By From Bruce Richards’ great site comes this picture of Camp Kyle in Uijongbu in the late 1960′s. Notice Dobongsan Mountain in the background:
For those of us that have been stationed in Uijongbu in recent years, the above picture is really incredible compared to what Uijongbu looks now a days:
For those interested you can view more modern day photographs of USFK camps in Uijongbu here.
10:43 pm on August 21st, 2010 1
Camp Kyle was a neat place. Two logistics companies resided there, and the commander of one was the de facto garrison commander. A lot of folks lived in quonset huts and the place had its own club.
11:25 pm on August 21st, 2010 2
@LG DACOM-I used to be stationed on a small camp just to the west of Camp Stanley who's situation was quite similar. It was called Camp Indian and it was right next to Northstar Range. Anyhow, we had one engineer company there in 1991 and our own club. It made for some interesting nights…:)
4:17 am on August 22nd, 2010 3
Was the 61st Maint Co there when this picture was taken?
5:59 am on August 22nd, 2010 4
Yeap, 1994 I was there and the picture above is exactly how I remembered it. I was shocked when I came back in 2002 and 3/4 of all those building you see now were there.
6:30 am on August 22nd, 2010 5
Camp Indian, closed up and rotting, was visible from the road coming out of Northstar Range. You can't even see Camp Kyle from the road anymore.
6:56 am on August 22nd, 2010 6
Thanks Nate! I was 227 Maint Bn, Re-Up NCO and went up there often from Yongsan.
Love Korea and still go back every other year. Married a great gal that was
working at the Friendship Arcade on Yongsan. Made E-8 there. Best 3 yrs. of my
career. Welcome any contacts with soldiers. e-mail jfisher1946@gmail.com
7:52 am on August 22nd, 2010 7
Jeff Fisher: I'm still angry with you for taking the Oilers out of Houston. Shame on you!
11:16 am on August 22nd, 2010 8
Leon, get over it already, that has been awhile since that happened.
11:22 am on August 22nd, 2010 9
@ LG DACOM-yeah, I remember coming back to Indian in 2000 and it was just like you said and then it got worse in 2004 when they got around to razing the buildings down to the foundations! I just looked at it on Yahoo Maps and it looks like they're building something there finally, maybe apartments.
@ Jeff-I was in 227th Maint. Battalion in 2000 in the HHC. When were you there?
11:36 am on August 22nd, 2010 10
Matt, I was w/227th Maint from Jun 81'to Jul 84' Fivet tours in Korea total, retired from
there Feb 88'. Settled in Woodbridge VA. Think about the Army at some point
every day. Miss it. Thanks for your inquiry.
11:46 pm on August 22nd, 2010 11
Another former member of 61st Maint Co. – I was also there in 94 – 95. I don't remember that set of highrise buildings closest to the back corner of the big barracks building being there then. I do remeber the stench from that place right outside the fence on the side of the post – what was it, a meat processor or something?
I also remember the soldier we lost that year. Did anyone ever hear the outcome of that incident?
4:27 am on August 23rd, 2010 12
Dennis, I was not stationed there. I was the Bn re-up NCO and was w/HHC, 227 Maint Bn. 61st was one of the companies I serviced. I was w/227th 81-84' There
was a guy from the 61st that withdrew a .45 on the pretext of being on ammo
escort duty. The E-5 want back to the barracks and killed himself. CID interviewed
me to determine if I was putting pressure on him to reenlist. He had been to my
office for reenlistment interview. They also wanted to know if his demeanor was
out of the ordinary. That was in 83 or 84' Did you hear of that? Sure ticked off
the houseboys. Quite a mess I was told on a subsequent visit. What is your impression of Korea and the Army? jfisher1946@gmail.com
9:20 pm on August 25th, 2010 13
Jeff, I wasn't around during the suicide thing. I was refering to a famale soldier we lost in the spring. She went outside the gate on her own during a 4 day weekend and didin't return. I know lots of the details, but just wondered if anyone else had any input. She was freinds with a bunch of us and we all had CID interviews.
