Air Force officials said Wednesday they still have not found the cause of the hypoxia-like symptoms that have affected F-22 Raptor pilots and maintainers, nor are they sure why a short-term cough that can result from breathing high concentrations of oxygen is more common in F-22 pilots than in F-15 and F-16 pilots.

“The flight envelope of the F-22 is significantly different than the other fighters, and this may contribute to the cough, but we’re continuing to evaluate it with our pilots,” Brig. Gen. Daniel Wyman, surgeon general of Air Combat Command, told reporters in a conference call.

The F-22 can fly faster and at much higher altitudes than other fighters.

The Air Force grounded the supersonic fighters last May after at least 14 “physiological incidents” — pilots experienced headaches, nausea, fatigue, difficulty concentrating and other symptoms that are typical for a lack of oxygen — but returned the fighters to the air in September. In March, members of an Air Force advisory panel said they had not been able to determine what caused the incidents, but they are confident the F-22’s oxygen system does not pose any unnecessary risk.

Since the Raptors returned to flight, there have been 11 incidents of symptoms associated with oxygen deprivation in F-22 pilots — and five aircraft maintainers have reported those types of symptoms as well, Wyman said. The maintainers were inside the cockpits of the aircraft while the plane was on the ground, Wyman said, but were not using the oxygen masks.  [Stars & Stripes]

You can read more at the link but I recommend watching the 60 Minutes segment that aired last weekend instead.  I just find it amazing the continuing problems they are having with these hypoxia incidents has gotten so bad that pilots are appearing on a national news broadcast to air their concerns and refusing to fly the airplane.  It is also pretty amazing that the US Air Force is spending $400+ million for an aircraft they have pilots refusing to fly.

Air Force Lt. Gen. Ronnie Hawkins, the new head of the Defense Information Systems Agency, is under fire for a commander’s call Wednesday that included references to God. But Hawkins, who just took over the directorship of DISA in January, said his presentation has been taken out of context.

As part of an all-hands meeting with DISA employees, Hawkins apparently showed a power point presentation that contained two slides titled “Ronnie’s Rules” that outline 18 priorites, the first and last of which are “Always put God first, and stay within His will” and “Always remember God is good — all the time!”

Hawkins said in a response to a query from Air Force Times that he stated at the all-hands meeting that “Ronnie’s Rules” were his personal road map for living and he has used it since he was a captain. He said he tries to live by these rules every day.

“Those two slides, in particular …were in no way a directive or expectation I have for our dedicated men and women,” said Hawkins, who previously served as deputy director of command control, communications and computer systems, Joint Staff at the Pentagon. “The rules are my own personal guide posts, or moral compass.”

All DISA employees apparently didn’t see the presentation the same way.

A DISA employee who witnessed the presentation spoke with Air Force Times under condition of anonymity. He said he was shocked that a senior leader would include such direct references to God in a commander’s call that in his opinion was held to say “I’m your new commander and this is what I expect of you.”

The employee said that he provided the presentation to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, a nonprofit advocacy group, “in hopes of saving lives.”

MRFF’s founder and president, Mikey Weinstein, is calling for Hawkins to be court-martialed for violating his oath to the Constitution. He said he is representing 21 employees at DISA.  [Air Force Times]

This is the way I look at it, it wasn’t a good idea for the general to reference God in what appears to be a mandatory event for personnel who work underneath him to attend.  However, if people are so offended they should have contacted the IG before going to an outside group.  It it totally unprofessional on part of the person who leaked this to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation who are now busy sensationalizing this as much as possible in the media with ridiculous demands for a court martial of LTG Hawkins.  This could have been easily handled in house by the Air Force with the IG contacting General Hawkins and warning him of the concern over his remarks in a formal military functions.  In the vast majority of cases the IG working an issue like this resolves it rather quickly.  I would think LTG Hawkins would be more careful with his comments in the future at such events after being contacted by the IG.  Contacting the IG would have avoided the media circus to bash the US military with that a group like the Military Religious Freedom Foundation is eager to create.

 Air Force Lt. Gen. Janet C. Wolfenbarger would become the highest-ranking woman officer ever to serve in the Air Force if a nomination forwarded Monday by President Barack Obama is approved by the Senate.

