For the past 35 years, DHL has transformed hospitality on base, offering comfort, familiarity, and a place where countless memories were made.

At Yongsan Legacy, we’ve spent years collecting personal stories that reflect the history and spirit of Yongsan. Throughout this journey, the Dragon Hill Lodge has often served as a key backdrop—a stage where friendships were formed, milestones celebrated, and everyday life unfolded. It is not just a building—it’s a living symbol of the people, experiences, and relationships that have shaped the Yongsan Garrison community over the past century.

DHL has always had a kind of magic—a way of making everyone feel at home. To celebrate its 35th birthday, we’ll be sharing a series of personal stories and memories throughout the month of August, highlighting DHL’s unique place in the hearts of those who lived, worked, or visited Yongsan Garrison.

We Want to Hear From You!

We invite you to be part of this celebration. If you have a story, photo, or memory tied to the Dragon Hill Lodge, please share it with us! You can email us at yongsanlegacy@gmail.com or simply reply to this post. Let’s keep the spirit of DHL alive by passing on these stories to the next generation.

Save the Date!

DHL will host a special 35th anniversary celebration on September 12, 2025, at the Oasis Courtyard. Visit dragonhilllodge.com for more event details.

Help us spread the word—share this post with your friends and loved ones, and let’s honor the legacy of Dragon Hill Lodge together.

We would love to hear from you!!!

When you share your memories from Yongsan Garrison, we feel like this is a live community, not just an archive. We would love to have you share your old photos, question, looking for a pal… anything goes on this post. We had anything from a pair of garden chairs to rodeo on Yongsan Garrison. More random the better. We’re counting on YOU!

We’re attaching screen shots from our “legacy” website. We wanted to keep the authenticity of the thread so we didn’t bother re-type them. Please bare in mind that reading each thread may cause eye strain. ;) But they really enjoyable to read. Enjoy!

When i was drafted and stationed in SAC (Seoul Area Command) Yongsan Garrison in 1958 and 1959. I worked as Open Mess Administration Officer.

About once a week we went to K-14 Kimpo Airport to pick up meats from Japan off a C-124 Globemaster aircraft. These meats included T Bone, Rib Eye Steaks and Chicken. After they loaded up the big Toyota stake truck we went to SP 10 where Veterinarians inspected all the meat before any GI’s ate it at various Clubs.

Once during a trip to SP 10 the rear dual wheels fell into a recent water main construction project. I think we had about $ 3,600 worth of meats on the truck. This was in Young Deung Po ( I know this is not correct spelling). That area was a pretty rough district back then. The laborers seemed very scared as they knew what was in the boxes and they could have been robbed very quickly. Of course the locals could not read the labels. So they were safe.

I ran to SP 10 ( no cell phone in 1958 ) and they sent out a fork lift to get the truck back upright. Back to the Club staffing. I think in all the Clubs there were over 300 Korean ladies working as waitresses!

The story was published in Nov. 2020 on www.yongsanlegacy.org

We’ve been slowly but surely reposting and organizing materials we have gathered since 2015 on Yongsan Garrison. As we’re all volunteering our own time and resources, we struggle to find time; however, we always find inspirations and encouragements from the articles you submit to us.

If you find yourself enjoying reading the articles on Yongsan Legacy, we encourage you to sit down and write your story however short or mundane it may be. Your story will serve as a source of inspiration for the Yongsan Legacy community and future generations.

To celebrate Chuseok, Yongsan Legacy team would like to dedicate this month’s newsletter to three stories related to Chuseok. These articles embody the spirit of Chuseok transcending both time and space: remembering, sharing, and giving thanks.

A Miracle of Chuseok 2018

In 2018, Mr. Nam Sangso shared the story of an Englishman he had worked with at Yongsan Garrison, writing it as a tribute to his late friend. In addition to this, he visited the man’s grave at Yanghwajin Foreign Missionary Cemetery - it is a tradition to visit your ancestors’ grave during Chuseok and to honor ancestors.

In an incredible twist, a year after the article was published, Gifford Cheesman’s daughter found it online, allowing her to connect with the father she never met.

Call it a fate or a miracle, this story shows just how a simple act of remembering someone can, not only honor the past, but also create meaningful connections for others, even across time. more

Photo of Yanghwajin Cemetery where Gilford Cheesman is buried. Mr. Nam Sangso visited on the Chuseok of 2018. Photo Credit: Yanghwajin Cemetary ( yanghwajin.net/)

Cultural Exchange or Cultural Conversion?

John Blom served as a principal at Seoul American Elementary School from 1991-1999. His teaching career at Yongsan Garrison began in 1974 when he joined DoDEA to teach elementary school kids. He remembers running the Host Nation Program which he believed and encouraged students to participate through his service at SAES.