My impression of my time over there was good – better than the rest of my time in. All of the soldiers I worked with seemed to just want to do thier jobs – less "dog and pony show" crap that year than my time in the States. On the other hand, that stateside B.S. was enough that I didn't re-up. Too much wasted time and soldiers more concerned about promotion points than thier job – leaving some of the rest of us to do all the "work" put a bad taste in my mouth early on.
2:25 am on August 26th, 2010 14
Dennis, I appreciate your comments. Realize you weren't there at the time I was
but was curious to know if you had heard about the incident I was referring to. Ever
have the desire to go back and see what Korea is like now? You would blown away
by the changes. I am curious about what may have happened to the soldier you
spoke about. There is a book about a female that disappeared like you said. It is
fiction but a great read. Author: Martin Limon, "The Wandering Ghost". His books
about 2 CID guys and the cases they handle. I am not a big reader but his stuff
will grab you big time. Did civilian and the work you found after the mil. work
out for you? When I was a Recruiter, often guys would I would meet would say,
"Wish I had stayed in, I would be retired long ago". Did you consider marrying a
Korean? My e-mail is jfisher1946@gmail.com Live long and prosper my friend.
3:49 am on August 31st, 2010 15
Gentlemen,
We seek business partners and entrepreneurs with integrity and viable investment opportunities in Korea, North or South.
Please contact us today for further communications.
International Investment Finance Group.
http://www.iifg-eu.net
info@iifg-eu.net
4:54 am on August 31st, 2010 16
"We seek business partners and entrepreneurs with integrity and viable investment opportunities in Korea, North or South."
Well, you have come to the right place.
After visiting your website and seeing your Director of Communication's picture, I can assure you there is a viable investment opportunity pimping out Ms. Wolthon to my buddies for a nightly three-hole gangbang.
Except her name isn't Jessica Wolthon and she isn't your Director of Communication, you lying shytbags.
She is an agent for RE/MAX in Boulder, Colorado… see the bottom of the page.
http://www.boulderco.com/selling.php
No, wait… she is a representative for a German company that deals in capital assurances.
http://www.policen-broker.de/
Ohhh… she works for MetroNaps.
http://www.metronaps.com.au/australia_files/recom…
Ahhh… she works for a mortgage company in Australia… wait for it… her picture is in the slideshow at the top.
http://www.mortgage-wisdom.com.au/
…or, maybe, she is just generic clipart so photoshopped that she no longer even resembles the original model… and you guys are lame.
Protip: Don't funk with people who have bigger computers than you…
…and don't spam them with amateur touts for your transparent scams from an insecure and easily analyzable website that was hastily created on June 26 through June 30…
…or you might get more scrutiny than you want.
Off you go.
4:59 am on August 31st, 2010 17
Oh, free me from the Spam Trap, GI…
7:24 am on August 31st, 2010 18
Dennis #13
I got to Camp Casey 1st tank in Sep 95, I wasn't too impressed about CID. They inbriefed us at the Turtle Farm and only talked about Prostitution and Blackmarketing.
I asked them about spillover in Korea from the Okinawa schoolgirl rape incident, They didn't know about it, and didn't care.
They didn't say anything about a kidnapped and murdered female soldier. I was told about that around 1997 by an old time Contractor. He said the girl dissappeared and they found her burned body in the countryside sometime later, no one was ever caught.
11:30 am on August 31st, 2010 19
REPOST DUE TO SPAM TRAP
We seek business partners and entrepreneurs with integrity and viable investment opportunities in Korea, North or South.”
Well, you have come to the right place.
After visiting your website and seeing your Director of Communication’s picture, I can assure you there is a viable investment opportunity piimping out Ms. Wolthon to my buddies for a nightly three-hole gaangbaang.
Except her name isn’t Jessica Wolthon and she isn’t your Director of Communication, you lying shytbags.