Wolfenbarger would lead Air Force Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and become the first female four-star general in the Air Force. The command focuses on development and sustainment of weapons systems. With a yearly budget of $60 billion, it’s the largest Air Force command in terms of funding.

Wolfenbarger now serves as military deputy to the Air Force’s assistant secretary for acquisitions. Before her current assignment at the Pentagon, she was vice commander at Air Force Material Command, according to her official Air Force biography. She previously held other positions in the command, including director of the Intelligence and Requirements Directorate. Before that, she directed programs and offices connected with the C-17 transport plane, the B-2 bomber and the F-22 fighter.

She is a 1980 graduate of the Air Force Academy and later earned a master’s degree at National Defense University.

According to the Pentagon, Army Gen. Ann Dunwoody, commander of Army Materiel Command, became the U.S. Army’s first four-star general in 2008.  [Stars & Stripes]

The Air Force dumped the incinerated partial remains of at least 274 American troops in a Virginia landfill, far more than the military had acknowledged, before halting the secretive practice three years ago, records show.

The landfill dumping was concealed from families who had authorized the military to dispose of the remains in a dignified and respectful manner, Air Force officials said. There are no plans, they said, to alert those families now.

The Air Force had maintained that it could not estimate how many troops might have had their remains sent to a landfill. The practice was revealed last month by The Washington Post, which was able to document a single case of a soldier whose partial remains were sent to the King George County landfill in Virginia. The new data, for the first time, show the scope of what has become an embarrassing episode for vaunted Dover Air Base, the main port of entry for America’s war dead.

The landfill disposals were never formally authorized under military policies or regulations. They also were not disclosed to senior Pentagon officials who conducted a high-level review of cremation policies at the Dover mortuary in 2008, records show.

Air Force and Pentagon officials said last month that determining how many remains went to the landfill would require searching through the records of more than 6,300 troops whose remains have passed through the mortuary since 2001.  [Washington Post]

You can read more at the link but there is probably many more remains that have been dumped in the landfill which is just wrong.  The Air Force contracted the disposal of the remains to a private company that was dumping them into the landfill.  According to the article it really wasn’t the contract company’s fault for dumping the remains since they didn’t get any direction from the government on what they dumping.  With something as sensitive as disposing of servicemember’s remains you would think somebody in the Air Force would have ensured this remained a strictly government run operation and would make sure that the remains didn’t end up in the garbage.  Since 2008 the Air Force has handled the remains and disposed of them by burial at sea which is more dignified then being dumped in a landfill.

The Air Force said Friday it is cutting 858 civilian jobs in the Pacific as part of a major restructuring announced earlier this week.

Details of the job cuts were being rolled out Friday, with 601 positions being eliminated at the air wing level and below, as well as 251 headquarters positions, according to officials at Pacific Air Forces and at individual bases in the region.

It was not immediately clear how many employees will receive termination notices as individual bases in the region examined the cuts Friday morning. Some of the positions being cut are currently vacant and bases are choosing to eliminate rather than fill them, PACAF officials said.

On Wednesday, the Air Force announced it is eliminating 9,000 civilian jobs now and another 4,500 in the future as part of an effort to rein in spending. The military services have been scrambling to find savings as the Department of Defense faces about $450 billion in budget cuts over the next 12 years.  [Stars & Stripes]

You can read more at the link but bases in mainland Japan, Okinawa, South Korea, and Guam are going to experience job losses as well as Air Force bases across the US.

Hopefully none of you ROK Heads in Osan or Kunsan lose your jobs due to this latest job cut.

Many families in Japan found themselves packed but with no place to go Friday as military commands waited for orders from higher commands that would begin a planned voluntary evacuation.

With uncertainty over when the military-assisted flights would begin, some families on their own began leaving behind the aftershocks and looming fears of radiation that have plagued Japan since the 9.0-magnitude earthquake struck on March 11.

If I was a service member in Japan, I’d get my family out of there.

White booked plane tickets Wednesday, a day before the military authorized voluntary evacuations. The most difficult part of remaining in Japan, she said, has been the confusion over exactly how much of a threat Yokosuka faces from the radiation coming from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant.

“Then there is also the uncertainty of when we’ll be able to come back,” she said.