He would take students to Seorak Mountain and Korean restaurants nearby Yongsan Garrison. And he remembered trying on hanbok and serving Korean food to 40 homerooms to learn about Chuseok. However, his passion and commitment of Host Nation Program seldom met with skepticisms from the parents… more

John Blom standing next to a dolphin statue in front of Seoul American Elementary School, where he used to be principal. Courtesy: Yongsan Legacy

My “Ironic” Chuseok Celebration

Marsha Altvater visited Korea for the first time since she left Korea in 1965 when she was 8 years old. She recalled her visit on Chuseok day “ironic” since she’s revisiting her hometown to remember and rediscover her childhood on the day when Koreans visit their ancestors’ graves.

She discovered how the city has completely changed, and yet, there were pieces of her youth in spots and corners around Samgakji area. She was able to re-encounter many of her forgotten childhood memories, and more importantly, she felt the presence of her family and relatives… more

Marsha with Yongsan Legacy Team members in front of the photo studio in Samgakji where Marsha took the last photo before leaving Korea. September 2018. Photo by Hein Hwang

Do you remember your Chuseok in Korea? Do you remember someone particular? Share your story on Yongsan Legacy.

If you want to submit your story as a part of this edition, please email your story to yongsanlegacy@gmail.com. We are looking for stories from different decades from the 50s all the way up to recent memories of now mostly closed and emptied Yongsan Garrison. No matter what year, your stories and memories of Yongsan Garrison are important and valuable.

And don’t forget to share this post with your friends or colleagues or family to spread the word.

We look forward to hearing from you. Thank you!

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When I returned to Yongsan, Koreans were celebrating Chuseok. I found it ironic. My return to Korea coinciding with the celebration of Koreans returning to their hometowns to pay respects to their ancestors. Like other Koreans, I had returned to my ancestral home, Yongsan. In my own personal way I paid homage to my Korean ancestors, too. Although I did not know where my Korean family was, I felt their presence throughout my visit. I was reminded of them as I explored and toured inside and outside of the gates of Yongsan Garrison. As I toured and traveled, I encountered many long forgotten memories from my Korean childhood.

At Seoul’s Namsan Tower, looking across the horizon, it dawned on me the vastness of the city. I had lived in a very small part of Seoul. In my child’s mind, I thought Yongsan was such a large area, in reality it was just a tiny fragment of Seoul. For some reason I don’t remember Seoul being surrounded by mountains and being very hilly. I found that to be odd.

As I toured, flashes of forgotten memories surfaced. Arriving in Seoul, the first familiar landmark I encountered was the Han River. As I crossed over it, I was taken aback. I saw the changes along both sides of its shores and what a substantial change! In the early to mid-1960’s, there were very little buildings, homes, stores, and other structures near it. When I thought of the Han River, I pictured its rocky and sandy shore covered with blankets of people picnicking. In its water, people were wading or swimming to escape the heat of summer. Long ago, there was a tall wooden swing on its bank that was near where I lived. I remember lining up with the women and other children to swing on it.

During my stay, I visited many attractions and did many things. More often than not, I felt like any other foreign tourist. However, there were times a flash of a memory surfaced. While at the Korean Folk Village, I saw the children standing up and swinging at the playground. I scoped out the playground throughout the day. Not to embarrass myself, I waited for it to be clear. As I was standing and swinging, I traveled back in time. I was a child again swinging by the Han River, feeling the breeze against my face, trying to get as high as the metal bridge that crossed it.

At the gardens at Wolmi Park in Inchon, I had another flashback. Outside of a courtyard of a hanok was the Korean version of a seesaw. I explained to my husband the concept. Again I got the chance to experience something from my Korean childhood.

These two simple Korean childhood activities from many years ago were so joyous to experience again.

My last day in Korea was on Chuseok. I met with Coco Cugat, Daniel Oh, Suyeon Yun, and Hein Hwang from Yongsan Legacy. The group took me to see remnants of houses from my old neighborhood. They help me locate the photography studio where many of my childhood pictures were taken. Using a couch in the background of an old photo of me, Coco was able to verify later that it was where the picture was taken, just as I remembered.

That was amazing. With my husband and new friends, I was able to have one of the best moments of my trip. Eating a real Korean meal with everyone was so wonderful. However, the best part of the meal was the grilled mackerel. I haven’t had grilled mackerel or any other in-bone-fish since I left Korea. As I was trying to eat the fish, I had a flashback of my grandmother teaching me how to remove the bones. Without a second thought, I did it in a single stroke. I took the moment as my grandmother was still with me and guiding me along.

Finally, Suyeon Yun helped me find one of the missing pieces I have been searching for. I remembered that my mother had taken me to a palace and a zoo next to that palace. Everywhere I searched and everyone I asked never knew what I was talking about. Suyeon told me it was Changdeokgung Palace. After parting from the Yongsan Legacy group, I went to the palace. Since it was a holiday, you saw many families across generations together. While I wasn’t physically with my grandmother and mother, they were still with me. Remembering that it was my mother who first brought me here, I felt closeness to her that I haven’t felt in a very long time. As I walked around its grounds, I thought how very appropriate that my last stop in Seoul was here on Chuseok.