She is an agent for RE/MAX in Boulder, Colorado… see the bottom of the page.
http://www.boulderco.com/selling.php
No, wait… she is a representative for a German company that deals in capital assurances.
http://www.policen-broker.de/
Ohhh… she works for MetroNaps.
http://www.metronaps.com.au/australia_files/recom…
…or, maybe, she is just generic clipart so photoshopped that she no longer even resembles the original model… and you guys are lame.
Protip: Don’t funk with people who have bigger computers than you…
…and don’t spam them with amateur touts for your transparent scams from an insecure and easily analyzable website that was hastily created on June 26 through June 30…
…or you might get more scrutiny than you want.
Off you go.
1:51 pm on August 31st, 2010 20
REPOST DUE TO SPAM TRAP (#3)
We seek business partners and entrepreneurs with integrity and viable investment opportunities in Korea, North or South.”
Well, you have come to the right place.
After visiting your website and seeing your Director of Communication’s picture, I can assure you there is a viable investment opportunity piimping out Ms. Wolthon to my buddies for a nightly three-hole gaangbaang.
Except her name isn’t Jessica Wolthon and she isn’t your Director of Communication, you lying shytbags.
She is an agent for RE/MAX in Boulder, Colorado… see the bottom of the page.
http://www.boulderco.com/selling.php
No, wait… she is a representative for a German company that deals in capital assurances.
httzp://www.policen-broker.de/
Ohhh… she works for MetroNaps.
http://www.metronaps.com.au/australia_files/recom…
…or, maybe, she is just generic clipart so photoshopped that she no longer even resembles the original model… and you guys are lame.
Protip: Don’t funk with people who have bigger computers than you…
…and don’t spam them with amateur touts for your transparent scams from an insecure and easily analyzable website that was hastily created on June 26 through June 30…
…or you might get more scrutiny than you want.
Off you go.
4:31 pm on February 17th, 2011 21
Hey dennis !
I was Stationed at camp Kyle from 93 to april 94.. what memories i have of that place… I remember the Edewa club where we had a great time every day!! I played a lot of Pool in the back table that had quite the "Roll". The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders were there too once. I am still friend with one other guy that was there with me. Great times… I wonder what happened to Mr Kim and the kind Korean waitress… Also the guy that took pictures of us then sold them to us…
Carlos Santander…
61st maint co.
52 d ..
roster222@aol.com
7:04 am on March 20th, 2011 22
I was stationed there in 1989. I cannot believe those pictures. There was nothing by Camp Kyle (or SP 24) but a man doing business granite. If any one saw the granite statute of the 61st Maintenace, I was there when it was made. Great little compound. Had everything you every needed, Barber, Library, cantina and of course the Club. I worked in Shop Office as the RCS, with Mr. Lee and Ms. Wong. Greatest year in my military career. I loved it.
5:17 am on March 25th, 2011 23
i was there in 1991-1992, & don't miss anything about it.do any1 remember a guy committing suicide there around that time?
8:36 am on March 28th, 2011 24
I was there Dec 91 -Dec 92…it has definitely changed…I dont remember anyone comitting suicide…I do remember how bad it stunk in the mornings in the summer.
I remember the Edewa club….I also remember mr Kim from the mess hall…I was a cook in the military.
musleboy71@yahoo.com
12:22 am on March 30th, 2011 25
you must have been there the same time i was Brian.I worked in da the mechanic shop.A guy killed his self in those barracks where that quatermasters detachment was.I played on da flagfootball team.i remember the ediwah club but i spent more time in TDC
4:16 am on March 30th, 2011 26
Francis/Brian, you would not have heard about the guy killing himself. That happened in 83'. Complete turn over
of soldiers many times over. Francis, what is with your
English? From a country other than the USA?
4:34 am on March 30th, 2011 27
Francis: Was it Korea or the Army you did not like?
7:31 am on April 11th, 2011 28
it was Korea i couldn't stand.Jeff there was a guy that killed hisself @ camp kyle.I cant think of his name but he was dating a korean-american soldier in that same quautermaster unit.She was a cute girl
7:41 pm on April 11th, 2011 29
Francis #28. Thanks for your input. Killing ones self is in
most cases "a permanent solution to a temporary problem".