There has never been a disaster like this before. Quick answers shouldn’t be expected. A meltdown could happen or a miracle fix. Your guess is as good as mine.

Col. Michael Rothstein, commander of the 35th Fighter Wing, spent about an hour on the radio Friday explaining the voluntary evacuation plan. Rothstein said those wishing to leave need to immediately provide their names through their commands so Misawa can request air support.

“I’ve got to get that list of names and list of numbers,” Rothstein said. “You can’t wait to decide.”

Time is up so what does Colonel Rothstein plan to do with his family?

Rothstein answered several questions from community members, including what the colonel intended to do with his own family.

He said he’s leaning toward keeping his family in Misawa, but planned to sit down with his wife before finalizing his decision.

“I’m not confident that I’m making the right decision,” he said. “That’s as honest as I can be.”

He wants everyone to be decisive, but the Colonel can’t make up his mind. He must have missed the class in leading by example.

I was active duty Navy at the time of several coup attempts in the Philippines, plus another one when I was traveling to  the country and my wife was in Manila at the time. Scary situations make it tough on people but I still wonder about the Colonel

Air Force Maj. Jill Metzger has returned to active duty, more than four years after she mysteriously went missing from a base in Kyrgyzstan.

The former Air Force marathon champion returned to duty on Oct. 12, as the chief of community programs for the Air Force District of Washington at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., according to Air Force spokeswoman Lt. Col. Ann Stefanek.

Metzger became a controversial figure in September of 2006 when she disappeared from Manas Air Base, just days before she was to return home after a four-month deployment. The personnel officer, who said she had been kidnapped from a Bishkek department store, surfaced three days later in a nearby town, her long, blonde hair cut short and dyed brown and her hands stained with dye. She claimed she had escaped from the kidnappers.

But Kyrgyz authorities disputed her story, saying video and witness accounts conflicted with her statements.

Her story made international headlines, and she became the subject of many Internet rumors, with bloggers claiming that she made up her story and that the Air Force was trying to sweep the incident under the rug. [Stars & Stripes]

You can read more at the link.  You can also read my prior posting on Metzger here on what the various rumors are and why the Air Force went into full cover up mode.  What I find interesting about this is that Metzger got three years of retirement pay for disability for PTSD for something that the facts show never happened.  And now the Air Force is allowing her back on active duty.  So of course readers of the Stars & Stripes were not happy about this and the comments section of the S&S article were closed by the editors.

It must be a big secret the Air Force wants covered up to continue to bend over backwards to appease her when most other servicemembers would have received UCMJ and probably gone to jail for such actions.

A group of South Koreans filed an administrative suit Thursday against the Korean defense minister, demanding the cancellation of approval for the construction of a second runway at the U.S. air base in Osan, south of Seoul.

In the suit filed with the Seoul Administrative Court, the plaintiffs — a group of 200 residents of Pyeongtaek who live near Osan Air Base — accused the Korean government of approving the U.S. air base’s runway expansion project without conducting an environmental impact assessment or consulting the local municipal authority or residents.

“It is obvious that the local residents will suffer from even worse noise pollution,” the plaintiffs said in the suit. 

But the defense ministry said the new runway project won’t cause any damage to neighboring residents. 

“The second air strip (at Osan) is to replace the present dilapidated one, so it will not increase flight operations or training time, which could have an impact on local residents,” a ministry spokesman said, noting the construction will continue as scheduled. [YONHAP News]

Do you think locals will be able to stop Osan from building a second runway?

I finally transferred the photos from the CD to the webpage. The photos number over 240 and are on a separate page from the 1952 chronicles. All the photos are in color. The new page is at Robert Evilsizor’s Photos.

The reason these photos are so important is that they can trace the continuity of the area’s history from then (1952) till now. The following photos below span over 60 years. The first photo is from the Robert Evilsizor collection and plainly shows the railspur crossing with Hill 170 (where the Main Gate is now) off in the distance in 1952. Notice that there was no village or shanty town in existence then — only the choga-chip homes of the original farmers. The shanty town of Chicol-ni sprouted up in 1953. The road was carved out from rice paddies and built up with a steep drop off on both sides. Even today, this explains why Shinjang Mall is elevated and all the other markets slope off from it.