By Marsha Altvater

An article by Kyung Lee

When he first came to Korea in 1973 to teach fourth and fifth graders at Pusan (Busan) American School, John Blom wasted no time familiarizing himself with Korea's culture, language and food. Having ventured into "dabang" (tea houses) and tasted "sundubu jjigae" (soft tofu stew) with "makgeolli" (traditional rice wine) as part of his own extracurricular activities, Blom's interest in Korea also meant helping his own students adapt to the country's norms under Pusan American's Host Nation Program.

The following year, Blom transferred to Seoul American Elementary School (SAES), another school operated by the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), this one located on U.S. Army Garrison (USAG) Yongsan. And while a teacher there until 1978, he continued to encourage his student body to experience Korea to the fullest ― whether within school grounds or beyond the garrison's walls.

"Three of us (teachers) frequently chose to eat at restaurants in Seoul, and as a result, we wrote a restaurant and field trip guide to be used by the teachers and parents," he said.

Though he would have liked to remember some of the restaurants they explored, Blom added there was a high turnover of businesses back then, not too different from nowadays.

Also encouraging long-distance field trips as part of "getting out" into the Korean community, Blom and his Host Nation staff would take their students to sites like the National Museum of Korea, Seoraksan National Park and the Korean Folk Village in Icheon to appreciate its displays of traditional architecture, arts, clothing and agriculture.

"Other favorites were to attend temples, particularly on Buddha's Birthday; all the lanterns were a spectacular visual delight," he said. "This allowed our students to see Koreans reverently entering and praying in the temple."

Taking advantage of introducing a wide array of cultural programs as a teacher, assistant principal (1983-1985) and principal (1991-1999) at SAES, the Host Nation curriculum under Blom even taught students in first through fourth grade Korean vocabulary words, while fifth and sixth graders learned conversation.

However, not all programs were accepted by some parents who mistook cultural immersion for conversion.

"I remember one time, our (Host Nation) culture teacher in the first and second grades showed a film of Buddhism and that raised concern on the part of a few Christian parents," he said. "The parents thought the teacher was promulgating Buddhism and that was not the case. If you're going to live in this country, you need to know about the culture."

Inviting traditional Korean practices to be oriented in the classrooms, Blom also welcomed Korean mothers of students dressed in hanbok during Chuseok, an annual harvest festival and national holiday in Korea, with a buffet of Korean food prepared to serve more than 40 homerooms, as well as hosting professional Korean buk drummers to provide weekly after-school lessons ― events and programs that were accepted by students and parents with little to no objections.

In addition to the regular classroom curriculum, Blom said he took pride in the active spirit he instilled in his students under SAES' Host Nation Program, which also represented the pride of being an SAES Dolphin ― a mascot selected by the student body in his time as assistant principal.

Prior to attending the closing ceremony of the school's final year in early June ― including for Seoul American Middle High School (SAMH) and Seoul American High School (SAHS) ― Blom took a final tour through SAES, noticing that many of the building's artifacts like the Dolphin plaque had already been stripped away from their original placements.

"An empty shell of what it used to be," he said with a sigh echoing through the near-hollow hallways.

Now furnished with only a checkout desk overlooking modern sofa arrangements, Blom recalled his mission as principal to streamline the library ― by opening up spaces for reading and storytelling ― and a simplified checkout process before the installation of computers.

"A lot of work needed to be done to the library," he said. "I was most impressed that these teachers voluntarily gave a free Saturday to come to work at school to create a more pleasant and functional center. I had ordered pizzas to eat at break time as a reward," he said.

In between his teaching and administrative careers at SAES, Blom also taught at Yokota Air Base in Western Tokyo (1978-1983) and was assigned as principal at Osan American Elementary School (OAES) (1985-1991) and Darmstadt in Germany from 1999 until his retirement in 2001. In his final year at SAES, Blom was presented with a Dolphin statue by the Parent-Teacher Organization, with a tree also planted in his honor by his sixth-grade students.

"Sadly, the tree died from a lack of watering, I heard," he said. Kyung Lee is a writer and researcher recording the U.S. military's history in Korea. Visit yongsanlegacy.org to read more about the history of Seoul's disappearing U.S. garrison or to contribute your own memories.

Also published in the Korea Times by Kyung Lee: http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2019/07/177_272298.html

Gifford Cheesman, a native of England, first came to Korea with his father in 1931. He was 23 years old. His father was a gold miner in the current North Korea. Gifford joined Seoul Club as a founding member, then returned to England. And came back to Korea after the Korean War was over and received the Alien Registration Card #1.

He joined Trans-Asia Engineering Associates, Inc. in mid 1960s as an administrator when the American architect/engineering firm was located in the Building 1510 in the Main Post, U.S. Army Yongsan Garrison. Gifford had a daughter who went to the United States with her mother when she was a teenager some time in 1971. And somehow Gifford has lost contact with his wife and daughter.

The British gentleman, who was a good friend of Mr. Kyu Lee, the last prince of Korea, and mine, died in February 1985 at the age 77. He was buried at Yanghwajin Foreign Missionary Cemetery, Seoul. We were unable to contact his family.