I loved Korea. Retired from there in 88'. Miss the Army
and Korea. Going there for a few weeks on 27 Apr. Different
strokes for different folks. Could not be more pleased with
my funny little Korean honey I married 30 years ago.
7:47 pm on April 14th, 2011 30
Jeff,
Nice to hear you're coming back over this way. Where you gonna be hanging your hat at (wife's relatives?) when you come over and where will you be? Love to grab a beer with you and trade some stories of your time in 227 and Korea in general. Let me know.
Matt
9:10 pm on April 14th, 2011 31
Matt #30: Arrive Inchon 28 Apr 3PM United 893. Have a Bro
in law in Seoul and a friend that works in Yongsan. My
usual m/o is to stay a day or so at the Dragon Hill but have not made any firm plans yet in that regard. In
laws live in Kimchon. email me: jfisher1946@gmail.com I
will give you some contact numbers or you can you can do
same. Would be a delighted to get together with you.
10:24 pm on May 11th, 2011 32
Jeff,
Just stumbled on this blog (if i’m saying it right) and want to comment on blog 13. I was there during that time and new this person somewhat well.Rummer was that he got promoted to E5 but have trouble giving orders to his troop and no one would listen. that’s about the extent I want to mention.
On another note, good picks! Brings back memories
. The base is close now. I’m working in ROK and from time to time, I would cruise there just for the heck of it!!
Up to this day, my yobo still cannot forgive me for not buying land. Got I would have made some money!!!!
ED
9:12 am on May 15th, 2011 33
Jeff Fisher, #3:
I took this photo in August 1965 from the top of Hill 337, the larger of the two behind the compound. It looks SSW towards Seoul down the Uijongbu Corridor. You can see in the more recent pictures the flat brown roofs of what’s left: the (left to right) auto shop, the tech supply warehouse, and what’s left of the other repair shops. I wish I could afford to go back and see it all again, but the days of the 300 won per night Yogwan are long gone.
The following were at Kumo-ri Maintenance Center (Camp Kyle) in 1965: 538th Engineer Co., 38th Ordnance Co. (DS), 293rd Ordnance Det., 123rd Signal Co – all part of 4th Ordnance Bn., HQ Hannam-dong in Seoul, under the command of 8th Army Support Command (even though we were in the I Corps area). Around April 1965 the 123rd was deactivated and became part of the 38th.
During late 1965 there was a reorganization and we became part of something known as Corps Support Brigade Provisional (CSB. The 38th became Company A and the 538th Company B of the 4th Maint Bn.
The QM company in the next camp further up the road away from Uijongbu (and I can’t remember what its number was) became part of a Transportation Bn, I think.
The 61st (whatever that is) must have come later.
And, yeah, I wish I’d bought the land around Camp Kyle. I imagine that about $5,000 could have bought all the fields where those high rises are.
9:18 am on May 15th, 2011 34
Correction. Somehow a hunk of text got removed in submission.
During late 1965 there was a reorganization and we (I was in the 38th) became part of something known as Corps Support Brigade Provisional (CSBP). On 1 January 1966 CSBP became 71st Ordnance Gp., with 4th Ordnance Bn. becoming 4th Maintenance Bn. under it. The 38th became Company A and the 538th Company B of the 4th Maint Bn. All of this still under 8th Army Support Command.
1:21 am on May 20th, 2011 35
Eddy Gomez, Cmt #32: Thanks Eddy for your comment. Just got back from my adopted home country yesterday after a three week visit. Went all over the place from the DMZ to
Busan. Blown away with the dramatic changes. Being retired
Army I had access to the camps, some were gone others were
unrecognizable for the most part. Yongsan was some what the same aside from South Post. I was curious as to the soldier’s probable reason at the 61st for killing himself. Figured it was over a woman, nothing such as what you said. Leadership was not one of my strong suits either but managed quite well anyway. I did not give a rats ass about issues like that as long as I could get off on time and be with my funny little honey in the villes after duty time. Retired in 88′ My random thoughts on this last visit to Korea: When was in the snack bars and other places on the compounds, I was
surprised at the number of dependents there from the U.S.