Railspur from the Kyongbu Railway that leads to the Bravo Gate area. The road crosses the spur and heads to base. Hill 170 to right. (1952) (Robert Evisizor)

The second photo is from Bob Jones in 1964. The coolies used the area then to wait for business. In the 1960s, there were two forms of cargo delivery in Songtan — pony-drawn carts and coolie laborers. At that time, the coolies carried massive loads on their backs using the Choge (A-frame carrier).

A-Frame Corner at Rail Spur (1964) (Bob Jones)

The next photos are ones I took at different times of the same spot in 2009 with the little clothes shop on the corner. The road next to the railspur was resurfaced (macadam) and theun upgraded to bricks to give the mall a more “attractive” look befitting an “international shopping mall.” Further down, the railspur has been turned into flower gardens.
Shinjang Mall Rail Spur looking North (2009) (Kalani O’Sullivan) — Rail has been inactive for over thirty years, but rail right of way retained as a “contingency.”

Shinjang Mall Rail Spur (29 Mar 2009) (Kalani O’Sullivan)

Rails being “upgraded” to fit image of a Shopping Mall (Sep 2009) (Kalani O’Sullivan)

The second set of photos is of the Main Gate area. The first two photos are from Robert Evilsizor’s 1952 collection. The main gate area was the road and a few choga-chip (mudwattle houses) at the base of Hill 170. The shanties would spread from the “main gate” area out towards Milwal-dong and into the Shinjang-2 dong area in 1953 as many Koreans flocked to Osan-ni AB to seek work. The “main gate” then was nothing more than a box for a ROK Army guard in 1952.

Road from base leading to MSR-1. Notice that no shanties or any buildings have been built yet. The shanty town of Chikol-ni has not started. Notice how the road was built up. To this day, the Shinjang Mall area buildings slope away from the main road. The road continued down between Hobak Hill (left) and Jwadong hill (right) across the Kyongbu railroad where it joined the MSR-1 (Main Supply Route 1) that is now called Tanhyeon Road. (1952) (Robert Evilsizor)

ROK guards along road to base. ROK Army was responsible for the perimeter defense of the base. In 1952, this box structure was the “main gate.” (1952) (Robert Evilsizor)

Outside the Main Gate in Chicol-ni (1958) (Unknown)

Only one road in and out of base. Alleyways opened to the side of the main road to access the market place and living areas of Chicol-ni. USAF and ROKAF security police man the main gate. (1959) (Ed Stirling)

Notice that the road to the Bravo Gate had not been cut yet. This would occur in the late 1970s when the base ceded the land back to the ROK to create the road. The town was still called Chicol-ni, though the businesses called it Songtan. (1964) (Bob Jones)

Road leading to MSR-1 (1965) (Harry Tezlaf)

Main street outside of Main Gate (1974) (Ken Shallenbarger)

Main street to MSR-1 with Hanil Church at end (1977) (Unknown: Courtesy 51st FW Historian)

A new gate shack but nothing else changed. (1988) (Frank Scheirer)

New Main Gate edifice built along with a similar structure at the Doolittle Gate. Big edifice, but the gate shack remained about the same size. In the 1980s, Songtan Eup (district) became Songtan-shi (city) and Chicol-ni faded from memory. In 1992, Songtan City was incorporated into Pyeongtaek City and it reverted downward as a sub-unit of Pyeongtaek City — much to the displeasure of many lifelong Songtan residents. Songtan started being promoted by the national government as a “special tourism zone” to placate the dissent. (2001) (Unknown)

Main Gate (2001) (Curley Knepp) — After 9/11, the ROK National Riot Police were stationed permanently outside the gates primarily for anti-American protest control. In addition, barricades were erected to prevent anyone from “running the gate.” Tire shredders were added so no one could “run the gate” from the exit side. Later, automatic anti-terrorist barricades were installed.

Shinjang Mall closed off to vehicular traffic. (2001) (Curley Knepp)

After 7 pm when the shops start closing, the Shinjang Mall turns into a bar row. (2005) (Unknown)

Shinjang Mall from Main Gate (29 Mar 2009) (Kalani O’Sullivan)

Of the photos, he remarked: “I believe these were taken spring of 66. The rice patties have not been planted yet. … I went to Korea on a passport. I was supposed to go to the ROK with MAG. When I got to Calif. they could not find my passport, so I got delayed 2 days. Was in desk drawer all the time. The position was filled so I ended up at Osan. Everyone who went off base had to be in uniform, but me. Since I was on passport I could go to village in civilian clothes, could come and go anytime for day or night.”