On Chuseok Day in 2018, I placed a bouquet of flower at his tomb stone, and posted an article “Gifford Cheesman at Building 1510, Yongsan Garrison” on the yongsanlegacy.org.  And in July 2019, I received an email from a woman named Daphne Cheesman.  Here are some of our emails we have exchanged which have been consolidated and rearranged in order to protect Cheesman’s privacy.

Dear Sir,

My name is Daphne Cheesman. I googled my father and came across an article about my father on yongsanlegacy.org. I would very much like to communicate with you.   Sincerely, Daphne.

In the emails that followed, she said: “I lived in New York City for 15 years before I moved to Los Angeles in 1987. This truly is a miracle I was able to contact you…”.

Daphne has written several more emails to me telling about the stories of her mother and relatives including some of the family photos (I skip them here as they appear to be private)

This was one of my replies to Ms. Daphne Cheesman in a digest version;

Dear Daphne,

“Today I brought a small pot of flower and placed by the gave stone of your father. And, spoke to him that I’m being connected with your daughter Daphne. Your daughter is well and looking after her elder mother, your wife, in Los Angeles. And as you can guess, Daphne and her mother miss you.”

In another email;

Dear Daphne,

A year ago, I visited the same granite stone and I thought it’s good time to visit him again. The cemetery was quiet and the July rain started to sprinkling on my way home. I just wanted to let you and your mother know.    Nam, Seoul, July 11

Then she replied;

Dear Nam,

My mother and I are so grateful that you have visited my fathers’ grave and placed a flower pot. We are so happy.  Thank you, thank you, you are wonderful, Nam.  …. By the way, my mother was so grateful towards my father, when the Korean War broke out, he came and picked her up and went to a Korean port to board a Greek ship set to sail to Japan. That’s where I was born and came back to Korea when I was 10 years old. We certainly have a fascinating story to tell, it should be made into a movie.  Daphne. 12 July

So, that’s how she has got a Greek name Daphne, a minor figure in Greek mythology of Apollo and Daphne.

The writer, Mr. Nam Sangso, (sangsonam@gmail.com) had served as an architect/engineer for the U.S. Army Yongsan Garrison, K-6 (Camp Humphreys) and other U.S. Military Camps in Korea for 25 years.  

Gifford Cheesman, a native of Surrey, England, first came to Korea with his father in 1931. He was 23 years old. His father was a gold miner in the current North Korea. Gifford joined Seoul Club in 1932 as a founding member, then returned to England. And came back to Korea after the Korean War was over and received the Foreign Registration Card of South Korea. His ID card showed the Korea’s Serial Number #1.  He was an eager member of the Masonic Lodge.

He joined Trans-Asia Engineering Associates, Inc. in mid 1960s as an administrator when the American architect/engineering firm was located in the Building 1510 in the Main Post, U.S. Army Yongsan Garrison.

Being a typical British gentleman, Cheesman spoke accented British English. He uttered often “jolly” for very good or great, but didn’t say “bloody.”  He was a man of courteous, decent and fair, and took pride in his British sense of humor. An umbrella was often seen standing against the wall of his office.

As his desk was next to mine and architect Kyu Lee (the last prince of Korea who was born and grown in Japan) we have had good times conversing each different stories and cultures of the United Kingdom, Japan and Korea.   The English people arriving in Seoul sought to meet Cheesman first as he was an easy dictionary of Korean cultures for the new comers.  High ranking U.S. and U.N. Officers at Yongsan Garrison had too enjoyed to meet with Cheesman as he knew so many things of not only South Korea but also North Korea as he had been in the mineral rich northern Korea while his father was looking for gold deposits there.

Having had a gold miner father, Gifford too had kept a dream of finding a bonanza one day. While I was assigned at the Trans-Asia’s Saigon office in 1965 ~ 68, Gifford was persuaded, more like deceived, by some Korean gold diggers that there is an abandoned gold mine by Japanese in Seongwhan village some 20 km south of K-6/Camp Humphrey. The old mine was called Yulgeum (Chestnut) Gold Mine. Cheesman thought his dream of becoming rich by hitting a vein of chestnut size gold has finally arrived and persuaded the directors of Trans-Asia Engineers to finance his newly establish company, Yulgeum Mining Company. Cheesman believed that Japanese gold diggers had to return home in the middle of the tunnel digging, just before reaching the vein, when Japan surrendered the Pacific War.

When I returned to Seoul from Saigon in October 1968, the CEO of Trans-Asia Engineers asked me to check on Cheesman’s gold mine venture as the engineering company’s small safe is showing the bottom as the cash continuously flows into just the tunnel digging, without any trace of gold.  I didn’t like the name of Chestnut Gold Mine which smelled fraudulent. I quickly researched at the libraries on the gold mine business Japanese had left in Korea.  My conclusion was that there was almost no chance of meeting gold vein in South Korea although there had been several gold mines attempted by Japanese.

