By Here is a ville memory from the small Korean village of Changpa-ri in 1969:
The deuce-and-a-half revs it diesel engine as thick black smoke billows from its exhaust pipe curved toward the sky. In summer months wearing khakis with the blue infantry braid, polished brass with blue backgrounds, and our unit crest affixed to our epaulets, we pile onto the back of the truck. (In winter months we will wear the strack OD-green wool uniform with pants tucked into our combat boots.) The truck bounces past the front gate of Camp Wentzel making a right turn down the pot-holed dirt road that winds its way to the Libby Bridge. Along much of the road there are signs warning of the adjacent mine fields. We will all have an ample coating of dust before this trip ends but nothing can dampen the excitement that we feel as we anticipate liberty in the town of Changpa-ri. (Units north of the Imjin River were allowed 5% of their assigned-strength on pass at any one time. This meant we averaged a pass about every 10 to 14 days. Because many soldiers were often broke or on medical restriction, one could often finagle an extra pass once in a while.) At the Libby Bridge, with pass in hand, we jump off the truck and stand formation. The military police will check our passes against the pass list to catch any truant soldiers trying to sneak a few hours in the vill.
We are now back on the truck slowly crossing the Libby Bridge. As the truck rolls into Changpa-ri the smell of diesel is supplanted by the indigenous aromas of rural Korea. It tweaks one’s nose in strange ways. It is an odor that we will never forget. The deuce-and-a-half comes to a stop in front of the “Last Chance Club” (rast chan-su ku-rubbi to the natives). Immediately off the truck we are accosted by the “camp followers” even before we have brushed the dust off ourselves. I look over at my friend and see his eyes blinking through the thick coat of dust on his face. The Last Chance’s sign cleverly reads “First Chance” as you enter Changpa-ri and “Last Chance” as you leave the vill but the “Last Chance” moniker is its only spoken name. [Imjim Scout]
To find out what happens in the Last Chance bar and what the above pictured girl is wearing click the link above.
This story about ville life in this small Korean farming village is very similar to the accounts that Tim Norris writes about in his book Seasons in the Kingdom that describes life in the ville outside his military base in the Incheon area of Korea.
The village of Changpa-ri sits across the Imjim River about 5 kilometers away from the Korean Demilitarized Zone:
This 1973 image shows Libby Bridge that crosses the Imjim River to take units to and from the DMZ with the village of Changpa-ri located right next to it:
The village may not look like much in the above picture, but the village even looks like less today. By going through the village of Changpa-ri today you would have no idea of its shady past because of how small and run down the village is compared to the current USFK villes in South Korea:
The biggest building in the town is this run down, old church:
Eight years ago I used to lead convoys of Bradleys through this small village along the Imjim River on our unit’s way to the Dagmar training area. I was always amazed by how we had to squeeze these massive tracked vehicles through the narrow streets of Changpa-ri with kids running besides the Bradleys and on bicycles wanting to give us high fives:
Incredibly we never had an accident, but unfortunately just down the road from Changpa-ri the infamous Highway 56 Armored Vehicle Accident happened that finally caused the 2nd Infantry Division to quit using roads through villages like this.
There is actually a major highway that now goes right by Changpa-ri, but it has done little to change its rural character. The village may not provide any memories for GI’s now a days, but will continue to be a place that holds the imaginations of many old GI’s for years to come.
It is the sad reality. No mistake...
7:33 pm on April 2nd, 2009 1
That was weird.
It looked like she was wearing some kind of thong made from a shaved camel's foot. Where did she get a camel's foot in Korea?
Were there many camels back then?
7:55 pm on April 2nd, 2009 2
Looks like that "hottie" has a massive coldsore. YUCKY
7:59 pm on April 2nd, 2009 3
Oh and her eyebrows are looking pretty furry. Chewbaka style.
10:06 pm on April 2nd, 2009 4
Sad situations based on economic hardship occur throughout the world. I think American GIs, were/are probably some of the kindest customers girls in this type of business encounter. Pray this situation never happens in your family.
11:31 pm on April 2nd, 2009 5
I first saw this picture in the 1969 2-9 Infantry yearbook. The previous owner of the book had taken a red magic marker and "X'ed" out the faces of all the guys that got killed patrolling the DMZ that year. There was a shocking number of faces with red X's on them, I am here to tell you.
Last year 2-9 did their Manchu Mile up by the DMZ and the route actually took them across Libby Bridge, through Chang pa-ri and up to Dagmar North where they rested up at the turn-around point before heading back to Warrior Base. You can see some of it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7x9_9kCzGg
Good times.
2:09 am on April 3rd, 2009 6
As it is, I'm not interested in Korean girls (Chinese/Japanese girls yes), but that pic of the Korean girl was totally disgusting!
Those red x's are one of the many reasons why Korea continues to still owe the US.
5:22 am on April 3rd, 2009 7
Well there's some truth in advertising.
A free preview for potential customers, how nice.
7:58 am on April 3rd, 2009 8
Odors? Were they talking about the people or the land itself?
9:19 am on April 3rd, 2009 9
yes.
9:42 am on April 3rd, 2009 10
Isn't that Songtan Sally!?!
11:45 am on April 3rd, 2009 11
Odors from the land? You've obviously never been to the American mid-west during planting season city boy. Korea has nothing on it.
7:44 am on April 5th, 2009 12
Im from west Michigan, so I have smelled my share of manure. Assuming the American who wrote about the odors had also experienced manure and other odors I am perplexed as to what mysterious abnormal odors they would be talking about in Korea.