A2c Crowe and A2c Reed Shane

Reed talked about his job assignments. “When I first got there I worked in Comm Center. I guess it burnt down. I was there only a month, then they transfered me to base ops. Guess they couldn’t find anything I could do. Stateside. I was in a radar direction center. We were active air defense for Washington DC. Fort Lee Air Fort Station, Petersburg, Virginia. I was there when Kennedy got shot. We went on alert. Then I got a divorce. She stayed in area. Would call me almost every night about something. I went to personnel said send me somewhere. I got orders for Radio Free Europe in the Azores. That got cancelled. That’s how I ended up in Korea.” Later he wrote, “Since I worked in base ops, knew where every plane was going, I hitched lots of rides to Japan, Philippines (sic) Taiwan, etc.” Later he said, “We would take a C-47 down to Chejudo Island to hunt pheasant. Bring back a bunch and the head cook would cook up a big dinner for all. I worked down by D diamond. Little building on flight line. I made sure all pilots got their AFM66-1 requirements every month.”

At the time, the 8th FW was supporting the nuclear commitment TDY at Osan with its F-105s out of the Diamond area. He stated, “All the F-105′s had no tail markings. That was the time of the nuke exercises.” There were also real-world alerts due to North Korean infiltrations that were increasing at the time. Reed said, “We had several alerts while I was there. Mostly North Korean scare. But one was a AP shot a slicky boy between the fences. He came at the AP with a Iron Bar. The AP shot him. Within 48 hrs his was on his way stateside. We were confined to base about 2 weeks.” As to this situation, the SOFA agreement had been signed in 1963, but the ROK basically gave great latitude to the USFK dealing with some situations. Only if the individual was involved in a capital crime (i.e., rape or murder) would the ROK assert its jurisdiction. In the case of “slickey boys” (thieves who would enter the base to steal anything not nailed down) occurring on the military installation, the local police would usually waive jurisdiction. That the individual would be shipped out of country immediately was common practice to remove the cause for protests. However, in later years activists would claim that the USFK sending of “criminals” out of the country to escape prosecution.

Reed mentioned his barracks as “5-star living conditions.” They were the Korean War vintage barracks with corrugated iron on the outside of tropical plywood interior. “10 men lived on a wing. Had 4 wings (?) centered around a common showed area. Had a 5 gallon fuel oil stove in middle of 10 men barracks. the ones on the end would freeze to death while the ones next to it were hot. Many nights woke up up with snow on blanket.” He said, “In the winter houseboy had to take a blow torch to water pipes almost every morning so we could shower and shave.” He continued, “Summer had to have netting over bed or else you got carried away by the bugs. Woke up one night with slickey boy trying to steal things out of barracks.” “On base there were big open ditches that was for surface water. Ran dry most of year, except when rains came in.”

(top) Reed Shane and Larry Glass in barracks (bottom) Houseboy Chong Suwon

He mentioned that his houseboy was named Chong Su Won. He stated, “He was a good guy. Hard worker. Meet his family several times.” Reed later mentioned, “I was trying to think where the houseboy lived. Seems when you came out main gate you turned right, but don’t know how far.” This area would have been the Milwal area where the North Korean refugees clustered. His houseboy was most likely his houseboy was a North Korean refugee — as were many employees on the base.

Those were the days of powdered milk and powdered eggs. However, Reed mentioned that “Once a month the airmen club would get fresh eggs. So on Sunday morning everyone goes to club for breakfast.” The beer situation in 1966 was rather limited in selection. Reed commented, “When I was there the airmens club had one beer. Carling Black Label. Then off base had OB and Crown. I still Have a OB Mug.”

In 1966, there was an open house on base for the local community. It was nothing to speak of as far as aircraft displays, but the local populace enjoyed it. The F-105 was from the 8th FBW, while the C-54 and L-20 were part of the Osan Base Flight.  The L-20 was used for the “desk-pilots” so they could maintain their flight time.  In addition to the static displays, there was a Taekwon-do exhibition on base. At that time, Taekwondo was taught on base in a building near the Civil Engineering compound.