Crude oil, coal or nonmetallic minerals from the earth are fully consumed and do not leave much wastes on the surface. In the case of gold digging, the grade is an average of one gram per ton of ore body provided if one hits the seam of the gold ore. Yulgeum mine was a hard rock, encased in quartz vein, and it must be extracted from the rock rather than picking up fragments in loose sediment like a placer mining does.

Cheesman, poorly dressed, was staying in a shack he built near the entrance to the tunnel holding a magnifying glass checking every batch of broken rocks out of the tunnel.  The diggers are paid by hourly rate, and relying on their guessing work to determine the direction of the tunneling was too risky, I noticed immediately. I reported to the board that the wandering about in the dark tunnel must be stopped now, and the CEO accepted my recommendation.  But Cheesman insisted that the company had already spent a huge amount of money and demanded to continue to dig. He believed chestnut sized golds must be there, somewhere, to be found.

I pointed out this is just like the Concorde fallacy, and I strongly insisted to stop digging. It was decided to stop digging but still some company officers couldn’t abandon lingering attachment to a bonanza dream.

In the field, I locked the pithead with an iron gate and fired everyone. Then mobilized bulldozer and graded acres of gentle hills, and planted pear saplings (Seongwhan county is famous for farming fine pears)

In the dimly lit tunnel surrounded by rocks I was hopeless. But now I could see the saplings grow well under the bright sunlight. Years later when the land had successfully become as an orchard, Trans-Asia Engineers sold, as I suggested, the pear orchard along with the gold mine license and has recovered not only the money poured into the tunnel but with a bonanza of profit. Pear above ground was better than chestnut size gold in the ground.

Some 50 years of the time have passed. On the occasion of Chuseok Day last week, I went to Cheesman’s grave, plot H-19, at Yanghwajin Foreign Missionary Cemetery in Seoul. Gifford Cheesman died in February 1985 at the age of 77.

“My dear Mr. Cheesman, do you still believe we should have continued digging toward the chestnut size golds hiding somewhere in the tunnel? Actually, I can’t tell who was right, you or I,” I mumbled holding the gold digger’s grave stone which has "So mote it be" been engraved.

Your good friend, Nam Sang-so (sangsonam@gmail.com), September 2018

The building P4468 is one of many houses built for Japanese officer’s families early 1900’s by the Japanese Army. All Japanese-era buildings used bricks for walls and timber for roof structure. The bricks were made in the brick factory located inside the Japanese Army base in Yongsan.

A Recorded Interview by Yongsan Legacy:

“I really appreciate the work you Yongsan Legacy are doing in capturing the historical and human stories surrounding Yongsan Army Garrison. To me Yongsan has always been more than an Army Base but also about all the people that passed through Yongsan or that have had the chance to visit or live on Yongsan.” Alex Temporado, Fire Chief, Yongsan Garrison Fire Station.

As Pat and Tim Mitchell might have told you my name is Alex Temporado and I was assigned to Yongsan as the Fire Chief from March 2003 thru October 2015. I lived right on Yongsan in the Itaewon Acres Housing Division. During 2010 our Garrison Commander, the Col Huber, asked if we had a Fire Station Dalmatian Mascot. I told Col Huber that we had an older Dalmatian Sparky but that Sparky was already 8-years-old when it came to Yongsan and not good with children. Dalmatians are known to be very protective, since Dalmatians were originally breed to protect horse driven coaches in Europe.

As a group, our firefighters and leaders realized that we would have to find a puppy Dalmatian that would be raised around children and adults and would be people orientated. Thus, began our quest to find a puppy Dalmatian that was around 2-months-old and weaned from its mother. Our search went from Seoul puppy mills to one of our firefighters that found a person online selling 2-month-old Dalmatian puppies just north of Gunsan City. In order to get the pick of the litter, I and Assistant Fire Chief, Mr. Choe, left early on a June 2010 morning. We arrived near Seocheon and soon found the person selling the Dalmatians. The person selling the puppy Dalmatians was not a puppy mill person but raised Dalmatians as a love for the breed. I asked where the puppies are. He then whistled out and called all the Dalmatian puppies out to feed to include the mother and father Dalmatians that were wary of our presence, (reminded me of 101 Dalmatians). There were eight puppies, seven males and one female, including the soon to become Sparky. I watched the puppies play and eat for a few minutes, while the parent Dalmatians watched us very carefully. I noticed one puppy (Sparky)that was not interested in eating but just wanted to play with its brothers and sister. I looked at the puppy’s markings and it was beautifully marked with tiny black spots around its face and tummy. I chose the trouble maker puppy because it seemed to have an outgoing personality and was full of energy. I paid for the puppy and we were off back to Yongsan.