The soldiers wives were fat and in my opinion not even close to being as beautiful as a Korean gal. I wonder how
many of those guys were really bummed out at being stuck
with their tanks instead of an Asian. I had a car loaned to me and used it south of Seoul but when in Seoul chose to use public transport. Fast, clean, safer.Density of people moving about heavy. I was struck by the
number of Korean guys/gals that are tall and every bit as
as large as an average occidental of European decent.
Being a friendly outgoing guy I was not hesitant to talk
to those I was next to on the various transports, I found
the Koreans to be the same most often. Not my previous
opinion in past visits. They used to avert their eyes a lot more in my opinion. The number of guys with Filipino women were aplenty. Guess it is because the Korean women are not in the “business” very much any more. The tourist areas are flooded with Chinese and to a lesser degree from
Japan. Spooky looking Russians/Africans milling about in
and around Itaewon. The tourist areas are world class.
Highways in most places are the same or better than those
in Europe or Japan. Going to Europe next June. Interested
in seeing what is going on these days over there. Korea has massive beautification projects everywhere. Flowers, manicured trees/shrubs. My wife and I feel a hell of a lot safer out and about in Korea than in the USA. Saw
an occasional whacko but they were harmless. Loved being
around the soldiers on post. To me they are great Americans in contrast to the usual ash and trash young
person I encounter in the civilian world. Wish I could
climb into a time machine and go back to the future as
portrayed in the movie. I would do it all over again. Best
24 years of my life. I always invite anyone to contact me
me with their comments about my opinions etc.
jfisher1946@gmail.com Eddy, hope to see more of your
comments on this blog. It is fun site to visit and be part of.
1:25 am on May 20th, 2011 36
Steve cmt# 33/34: Your photos are GREAT!!! Thanks for
them and your comments. Outstanding.
7:59 am on June 4th, 2011 37
To those of you asking about SPC Irey (the female soldier who was killed), I’ve been quite curious about that myself, because she and I were fairly good friends. I was an “Automotive Animal” from Oct. ’91-Oct. ’93, and was one of the last people to see her before she disappeared that weekend–it was a holiday weekend, and she and I and a few other friends had gone over to CRC for some little festival that was going on. She and a couple others wanted to go play Bingo at the Rec Center, so we all split up and that was the last I saw of her. Anyway, I was the post courier at the time (yes, I was the one that drove the “Bongo Truck”, bringing all the new people to the unit), and did the “BigEd’s Blazin’ BBQs” up at The Rock. I ended up assisting the CID with part of their investigation–although they never shared any of their findings with me.
I don’t want to know any details because whoever killed her had done some pretty sick and twisted stuff, but if anyone knows anything about the outcome of the investigation, I’d just like to know if justice was served.
edsullins@sbcglobal.net
3:19 pm on June 4th, 2011 38
This murder of SPC Irey is interesting because I haven’t heard of it before. Does anyone know what month and year the murder happened?
8:34 pm on June 4th, 2011 39
GI Korea:
Looking back at Dennis’ comments #11 & #13, I’m realizing I was there from ’92-’94, not ’91-’93, so that means the incident with SPC Irey would have been in the spring or summer of ’94. I’m not sure of the Holiday, but I do remember them having a dunk-tank at the festival at CRC and it being warm enough that people were wearing shorts and t-shirts.