Hill 170 with the Kyongbu Railroad in the distance (telephone poles)

The areas around the base were still mostly undeveloped and remained mostly rice fields. In the photo above from Hill 170 looking east, one can see the Kyongbu Railroad (then only two tracks) running north-south with electric poles along the tracks. This shot from Hill 170 near the main gate area. Notice how the base perimeter was only marked with a few strands of barbed wire — if there was any at all — and in ths case, someone is using it as a clothes line.

Main Gate with new construction to the left

In 1966, there was some new construction at the gate area. Looking east towards Chicol Village (Songtan), to the left was a new building just outside the main gate boundary. The building is where the Namsanteo Road runs today. Inside the gate, a new Pass and ID building along with a new Base Procurement section was built. Directly outside the gate was Chicol Village, though the tailor shops used the name “Songtan” on their labels. The name Chicol Village would last until the mid-1970s when it faded away.

The hill was still in place outside of the Main Gate. The hill was where the Thrift Shop is on base and stretched off-base and sloped down to Aragon Alley. The construction along Aragon Alley cut into the side of this hill. The Aragon Alley terminated in rice fields and there was a path where Hoback Road is now that meandered through the rice paddies until it got to Namsan-teo.

MSR-1 looking towards Osan-ni (north)

“Y” intersection with police box (SITE NOTE: The Songtan police substation is still located in the same area.)

Songtan Bus Depot across from the “Y” intersection on MSR-1

If one went out the Shinjang road — which at that time was dirt — and followed it across the Kyongbu Railroad tracks — one would come to a “Y” intersection where it joined MSR-1 (Main Supply Route 1). The police station was located to the left of the intersection in approximately the same location as it is now. Across the street from the “Y” intersection was the Songtan Bus Depot. If one turned right heading north to Osan, one would soon be past the buildings. It appears at the time, the hill descending north towards Osan-ni (now Osan City) was called “Hot Breath Hill.”

To the east, the civilian construction did NOT extend very far. It only extended a short distance east as the rice fields had not been filled in yet. Everything was rice fields. Thus if one were down near the Shangri-la Hotel of Songtan is located now, one would have an unobstructed view all the way to Songbuk Elementary School in the distance. Looking east, to the left would be the villages of Mite-Konjini and Are-Konjini at the base of the hills to the left with Burak-san mountain to the right.

Notice the Korean vehicles on the road resembling the American Jeep. During this period, Korea was entering into the automotive industry. Sinjin (under license to Toyota) started in 1960 and would become Daewoo Motors. The Kyeong Precision Industry manufactured Mazda autos in 1962 and would become Kia Motors. Ha Donghwan Auto Industry started in 1962 also and became Ssangyong Motors. Saenara Automobile starte in 1962 under license to Nissan Motors. In 1965, Asia Motors was founded and in 1968 Hyundai Motors began in cooperation with Ford Motors. The Korea vehicles were of two varieties: (1) Japanese sedan rip-offs with boxy styles and (2) versions of the American Jeep popular with the government and military. We believe the autos in these pictures are variations of the “Sibal” (new start) that first came out in 1955 but was popular because it was cheap and durable. The only color that was available was black for practical reasons as most roads in the country were still dirt.

If one turned right at “Y” intersection, one would follow MSR-1 as it went over Jwadong Hill and then ran parallel with the railroad tracks until it reached Seojong-ni Station. Then the MSR-1 continued on to Pyeongtaek then Taejon. There were only a smattering of small clusters of farm houses in this area as most of the land was rice fields.

Another A shot of the main road looking east towards MSR-1. The banner that is strung across the road reads: “Oppose Reduction in Force.” During this period, the Vietnam War was heating up and money was being diverted to fund the effort. As a result, cutbacks worldwide were being felt.  To the left is the Hankook Stone Carving Shop with the Dong Heung Sa next door. The next shop is GQ Tailor that was owned by Oh Sung-soo, the present owner of the Victoria Hotel.Main street of Chicol Village just outside the Main Gate:  To the right is a pawn shop and jacket shop. The jacket shop, Chongang Sang Hwi, was owned by Yu Sang-yol, the father of the owner of present day Yu’s Furniture. To the left is a Korean bookstore, Sung Kwank Book Store, that was owned by Kim Hong-suk, the father of the present day Ebenezer’s Jewelry .