I carefully held the puppy in my arms while we drove all the way back to Yongsan. As the puppy whimpered, I was saddened by the fact that I had taken the puppy from its family, but felt reassured that it would be loved by our firefighters and community and that it would serve as a great Fire Department Mascot helping to spread fire safety throughout the Yongsan community. By the way, as I held Sparky on my lap, let’s just say Sparky did not like the ride back to Yongsan and had a little mishap on my white shirt! As I had guessed, everyone at Yongsan fell in love with the new Sparky and many people came to see Sparky at the fire station, to include Pat and Tim Mitchell. Sparky helped produce Public Safety Announcement videos and was always well received during our annual Fire Prevention Week Open Houses and Burger Burns.

As the new Sparky began to get older we realized that it was hard on Sparky, with me and my staff going home at night, and our firefighters busy at work and going to emergencies, Sparky was often left in his room alone. Given that the Yongsan Fire Station is located at a very busy traffic intersection on Yongsan we could not chance Sparky getting hit by a car, which actual did happen and we were very fortunate that Sparky only injured his left hind foot (paw). I soon realized that Sparky would be better off with someone that could give him full time love and care.

That is where Pat and Tim Mitchell came in. Pat loved Sparky and would often volunteer to walk and care for Sparky. Although it was hard giving Sparky to the Mitchells, we knew it was in the best interest of Sparky and the Fire Department. Additionally, Sparky would always be part of the Garrison and Fire Department since the Mitchells lived on Yongsan. The rest is history. Sparky is a gorgeous Dalmatian with a firefighter personality, brave and serving. I still miss Sparky but know he is with people that love him very much.

More photos of Sparky at work.

Article submitted by George Breen

When I was serving in the 570th ord. co. during 1958 and 1959, I did hear that many Koreans ate dog meat. Marie was quick to point out, that not all Koreans ate dog meat! I also know that during the 1950’s there were many, many hungry people in Korea. I suppose that anything that could be found to eat was maybe used for a meal!

The dog behind the G.I. in this photo was the only dog I ever saw in Korea. The dog’s name was Ano. He was named after Sargent Ano, who found him and brought him to the 570th. The dog was well fed from the mess hall. I can’t remember where or how Sargent Ano found the dog.

I am not sure about Ano’s age, but he looked to be approx. 2 years old. I never remember seeing him play very much, it seems that his favorite thing to do , was being close to a G.I. and of course, he was always present in the chow line when it was meal time!

Every G.I. loved him. I feel sure that when Ano’s life ended he had a proper burial on the grounds of the , 570th ord co (das).

I enjoyed reading that eating dog meat is not that popular in south Korea these days. This was much talked about among G. I.,s back in the 1950’s.

Note from George Breen,

570th Ord. Co.(Nibblo Barracks) Korea

The Yongsan Legacy project initially started as a mapping project. Even our first Yongsan Legacy website was based on a map where we encouraged people to pinpoint a place to write down their memories. We organized a series of meetings with GIs who spent time on Yongsan Garrison with a map of Yongsan Garrison trying to write down their memories with geolocation coordinates. However, the team quickly realized that people don’t remember a place using a map.

The team learned that we were actually interested in the exercise of “mapping”, not the physical output as a map. When we sat down with people who tries to recollect their memories from Yongsan Garrison, we were awaking their memories that may seem haphazard and random at first. But what we realized is that all the memories are a part of social interactions and values that we wanted to capture in the first place.

In this edition, we feature a couple of examples where the exercise of “mapping” served to connect and re-connect people around a place that we want to commemorate: Yongsan Garrison.

Of course, we still would love to finish our “map” of Yongsan Garrison with your stories and recollections, but the Yongsan Legacy Project will always be about the social interactions and compilation of personal values that exist on the site.

With this month’s edition of the Yongsan Legacy Newsletter, we want to encourage you to initiate a “mapping” project on your own with your friends or family. And your initiative will bring people whom you never met but may have crossed paths at Yongsan Garrison to add to your memories of Yongsan.

We share three posts that “mapping” became magic moments for people who participated.

Mapping Yongsan Garrison and the Surroundings

A series of correspondences between two GI's who never met in person describes raw images of Yongsan Garrison and Yongsan Area in the 60's and the 70's captured in their memories.

Rich Kent took this photo of Yongsan Garrison and Han River from Namsan in 1969. Photo Credit: Rich Kent

Action in the Yongsan Commissary

The new Commissary didn't replace this one until well after the early 80s... remember the banana fights...

Yongsan Commissary 1972. Photo taken by Scott Forrey

Co-incidences from 1958

Almost 60 years later, two GIs find out their mystery photos are looking right at each other; one from Itaewon and the other from Hannamdong. "I'm looking at you right now!"

Photo taken by Paul Black in 1958 and graphics added by Coco Cugat (Photo Credit: Yongsan Legacy)

We will add more stories about mapping projects in every week for the entire month of August.

If you want to start a new mapping project as a part of this edition, please email your story with images to yongsanlegacy@gmail.com. We are looking for stories from different decades from the 50s all the way up to recent memories of now mostly closed and emptied Yongsan Garrison. No matter what year, your stories and memories of Yongsan Garrison are important and valuable.

And don’t forget to share this post with your friends or colleagues or family to spread the word.