5:13 am on July 13th, 2011 40
Re #14 – Jeff, I was allways a worker. I joined a little later (20) and had allready held decent civilian jobs. I joined for a change of pace and to get out of the “rut” I thought I was heading into. I was taught by my parents and early boss’ to produce something. You don’t get somemhing for nothing. The civilian experience helped me excel in the Army at doing the actual work, but my supervisors all saw I was “different” than most soldiers and advised me to “go be a successful civilian” ’cause they saw how much the idle time / dog and pony show drove me insane more than the average soldier…..over 15 years now at the same company, good pay / benefits – and a good working relationship with all of our vendors (they call me for help occasionally) – I know I will allways have a job and pay my bills….the only thing I miss about the military life was the amount of “off” time and the ability to take of work for nearly any personal issue you might need time for. You have to be at work to get your job done in my line of work. Thankfully, I have been lucky enough to have an understanding wife who stayed home to raise our children and could handle 99% of that stuff for us…..Which brings me to the Korean girl issue – never realy considered a relationship with one….might have if I where single back then, but I was allready married and, other than the passing “hey, she’s kinda cute” thoughts, it really wasn’t an issue for me…..I do remember driving for the 1Sg and him nearly falling out of the Humvee “checking out” the girls along the streets of Uijongbu and Seoul!
Re: #37, Ed I remember my ride in the bongo truck – my first full day in Koroea and real “WTF?” experinece.
I was close to the whole mess about Spc Irey. CID tried to accuse me of “covering” for my roomate who was in your group of friends out at CRC that weekend. They tried to “pressure” me into giving them some info they could work with, I guess. I got pissed and told the CID agent “You cover for someone missing a formation, this is someone life we’re talking about!!”….They let me be after that.
On some other notes of that time at Kyle: Where you still there when the 473rd guy got drunk and climbed the electric pole? – talk about a BBQ?!
I also still remember your attempt at “PLOWB” day!!
8:45 am on July 13th, 2011 41
Dennis!!! How’s it goin’? Based on your earlier comments, I had a feeling I knew who you were, and your comments about Ray have confirmed it—I always wondered why they stuck you guys in those old Quonset huts, it was almost like you were being punished. Although, based on some of the “problems” you had with your shower, it sounded like you made the best of it.
Regarding Irey, I never did figure out why Ray was a suspect… I think they were just giving him a hard time because he was a former MP and he knew their BS as well as they did. (I’m still curious if they ever gave his boots back.) I myself was a suspect for a very brief time, but it was because I was the only person with a permanently dispatched vehicle that was allowed to leave post whenever I wanted, so they felt I had more “opportunity” than most people. After CID ran a UV light over the entire Bongo truck and determined there weren’t any blood stains anywhere in or on it, they brought me in to help. I tried telling them that Ray was not the type of person that could have done what had happened, but they insisted on giving him grief. I even pointed out the fact that whoever did it had to have had a very close relationship with several Korean Nationals, and that the only Koreans Ray ever talked to were “Kickstand” the picture guy and the old lady who cut his hair at the Barber Shop, but they wouldn’t listen.
Anyway, I don’t recall hearing something about the guy climbing the power pole, but I know that several of us would often head over to the volleyball court after a BBQ, while others would stay at The Rock to see how much they could drink, so I’m sure a lot of stuff happened that I never heard about. And yes, PLOWD was a failed attempt to make a mockery of the many special days and months dedicated to minority groups—sadly enough, there were more blacks, Hispanics and Samoans that supported PLain Old White Dudes than there were Caucasians, because they were tired of the Army going overboard, singling them out for special attention.
Well, I’d better get going, but it was good to hear from you!
9:34 am on July 13th, 2011 42
Dennis
I also really enjoyed my year in Korea and by comparison stateside duty turned me off enough that I didn’t re-up. If I could redo my time in the Army I would have extended my stay in Korea to cover my whole time in the Army (which was only two years) then gone str8 to college. Had I done that though I would have never met my current wife.
About SPC Irey, I have followed info about that incident here off and on and it sounds like it remained unsolved which drives me a bit crazy considering what happened.
hiler8@gmail.com
1:08 pm on July 15th, 2011 43
re42: Chris – curiosity about the sitaution has kept me checking in here, as well. I got bored once and tried searching all around the web and came up with nothing excpet a grave marker listing in Louisianna (right state, IIRC).
re41: Ed, you got me mixxed up — I remember who your talking about, but I was on the other fringe of the goup. My roomate was Mason (can’t remeber his first name.) CID took all his clothes from that weekend, as well! I think they made everyone even close-by a suspect because they had no clue where to look. Can’t remember if it was 2nd or 3rd floor, but we where in the big barracks. Just after the Irey thing blew over, Mason went back to the States and I ended up rooming with Nearhing (worked in office – TOC? was it called?)