(Top) Yu Kong-su, owner, Yu’s Furniture. His father, Yu Sang-yol, owned the jacket shop from 1959-1974. They then rented out the location. Between 1981-1986, a son, Yu Kon-p ran Yu’s Furniture. From 1986-present, Yu Kon-sung has run the business. (Bottom) Kim Sung-eun, owner, Ebenezer’s Jewelry. The business has been changed over the years. The father of the present day owner, Kim Hung-suk, started the Seong Kwang Book Store in 1961. After his death, his wife, Choi Hong-ryun, with young children to raise, carried on as the Seong Kwang Bag Shop, then Seong Kwang Blanket Shop and finally the Ebenezer Jewelry Store — though the shop sign still says in hangul “Seong Kwang Sa.” Now the son, Kim Sung-eun, operates Ebenezer Jewelers from the same location.

(Top) Helper in the Oh Tailor Shop (Bottom) Mr. Oh fitting Reed Shane for an overcoat (SITE NOTE: This shop is no longer in opperation.)

He took some pics of Esquire Oh’s tailor shop and stated that he still had the garments. The photos are of the Esquire Oh’s Tailor shop run by a Mr. Oh who reportedly died in 1992 of cancer. The tailor shop is no longer in business. Reed stated, “I still have 3 sport coats he made for me. Good quality. The one one the right is his helper. I do not remimber his name.” The tailor shop was to the right as one left the base. Reed noted the address on the label of his jacket: “Esquire Oh’s, PO box 4, Song Tan Korea Tel 218.” This shows that though the people still referred to the village as “Chicol-ni (village)”, it was being referred to by merchants as Songtan already. Another fact is the scarcity of telephones at the time. Telephones were considered “luxury” items and expensive — many were on party lines — because the country lacked the infrastructure — especially in rural areas. These conditions persisted up until the 1980s when the Miracle of the Han occurred.

Crazy Mary in front of OB Beer Hall (SITE NOTE: The OB Beer Hall is now the “Katz Bar” and the alley is alongside the Arcade.)

Reed commented on the legendary “Crazy Mary.” He stated that “She would beg for money, but if you did not give any she would hit you with that stick.” She is standing at the entrance to the alley along what is now Shinjang Mall (Mike’s Arcade) that leads up to the main street. At that time, the OB Beer Hall was on the left and note how the Americans were in uniform to go off-base. The wear of the uniform off-base was mandatory. The small “tambae” (cigarette) stand to the right is well-remembered by people who grew up in Songtan. At the time, the alley went up and then meandered through small alleyways. The road leading to the Main Gate was not built until the 1978 when the dirt road leading up Milwal was widened. Until then, the area was criss-crossed with little alleyways and at night the area was the Korean drinking area of small makeoli bars. The main alleyways went right and down to where the Asia Hotel is and connected to what became the Shinjang-2 dong area. Along this alleyway, there was a jog to the left that went to the old marketplace and the Sambo Theatre. Korean people relate stories of eluding the police during the curfew hours — that were in effect during that time — by hiding out in the alleyways.

Sambo Theater (SITE NOTE: Location of the present Baptist Mission.)

Alley from the main road leading to the Sambo Theater. Note the vertical sign on the electric pole to the left of the alleyway advertises “Kukje Yongau Hagwon Ipku” (English Academy). To the left is a fishing shop. Straight down the alley is the Sambo Theater.

Mission Baptist Church (Aug 2009)

There was the Sambo Theater located where the Baptist Mission is today. Reed stated, “Went to movie with girl friend in the movie theater.Saw a big rat walk across the stage then up the aisle. Life for the Koreans at that time was very hard. All were very poor. … While I was there, the people were really nice, had no problems with them..All were very humble. I think a OB beer was about $.05. My girl would get things from the market and fix to eat. Some of it was real good.”

