Via a reader tip comes news that the 23rd Chemical Battalion is heading back to Korea despite being pulled from the country a few years ago:
A chemical warfare battalion will soon move from the United States to South Korea, beefing up the U.S. military’s capabilities in a region menaced by the threat of North Korean nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, the Army announced this week.
The move of the 61st and 62nd chemical companies, as well as the headquarters and headquarters detachment of the 23rd Chemical Battalion — nearly 300 soldiers in total — is scheduled to be complete early next year.
The battalion will provide “nuclear, biological and chemical reconnaissance, equipment decontamination and consequence management assistance” to support U.S. and South Korean forces, according to an Army statement. [Stars & Stripes]
The rest of the Stars & Stripes article doesn’t mention this, but the 23rd Chemical Battalion was redeployed from South Korea in 2004 and restationed at Ft. Lewis, Washington. It was redeployed because its mission was handed over to the ROK Army. So is this deployment back to Korea because the ROK Army cannot handle the mission it was given in 2004? I doubt it, this sounds more like a way to save money as this passage later in the S&S article points out:
Hall said part of the analysis was based on a calculation that once the move is complete, the Army will recoup $1.8 million a year through lower base operational support costs in South Korea.
As much as people like Donald Trump want to claim that South Korea is freeloading under our defense umbrella, this is just another example that this is not true because the ROK does contribute to the upkeep of the US-ROK alliance. This is why it is cheaper for the Pentagon to keep troops in Korea instead of in the US where they would be completely footing the bill.
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6:25 am on October 12th, 2012 1
Which proves once again, US stationing troops in Korea is about saving money for the US.
6:30 am on October 12th, 2012 2
Yes, and protecting ungrateful Koreans.
7:20 am on October 12th, 2012 3
Now how do you really think this saves money for the U.S.? You are ignorant to the fact that ALL of their money will go into the Korean Economy, especially your OVERPRICED, F’ing Apartments that wouldn’t go for $800 in the U.S. I would LOVE for the U.S. to pull out of South Korea so you could see how many jobs are lost for you Koreans, but than again, you could always hire them to sit along the DMZ so Norkies don’t keep walking into the South unimpeded, right???
7:20 am on October 12th, 2012 4
That’s why I say boot them off the peninsula.
7:47 am on October 12th, 2012 5
Tom and his sockpuppets have been busy today…
8:02 am on October 12th, 2012 6
DELETED BY ADMIN – Racial slur
8:29 am on October 12th, 2012 7
No, Tom and his people are freeloaders. People have to leave their families and loved ones and possibly die for a nation that only wants them around when there are troubles.
These people could end up dead for a group of people (Koreans) that act like middle school students, Korea is freeloading and they have been since 1953.
The miracle of the Han was only mande possible by AMERICA and other foreigners.
Koreans are responsible for the break-ups and woes of American families and American people-all because these two nations of Koreans are little more than children…they aren’t worth it.
12:28 pm on October 12th, 2012 8
smoke7wolf, US bases play barely any in Korean economy. Many of them are civil servants, they can work some else. The miracle of Han river was not made possible by Americans with little money we had. Oh, btw, thanks for dividing my country and causing havoc as usual around the world.
1:25 pm on October 12th, 2012 9
If is the same Chem Battalion I remember from my tour, it was made up of like 10 US Soldiers and a couple hundred KSC types!
3:12 pm on October 12th, 2012 10
Actually, it has been discussed around the water cooler. With all the base closures in CONUS, Europe and elsewhere – combined with the end of Iraq and the beginning of a draw down in the Stan – there may actually be a shortage of places to put all the extra troops, until the BIG draw down begins.
On top of that, leaders in Korea want their own CBRNE capabilities. Are the ROK’s up to the job? Maybe, maybe not, but that is irrelevant if they cannot interact with US forces using modern C&C methods, which they certain choose not to.
Besides, outsourcing housing needs to a cheaper place makes sense. Hell, move the whole damn army over here.
I’m sure it will remind those like Tom of the Quartering Acts, which required American civilians to provide living spaces for British soldiers prior to the American Revolution. So it’s worth it.
3:29 pm on October 12th, 2012 11
and just for Tom and his cronies, you might want to talk to this guy. A few of those veterans he discusses toward the end could represent some of the men in my family… For my part, we don’t expect ass kissing or even thank you’s. The Korean people certainly suffered terribly and pulled themselves up by their bootstraps as few other countries have done with the exception of Germany and Japan – who also had US and international help in the aftermath of terrible wars.
I consider it brilliant and humane policy to befriend, rebuild, and protect our former enemies and those who have suffered aggression. That is if it is the type of country – due to level of education, social, political, and religious factors – is able to take advantage of such help (obviously not Iraq and Afghanistan). Therefore not wasting blood and treasure. Korea took full advantage of the opportunities offered, which reflects well on that generation of Korean people. Anyway, on to the article:
Let us not forget US sacrifices
By Kim Myong-bai
The epitaph inscribed on the tablet commemorating the participation of American soldiers in the Korean War at the Arlington National Cemetery moves us deeply: “Our nation honors her sons and daughters who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met.”
In 1992, when I worked for the Korean Embassy in Washington, D.C., Gen. Van Fleet, the former commander of the 8th Army who was highly respected by Korean people because of his deep love for Korea, died at the age of 100.
I participated in the memorial service at Arlington Cemetery Military Church. All attendees were deeply moved to hear the very short and succinct eulogy made by Van Fleet the 3rd, Air Force captain and grandson of Gen. Van Fleet: “Gen. Van Fleet was my father and grandfather, my best friend and role model. His footprints will be with me through whole my life in the depths of my soul.”