I know everyone had their suspicions about what happened to Spc Irey. She was a bit older and way to smart to be just an E-4 mechanic…..that thought struck me the first time I met her. A few of us even debated here true age – that discussion was where I learned to “date” a womans age by how her hands look. She looked more like E-5 age range, but she made comments about college, so we couldn’t be sure…. 1Sg Quirk had to escort the remains home – some of his comments after he got back just added to the suspicions. The whole thing just wasn’t right……
The roll call during the memorial service for Spc Irey at the Chapel at CRC is momment with a certain “feel” I will never forget…..
Back on the lighter side….
I can tell you form my proximity to the situation that Cpt G was fully ready to stand behind your request about the “PLOWD” day if you had been able to get the support. I rememeber her specificly saying she hoped you could pull it off. I think everyone was tired of the excessive “special attention” except those who don’t deserve any.
What where the names of Cpt G’s dogs? I got busted by some other Cpt in Youngsan for driving around with them in my Humvee. That day was a sort of “feild day” of sports and a cookout for the whole 227th IIRC. The Cpt. was staying there for the night and had me take the dogs home to Kyle. I was also hauling some soldiers back to Kyle. We had stopped at Burger King to get food for one soldier who had been injurred that day and missed chow while in the hospital. Cpt A-Hole-Of-Youngsan gave me a ration of crap for having a military vehicle at the BK and even more for hauling pets around!! I calmly explained about the soldier who missed chow and the pets belonged to my CO and gave him the phone number / info he demanded….I wanted to give him the one-fingered-salute and drive off, but knew that would only be a bad idea….When he called the next morning, Cpt G. gave the guy hell and told him to leave her soldiers alone!
3:35 pm on July 15th, 2011 44
Dennis #43: Ref Irey. You prompted a memory that I had long forgotten. A story to add more mystery to what you said about something strange about her. When I was at Cp Pelham in 79′ in my first assignment as a Career Counselor I became pals with the Bn courier, Steve Scaglia. I had to go back and forth to 2nd ID and would go with Steve. He would fence my booze and cigarets for me. One day he called to let me know we could hit the class 6 store at Casey but do not bring up the subject in the jeep. He had to give another guy a ride too and was concerned about him. He was assigned as a “gun bunny” to one of the gun batteries and the guys felt he was not “cool”, did not fit in. A few weeks later I saw the guy in the snack bar in civvies with 2 other guys wearing sports jackets and dress slacks. Mentioned this to Steve and he told me that a couple of the guys in the unit confronted him about being CID or MPI
One night the guys put razor blades between the guys sheets and after that the guy just up and left the company. No one found out why. Plt Sgt, was mum on the
subject. Hmmmm. Was Irey a plant? Was she trying to bust
someone and their Korean connections? Had she busted someone before and revenge was in play. Anyone know Steve
Scaglia (13B MOS) from Long Island NY?, He loved the Rolling Stones. Was a great pal and “business” partner.
6:26 am on September 6th, 2011 45
I was at Camp Kyle from Nov 92′ to Nov 93′. Loved every day that I spent there.Should have spent all my time there. Great pic of the place back in 65′. Left there and went to FT.DRUM,NY. Enjoyed my stay there too but Korea was the best.
12:25 pm on September 6th, 2011 46
’65 was the Golden Age. People were wonderful, the dollar went a long way, the country hadn’t yet Industrialized and still looked primitive, like something out of National Geographic. That’s from an onlookers point of view, of course. It wasn’t so great for the Koreans yet, but things would change before long.
BTW I ended up in Syracuse. Don’t think I’d ov liked Ft Drum (my dad shipped out of Ft Drum, then Pine Camp, for WWII action) .
