couldn’t it?
I think a lot of the problems on peninsula have to do with snatching personal responsibility away from individuals. If you treat young men and women as children, they’ll descend to your expectations.
8:02 pm on July 17th, 2008 15
I’ll take your word that Colonel Norman is a good guy but I just disagree with the policy. Soju is bad stuff but so is lots of other hard alcoholic drinks. I do agree it is small stuff but soldiers get UCMJ in Korea for so many other policies they would not be hit with in the US and now here is yet another reason for someone to get hit with UCMJ.
The real issue that needs to be addressed is why was this soldier alone in his barracks drinking himself to death? Was the guy depressed, have mental issues, or having marital problems? Was his first line supervisor aware of the issues? Was he receiving proper counseling for his issues?
This is all basic leadership stuff that I find can prevent many alcohol related incidents from happening in the first place.
1:04 am on July 18th, 2008 16
Now thats a good start. To be fit to fight means to be sober 100% does anyone disagree with me? If you do you are idiots. Next the command if they had sence enough to ban SOJU should ban all alcohol to all military, GS (civil servents) and contractors on base and off base period. Now thats the new begining of a fit to fight military is a sober one.
Mike
9:09 am on July 18th, 2008 17
So if the troop in question had hanged himself, the good Col Norman would have banned shoe laces on Osan?
I will make the comparison to former USFK leaders, exactly because he is acting like one.
-For Colonel Norman is an honorable man, So are they all, all honorable men — … And Colonel Norman is an honorable man.
peshaw!
9:13 am on July 18th, 2008 18
I really don’t see the point.
10:29 pm on July 18th, 2008 19
Cien and GI, I completely agree with you guys, and I feel sick to my stomach that I may seem to be defending the decision. I am, rather, saying that it is small potatoes compared to the many other leadership overreactions we’ve had to endure here over the years.
Good weekend to all!
1:23 am on July 24th, 2008 20
4:27 pm on July 28th, 2008 21
6:24 am on July 29th, 2008 22
i hope & pray that your family never has to recieve a knock at the door, which in a blink of an eye makes their life stand still and become totally traumtized, with those awful gut wretching words, were here on behalf of your son and are trully sorry BUT…
We will not rest until we do know what happened, so if anyone has actual facts,please with the grace of God help us!!!
12:00 pm on July 29th, 2008 23
Say what you will. We all no what happened. RIP. Gone but not Forgotten. God Bless America & All of those who serve
1:07 pm on July 29th, 2008 24
SOJU =s LIQUID METH OR SHABU
.. Bottom line its not something I would want my soilders drinking until they cant even walk thats to include any alcohol. Alcohol should be off limits to all military remember you are on duty 24/7 so fit to fight is impossible if the Post Commanders, Brigade/Unit Commanders Platoon leaders and Sergent Majors down the chain of command 
allow consumption of alcohol or bing drinking. And on Pay day these young guys go wild on when its pay day, weekend millionares 
. Its in sane to watch this in person and see these young kids and some civilians blowing chunks, passed out on the street laying in there own barf really makes the US military look capable to be fit to fight the next day if the need should arise.
My condolences to the young soilder who died but. I think the family of this soilder should dig a little deeper if they want some facts.
Mike
6:25 am on July 30th, 2008 25
to mike,
about your comment i think the family should dig a little deeper for facts., this is exactly what were trying to do,can you give me a clue as where do we start.
we are not tryingto pass judgement, this is a horrible night mare,and all are in shock, and only want help with some kind of closure.
i just found it unnessary for the judgement call made by some about the personality of our airman
11:45 am on July 30th, 2008 26
I need your email address and I will contact you and explain other issues concerning this and other alcohol related incidents. Confidentality is important until the facts are straight. OK.
M
12:04 pm on July 30th, 2008 27
M
fritzsmb55@aol.com
5:19 pm on August 30th, 2008 28
Sort of off topic, but…
The latest of Col. Norman’s mind boggling decisions involves not letting females travel off base by themselves this weekend. I can’t wait to hear the justification on this one.
10:22 am on August 31st, 2008 29
I have a good one for ya … Go to the Gateway club at Camp Humphreys which is right across the parking lot from the Military Police headquaters. The Gateway club used to be the post club and recreation center but it was left open for the old timers who like to smoke and drink. If you have the time to visit this establishment go there and look at who the regulars are. Mostly contractors, GS level and upper level ranking miitary making plans for ther next camping trip, BBQ, the issues in the work place and who to blackball but if you go after 20:00 all you will hear is a bunch of mush mouth slured jibber jabber and sometimes you might even see a few good fights. Its comical to watch. These individuals will go there and drink for hours some till closing time and then stumble out to there vehicals and drive themseves home or downtown and continue there drinking binge. You know the funny thing about it is the Military Police know this is happening but never stop any of them before they enter there vehical to check to see if they are intoxicated, its amazing but its all about who you know and thats why they get away with it. I think there should be check points at the exit gates to check these drunks before leaving base and being involved in a auto accident or runing over someone crossing the road. If there is anyone reading this who has any authority over establishing or emplamenting a check point at the exit gates please do because they are sliping thru the cracks and getting away with what all of these alcohol related issues are all about.
I think the truth about the airmens death will have to be released because to much is covered up in alcohol related incidences when it only involves 1 individual because its EASY to cover up and will not reflect on the commands OERs which could make them or break them when there lookin for that full bird or there 1st star. I think this would be a good one for 20/20 or Dateline.
Keep um sober if you can.
Awatchnu
1:56 pm on September 1st, 2008 30
today marks 56 days since we lost Tim with being no closer to having any facts regarding his death. all the things we read on line points to this shit called soju, or alcohal of some sort with this in mind I have to agree people should be monitoring what the hell is going on over there.but the bottom line is whatever his cause of death was the end results are the same, he’s gone forever, leaving behind a mother who can not sleep, eat,and all she does is cry and throw up, a father who is just going though the motions of life because he has to, a sister trying to go on as there are young children she needs to be there for. plus all of us the gramma, aunts uncles, cousins, friends, we are a exceptionally close family so this is trully unbearable!!!
and half way around the world strangers seem to know what happened,but won’t share any news with us.Please partying is fun I love it too, but if this a major promblems with our brave young men & women in the military I would love to believe the big dogs are trying to do something to protect all of you Please share with us what you know good, bad, otherwise.