When Captain Van Fleet was a one–year-old baby, his father, Air Force lieutenant and pilot, went missing in action near the Yalu River during the early stages of the Korean War. After his father died, Captain Van Fleet was brought up by grandfather as if he were his son. His family history awakened me to the deep scars of the Korean War that were inflicted on a peaceful family.
June 22, 1992, is an unforgettable day for me. On that day, there was a mint-molding event at the U.S. Veterans Association building for fund-raising to erect a memorial commemorating U.S. participation in the Korean War. U.S., Gen. Stillwell, former commander of the ROK-U.S. CFC, participated in the event. For the Republic of Korea, I, the consul general of the embassy, participated instead of the ambassador.
At the opening of the event, the curtain of the waiting room was raised, and a group of about 50 wounded veterans made their way slowly to the stage in three lines. The first line was composed of wheel-chair bound wounded soldiers.
The second and third lines were veterans wounded in various parts of the body such as eyes, nose, ears, mouth, arms, legs, and so on. At the front of the group was the most seriously wounded veteran who had lost all four of his limbs. With only his torso remaining, he was embraced by a member of his family.
Suddenly, a profound quiet fell across the hall. Everyone was deeply shocked. Stilwell and almost all the participants took out handkerchiefs to wipe their tears away. The hour-long event was very emotional, full of restrained tears and contemplative silence.
The United States, as part of the U.N. forces, helped deliver Korea from the aggression of North Korea sacrificing 54,000 lives and sending home 100,000 wounded soldiers. The United States then transformed Korea into “a show case’’ of American democracy pouring in $500 billion of American taxpayers’ money. Behind “the miracle on the Han River,” there is the invaluable sacrifice of dead and wounded soldiers and their families – whose legacy is six decades of blood, sweat, tears and toil.
Koreans should not forget that the ROK-U.S. Alliance in the pax-Americana era is a “God-given asset”, a friendship that enabled Korea realize its dream of an “advanced fatherland.” Let’s not be forgetful of the sacrifices the United States has made. Let’s cherish these lofty sacrifices in our hearts and minds.
The writer, former ambassador to Brazil, is an adjunct professor of Hoseo University. His email address is mbkim77@naver.com.
4:09 pm on October 12th, 2012 12
blahblahblah wrote:
As millions more grateful Koreans.
Generalhandgrenade wrote:
How’s the Philippines doing again? Latin America? Africa?
American aid and favorable access to American goods (but not overly favorable) have clearly been a positive input — even a necessary one — but the missing variable has been the post-war Korean work ethic (with something similar happening in Japan and Taiwan).
The only people without whom the Miracle on the Han would have been impossible is South Koreans themselves.
4:19 pm on October 12th, 2012 13
“For my part, we don’t expect ass kissing or even thank you’s”
Oh yes you do. We gave you thank you’s until the cows came home, it still wasn’t enough and it will never be enough. It’s time to stop groveling and stop this free loading American military using Korea for their military bases. Boot them out!
And oh by the way, Kim Myong-bai is a douche bag. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Ignore him.
4:25 pm on October 12th, 2012 14
Tom wrote:
Tom, China never thanked the US or any of the allies for their role in the Korean War. Stop your b.s.
In fact, China still lies in its textbooks and says that South Korea started the Korean War with American assistance.
6:41 pm on October 12th, 2012 15
Who gives a rat’s ass who thanks who? Korea has its own national interests and so do we. We are still in Korea because you need us and we need you for both of our own selfish reasons. Tom, getting rid of us is wishful thinking. Hell, your Government just rolled out the red carpet for these guys.
6:42 pm on October 12th, 2012 16
And oh by the way, Tom is a douche bag. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Ignore him.
7:07 pm on October 12th, 2012 17
Tom is uniquely unqualified to post in any thread concerning the ROK military. We all know he can’t step foot in Korea because once his ass hits Incheon, he’ll be drafted. No KATUSA staus for you, boy. He has shirked his responsibility to stand in defense of his own beloved country all the while belittling the service of foreigners who do so voluntarily.
8:23 pm on October 12th, 2012 18
I’m losing my freaking mind. 2 wrong thread posts in one day!
12:24 am on October 13th, 2012 19
smoke7wolf and generalhandgrenade, foad idiots
12:31 am on October 13th, 2012 20
Tom and his sockpuppets. Do you troll all day long and stroke your small mushroom tip in between bouts of porn surfing white women who fetish small Asian sizes?
2:29 am on October 18th, 2012 21
@11, nice article, but not complete correct.
Miracle on the Han was not funded by American taxpayers; that was all Koreans. There was aid in the post Korean-war period, but Kennedy stopped that when Gen. Park came into power through not-so-democratic means. The payments resumed through the salaries of the 300k Koreans who fought in the Vietnam War on America’s behalf. If anything, funding for the immense growth during the late 60′s/early 70′s came from Japan (aid after Park resumed diplomatic talks) and West Germany (mortgage for expodrt of Korean miners/nurses).
3:54 am on October 18th, 2012 22
# 20 lol
# 21 Don’t forget the Kyungbu Expressway and infrastructure investments in the Sae mal (New Community) Movements. I don’t the miracle was complete though until after Chun landed the Olympics and the world started to look at Korea as an investment and not a problem child.
3:26 pm on October 19th, 2012 23
@22. Yup. The expressways were funded primarily by the soldiers’ salaries. And the growth occured through the sacrifice of the Koreans as well. At one point, Korea was one of the world’s leading manufacturer of coloured TV, but there wasn’t a singled coloured TV to be found in the coutnry since they were all exported. And to a large extent, I don’t think the miracle is complete. Koreans (with their small country with non-existant natural resources and small populations) punch above their weight when it comes to the world economy and politics.