10:34 am on May 19th, 2009 13
Do any of the artillery men out there remember firebase 4p3? If so has it been closed down?
7:26 am on May 28th, 2009 14
Was stationed at Camp Pelham from Apr. 90 thru July 91 during first Gulf War. Was on 4P3 for a record 3 tours because our commander and First Sgt. loved to impress the brass. We were up there during Christmas 1990 and it was the coldest i've ever been. I believe that 4P3 has since been handed over to the ROK. Our unit was B Btry that came over from Ft. Bragg as a COHORT unit.
7:28 am on December 11th, 2009 15
I was in Korea for 5 years and did *numerous* 4P3 rotations with 1/15FA… I am looking for it on Google Earth or Google Maps. Anybody have an idea where it is/was?
3:19 am on December 13th, 2009 16
I was in Korea from Oct.1966-Nov.1967 and stationed a Camp Young on the Z. I was with HQ Company 1st Battalion 23rd Inf. I would like some pictures of the camp. Could someone post some of the camp if they have any?
2:26 pm on December 16th, 2009 17
I was stationed with Charlie Com 1/23, 2nInf…1966-1967. Just across the Libby Bridge thento the left, about a 1/2 mile or so…I think I found Charlie Com old site…but not sure..
I can be reached at beltloop at yahoo dot com
11:18 pm on April 5th, 2010 18
you have obviously never smelled the BO of Kimchee eating people! It is a sour smell, even worse than the actual productr itself. you can not excrete Kimchee from the body, it is sweated out through your pours. I spent 16 months at Camp Liberty Bell and Camp Greaves with 1st Bn, 9th Infantry (Manchu) from Nov 79 to March 81, and nothing I have ever smelled anywhere can compare to Korea anytime, especially in the summer time when the rice paddies are most foul!
11:25 pm on April 5th, 2010 19
After a few months on the DMZ, this Kimchee whore would start to look pretty darn good! When I was there, you could have a "short time" or a "quickie" for $10.00, and an overnight stay for $20. The way you talk, I bet you would not only be the first to want to bang her, but would also be the first to go back and bang her again if she gave you VD! Matter of fact, ever y guy I ever heard talk like yoyu clowns when they first got there married a Korean hooker before they left, no jive! LMAO
1:01 am on April 6th, 2010 20
Ah, Korea…. back in "the day".
9:44 am on June 14th, 2010 21
I was at camp Stanley and firebase 4p3 in 1987 with 8/8FA 198s I went on to fight in Iraq in 2008 I’m out now. When did they turn 4P3 over to the ROKs?
4:52 am on June 28th, 2010 22
Ah, spent many nights with the Yobo right across from the Last Chance club, right next to Miss Lee's store in 1970-71. What a place that was.
4:54 am on June 28th, 2010 23
Ah, I spent many a nights with the Yobo right across the street from the Last Chance Club right next to Miss Lee's store in 1970-71. What a place and what a time.
HHC s-4 1st 23rd inf
7:23 am on July 2nd, 2010 24
Hi, I was up there for 4 months in 68 form Jan 2 to jun 17 with A/2/31 7th Div. Went by the Last Chance many times and never saw her there ,but many others were there.
Love the area as it gave you a place to let off steam .
The girls would do any thing for you and they were not as greedy as now.
I was there when they took the Boat and tried to kill Park . It seamed like WWIII was going to start.
We were told we had 5 min to make the bridge or they would blow it .I wondered how we would make it till my CO said who said we aren't going any where but north .
Needless to say we never did go any where north or south .Lost a couple friends to some fire fights[oh nothing happened in Korea in 68] ,how many time have I heard that . Not so GI . It was very hot there in Jan 68 . Even at 15 below in the day colder at night,and in tents .
1:28 am on August 22nd, 2010 25
Well, apparently she's anatomically correct. Extremely correct
I spent 25 months at Camp Casey from 68-70 in B-Btry 1/31 Arty, 7th ID. I spent a lot of time and money in TDC and a little in Toko-ri. I think all the ville's were pretty much the same back then. Different names, same experiences, same memories no matter where you were.
1:51 am on September 15th, 2010 26
4P3, several rotations from 85-87
4:50 am on January 6th, 2011 27
LOOKING AT THOSE PICS ABOVE THE VILLL LOOKS LIKE A SEMI MODERN VILLAGE COMPARED WHEN I WAS THERE 66-67 C Co 1st 23rd. I CAN BE REACHED AT RANGER776@ AOL.COM
3:10 pm on January 6th, 2011 28
She went by the name 'Connie' but wasn't from Changpa-ri. That photo was taken in Nollo-ri. Down the road at Blue Lancer Valley. I think I have a photo taken in 2002 of the same building, minus 'Connie'. LOL
11:16 pm on January 6th, 2011 29
Right Ken she was called ,"The Belle of Nollo-ri"
1:47 am on March 8th, 2011 30
I use to hang at the Lucky Club in the vill, anyone out there remember that place, My prior post stating the unit I was with was (wrong) I was stationed at Camp Wally A Co 1/23 during the incident on the 22nd of May 1967. My barracks was the building that was blown apart, the barracks had a retaining wall that seperated it into (2) sections, I was lucky to survive. The more research I do the more I find out. I was moved to Camp Wally in March of 67 from HHC 3rd Bdg, there was a incident that occured at HHC in which a GI was shot and killed by another GI his name was William Bill Higgins, does anyone out there remember that incident, I was never able to find out what the outcome was in regards to that incident. Please any info send to Ranger776@aol,com