We look forward to hearing from you. Thank you!

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From: coco cugat garcia
Sent: Wednesday, May 10, 2017
To: George Breen
Subject: check this photo

Hello George

I just saw this photo from Paul Black and I am wondering if the military area shown in the background is the 570^th Ordenance CO (Niblo Barracks).

It may be my eyes wanting to see what seems to be drawn in the sketch you did from your memory of the area of 570th 

It is as if this photo was taken from very near where Marie's room was. I will ask Paul if he remembers where he took this photo from.

From: George Breen
Sent: Thu, May 11, 2017
To:  coco cugat garcia
Subject: check this photo

Dear Coco, I must admit, this photo has much similarity to the 570th ord co! And this may be the 570^th.!!   Mabey a different year than when I was there.?   The Niblo barracks, both buildings do look correct!   The dirt road circle around the jeeps and trucks in the center, all look correct. I think I can identify shop one and shop two buildings, the sedan shop and the shop office. I am not positive of this, and as I remember things, there seem to be too many buildings.  I will continue to study this photo.   And also, I see that the weapons and ammo storage is in the correct location.

   The village is very close to how I remember where Marie lived.  But I am not 100 percent sure this is the village. I has been such a long time!  

    Remember Me telling you about the “house” across the street that had a wall around it, with broken glass on top of the wall?  Well, look at the 2^nd building on the left of the street!  It has a wall and is in the correct location to be directly across the street from Marie’s one room! And the 3^rd building on the right of the street could be the store!

  I am only guessing at some of this as I try to think back.

    Coco, you and Daniel certainly know how to get my “old” heart pumping!!!............I will look at all this many more times!

From: coco cugat garcia 
Date: 11 May 2017
To: Paul Black
Subject: 570th-Ordenance Co

Paul

I just looked at the photos from your website and I found these 2 photos that I am attaching to the email

I think both photos were taken from what today is Itaewon-ro in the neighborhood of Itaewon.  In the second photo I can identify the Han River at the back, UN village area to the left and Hannamdong area to the right hill. Currently on top of this hill to the right of the photo there is the largest mosque of Seoul (Seoul Central Mosque).

The flat area in the middle with military trucks and barracks seems to me that It is what was called 570th Ordenance Co. The team that did all the maintenance for SAC (Seoul Area Command).

Do you recall walking along Itaewon main road or a bit upper from that?

I Am amazed because this is the first time that we see this area in photos from the same time that George Breen (veteran who served there and is looking for someone) was in Seoul too. he started his duty in July 1958.  

Based on other conversations with other military people many of you thought that this was part of Yongsan Garrison even if it was on the other side of Hannam dong hill. 

Do you remember when you took this photo? I guess all the housing for Koreans around this area was poor.

From: coco cugat garcia
Date: 11 May 2017
To: George Breen 
Subject: Re: check this photo

George,

I really think that photo I sent you yesterday was 570th. I am sharing another photo also from the same person which is the area where today Hannam village sits.

As you can see this photo from a bit further also shows the military compound.  The geography of the terrain is like what it still is today. I think these houses you see closer to the camera are towards the direction you would go to Seoul from Maries' place so I guess Marie's room was a bit more towards the left of this photo.   

Believe it or not Paul Black was in Seoul from May 1958 till 1959 so almost same time as you. You could have perfectly been there at the background working on your Willys while he took the photo. Isn't it amazing??????????

From: Coco Cugat
Date: 11 May 2017
To: Sangso Nam

Subject: Potential Hannam village military facilities area photo

Mr. Nam
I got this photo from veteran Paul Black.  He was stationed in SAC from 1958 to 1959.  He explained that He took this photo when he was going to the 8096 orderly room
He was for a while stationed in barracks # T 1620 inside Yongsan Garrison.

He thought this was part of the Yongsan Garrison (Yongsan base as He called it).

We think that the right-hand side is the area of Hannam dong towards where the mosque is, to the left of the photo you see the UN village area and the flat area in the middle is what used to be 570th Ordinance Co. Niblo barracks, and later on Hannam Village military housing facilities.

Does our guess make sense to you?
Things have changed sooooo much but then the geography remains the same!
George Breen, the veteran that is looking for Marie was stationed in here and the map and photos he sent looks like this could be Niblo Barracks. He said everything he can see inside the compound matches what he remembers but then it has been so many years ago.


I was wondering if you could help with identifying it and confirming what we are assuming.

From: Sangso Nam 
Date: Fri, May 12, 2017
To: Coco Cugat Garcia
Subject: Paul Black's Hannam-dong photo, plus...

It's a beautiful color photo showing the lower part of Hannam-dong.

I've marked it with shading to show the panorama vision his camera had taken. (See the shaded cone on the attached map)

The photo is so old that it doesn't show even the Hannam-bridge.

Mr. Black must have stood with his camera on the top edge of the current road from Itaewon where the transformer station of the Korea Electric Power Company used to be located.