6:05 am on September 8th, 2011 47
#46 Dreher: You have verbalized the sentiments I have. My first tour in Korea was 64-65′. The replacement depot was at ASCOM and that is where I stayed after in processing. From my perspective of pure enjoyment, that was the time frame to have been there. Spent 6 more years there off and on until I retired form Korea in 88′. As impressed as I am of the economic miracles they have pulled off in such a short amount of time, each return trip since my retirement (the most recent was this past May-June), at the end of the day I still pine for those first couple of tours “way back when”.
Enjoyed your post, thanks. Did you ever return to Korea? Did
stay in the Army after your initial enlistment?
6:59 am on September 8th, 2011 48
#47. Thanks, Jeff, for your comments. I’ll bet that the period between the end of the war before the 60s might have been even more interesting (and from the photos on Flickr.com, so was the period right after WWII). There were NCOs in my outfit who were returning after having been in Uijongbu when it was practically leveled, who said they couldn’t recognize the place. In the 60s it was still old-fashioned – mostly agricultural with thatched houses, dirt roads, dirt back streets, open gutters, steam locomotives, oxcarts (if you were lucky enough not to have to pull the thing yourself), traditional clothing, $300 a year median income, and so on – but mostly it was back on its feet and ready to go. But still interesting.
You will remember that used shell casings and beverage cans were priceless commodities back then. I once rode on a bus into Seoul with a newly-arrived fellow lieutenant. Somebody threw an empty Coke can out the window and he rose up from his seat in high indignation. “I’m going to have that man arrested for littering,” he said. I had to actually restrain him. I said “Don’t make an idiot of yourself. We’re SUPPOSED to throw cans away like that. Some people are able to eat because they grab stuff like that and sell it.” He grumbled, but did sit back down.
A new captain tried to have us collect the brass on the firing range once, too. There was almost a riot by the locals who were were waiting for the exercise to finish so that they could get at the stuff. We were able to explain to the captain, but by then we’d collected most of it, so we had to throw it down in front of them like chicken feed. It was sad to see them fighting for it.
I didn’t stay in the army after my two years were up, and, alas, never made it back. A Presbyterian congregation near where I live will send veterans back free (as you may know, the Presbyterian church was a major missionary presence in the country in the 19th century and still has an interest in the place), but only if you are in it, and I’m not. Wouldn’t be the same anyway.
8:40 am on September 8th, 2011 49
#48 Dreher: You made my day! You have enhanced the mosaic
of my memories. Oh yes, the buses and the brass. Remember the
Jeep like vehicles they had for taxis? By the way I am from
northern Vermont. I was home on leave and for some
some reason went to what was then Cp Drum. I now live in VA.
Last year my wife and I went to Niagara Falls and made a side
trip to what is now Fort Drum. That is one massive Army Post now. Thanks again Steve for your comments.
12:52 pm on December 28th, 2011 50
I was in the Qm Det behind the Big barracks from April ’91-’92…I was just readin some of the comments..I remember alot of those incidents that happened,good and bad. But my biggest regret was not staying there and extending my tour. That place was a great time with great people. best parties!!!
6:12 pm on May 8th, 2012 51
Was at Camp Kyle 78-79 wanted to stay longer but CO said no, was worried I would marry the girl I was living with. He was pretty lax giving many of us 24 hour passes most of the time. I did have to give it up for a week once but a bottle of liquor got me out the gate. Never made it back before curfew so go caught many times coming in at 6 am. What a blast we had there, walked that road from the ville to Kyle many nights at 11:30 and some times didn’t make it back in time. Hiding from ROK soldiers patrolling. Drinking soju and eating ramion outside the gate. You could always tell when camps were in the field cause their yobos would come out looking to make some money. Barracks? we didn’t have any, that big multi floor one must have been built after I left. There were no women there, it was all about using your rations till they were used up for black market and partying. Even CID was black marketing, I know cause I had one in the next hooch from mine and he would use his truck to bring in groceries to the girl next do to mine. Very cool year