Reed provided two photos of the Songbuk Elementary School — the first school in Songtan built in 1955. (1) The first is the school as seen from MSR-1 across the wide expanse of rice fields and (2) the second is from the hills behind the school (Buraksan). The school buildings are seen as two long buildings that are perpendicular to each other. Though the buildings are long gone, the new buildings are built on the same locations — and are perpendicular to each other as well.

(Top) Songbuk Elementary School from MSR-1 (SITE NOTE:  The town was not very big in 1966 this is taken from near where the Central Baptist Church is located on Taehyeon Road.)  (Bottom) Songbuk Elementary School from hill behind the school (Buraksan Mountain) — The school is to the right of the picture as two long buildings perpendicular to each other.  (SITE NOTE: To the left of the picture is the village of Mite Konjini which is approximately in the location of the present Dongbu Apartments.)

(Top) Songbuk Elementary School (1969) This is the school that Reed saw. (Bottom) Songbuk Elementary School (Aug 2009) (SITE NOTE: The two buildings in top photo have been replaced by more modern four story school structures based on the traditional design — hallway with classrooms opening onto the hallway.  The school grounds are used by the surrounding apartment complexes as a community exercise area when the school is closed.)

Reed relates taking a hike in Buraksan mountain.  Where the Jisan Elementary School is now, there was a large swampy area and rice fields.  This swamp area was not drained and filled until the late 1980s when Route 1 cut through the area and all the apartment complexes were built along the area and the new city hall was built for the then-Songtan City.  To get to Buraksan, one would either (1) go south on MSR-1 until near the kilns of what is the area of Tourism Road leading to where the Songtan City Hall (Pyeongtaek City Hall branch) is now is located. Then one could climb Buraksan mountain. (2)  One could go down from Hill 170 through Milwal and Shinchang until near the kiln area and enter Buraksan.  Remember that at that time, there was not many trees on the hillsides nor many buildings — besides isolated farmer (choga chip) villages.  The area was very open.

(Top) Graves in Buraksan Mountain (Bottom) fields in Buraksan used for vegetables

(Top and Bottom) Hills in Buraksan area

While hiking some of the hills in Buraksan, Reed remembers coming across some graves. He commented, “If I remember right those graves were up in the mountains …. I remember there were no trees any tall than I was at the time. What, eight the Japan took all or was turned into heat and cooking products.” Actually the truth is the area was stripped of all its wood by the people — not the Japanese. In fact, in 1932 the Japanese started a reforestation project for Korea in Suwon — one of the few successful projects during the colonial period. The area was once covered in pine trees — and the name Songtan comes from “pine charcoal” that the area provided to Seoul in the Chosun Dynasty. By the 1960s, all the hills were barren and reforestation projects were restarted during this time with trees planted in rows, but were not more than 5 feet tall at the time.

Reed also provided some photos of the off-base area to the south that we had not seen before.  Some of his photos were of the area that is to the south of the Milwal, Jeokbyong-ni and Sagori areas.  This area was known at the time as “Shinchang” and is the low lying area that now leads up to the AFOC gate. It appears that he hiked up the small hills that are in the area capturing the rice fields at the time. Some show that outside of the confines immediately surrounding the base, there was very little construction.

From the Shinchang area looking towards Osan AB and Sagori. One can see the Jaeil Church at the top of the hill before the new Church was built in 1968.

The hills to the left are Jwadong and it drops into the rice fields that are now Shinjang-2 dong. On the other side of Shinjang 2-dong, one can see the Kyongbu Railroad to Seojong-ni. MSR-1 follows the railroad tracks.

Shinchang area (2009)

Shinchang area (2009)

Shinchang area (2009) Jaeil Church seen from Shinchang area

Shinchang area (2009) Mustang Village on Osan AB as seen from Shinchang area (2009)

Sagori area — Jaeil Church (2009)

Shinchang area (2009) Pine Tree atop hill in Shinchang area — Notice pine trees in Reed Shane’s photos of the hilltop view looking towards base

Shinchang area (2009) Looking east towards railroad tracks from Shinchang area (2009)

“We took several trips to some historical places but I cannot find any pix. Also went to DMZ couple times. People stateside do not relize that that is still a war zone. There has never been a treaty signed.” “When I was ready to rotate I bought each of my neice a large doll dressed in the old Korean attire. They to this day still have them. They were in a glass case. Were Very pretty.”