Yes, the hill on the right-hand side leads to the current Mosque in Bokwang-dong, which reminds me that TAE was asked (because Architect Kyu Lee, or Prince Lee, was with us then) to conduct a feasibility study for the construction of the Mosque.

The Hannam village rental housings are (were) located in the middle of the low ground surrounded by hills on three sides making it a valley-like basin so that polluted air and street noises coming from the Hannam thoroughfare stagnated. 

Nam, May 12

From: Coco cugat garcia
Date: 12 May 2017 at 20:48:11 GMT+9
To: George Breen
Subject: confirmation

George

I got a confirmation from Mr.Nam that the photo shows the area in Hannam-dong where Niblo barracks (570th ord co) used to be. So we finally have 2 semi aerial photos from the days you were there!

The photos were taken from Itaewon Road so provably Marie's house would be off from the photo but not by too much!  

From: George Breen
Sent: 12 May 2017
To:  coco cugat garcia
Subject: confirmation

Dear Coco, this is exciting!  First of all, I like the name written on the picture!  Halomdong village! If you remember, I would ask Marie the name of the village, and she would say what sounded to me like, “Hylumdun.”  And I would answer her saying, Hylumdun, and Marie would say this was correct!  Halomdong as what Paul Black writes would be close. I never saw it written.

     I remember standing in the 570^th, looking towards the Han River, and the view did look much the same as this picture.   But I don’t remember the area being this populated.  I do need to study the photo more.

I do remember watching an old train run along the Han River, going in the opposite direction from Seoul.

   Soon, I will send you a picture that I think was taken inside the 570^th, looking at the Han River.

    Paul Black did take many pictures. And it seems that everyone traveled to places that I didn’t go!

    I am so excited about you matching up the pictures that I have sent to you!  

   Coco, let’s do talk soon!  Is it okay if Mike helps set everything up for me? 

George

From: Coco cugat garcia
Date: Wed 17 May 2017
To: George Breen,  Paul Black
Subject: coincidences from 1958-59

George and Paul,

What an amazing coincidence!

You both were in Korea for almost the same period of time (2 months off).  Paul was stationed (working) in Camp Kim and George in 570th Ordenance Co. (see the map where I have shown the 2 locations with circles)

What surprised me a lot was that you both took a photo almost looking at each other.

Both photos show some exact buildings but from different angles/locations. See the photos below. The left one is by Paul and the right one is by George. Paul took it from Itaewon-Ro and George took it from Niblo Barracks.

Amazing how with bits of information from different people you can put a whole picture together of the story! :)

What shocked me is that you both live in Florida! will we find more coincidences? 

I am taking this opportunity to introduce you to each other.

Thank you for all you share with the Yongsan legacy. You allow me and many other people to see what it was like in the past. Beautiful

Coco

If you were stationed in Yongsan Garrison  before the late 80's you must recognize this photo that Scott Forrey took in 1972 while he lived on post

Scott Forrey:  "You could see the commissary across the street from the elementary and middle schools. Right behind the middle school was a decent swimming pool, not as big as the one at the Officers Club, but pretty good and only a 5 minute walk from our house."

Yongsan Commissary 1972. Photo taken by Scott Forrey

Paul Black Back in 58 we didn’t have no Commissary, lol. We ate in an some old Mess Hall. We could buy crackers at the PX and we liked it.

Yongsan Legacy Paul do you know where families would do their grocery shopping when you were here in 1958 and 59?

Jack Ferguson The new Commissary didn't replace this one until well after the early 80s... remember the banana fights...

Yongsan Legacy Tell us more about the banana fights.... thank you Jack

Jack Ferguson Yongsan LegacyThey were one of what seemed like an endless list of black market items... when they would come in people would move in quick to get them... there was some pushing and shoving sometimes... there were and occasional shouting match and few times blows were exchanged... didn't seem smart to me to draw attention if you are going to black market the item...

Jack Ferguson Anyone remember how many items were limited? I kept a ledger so I wouldn't lose track and still on one occasion went over on instant coffee by one small container... LOL

Yongsan Legacy What happened if you were over?

Kimberly A Combs Jack FergusonI remember people buying cases of them and loading PX cabs with them;

Kimberly A Combs Yongsan Legacy as I recall, you went on a list and the next month they ensured your ration was decreased

Jolynn Reed I remember my mother removing bananas & oranges from a grocery cart (of a person checking out). The cashier was going to let them have more than rationed...Mom would call them out on it. I also remember Mom sharing oranges with a young missionary couple she had befriended

Coco Cugat Kimberly A Combscases of bananas????

Jack Ferguson Jolynn Reed giving it over a certain amount counted as "black marketing"... LOL During the World Scout Jamboree I got permission to get produce (not bananas LOL) that would be tossed soon... for scouts... most of the scouts were supported but some country groups not so much... the Greek scouts staying at the Orthodox cathedral were very happy... some took produce to orphanages and other places as well...

Kimberly A Combs Coco Cugat yep!!!

Jack Ferguson Then there was the lady who was a self appointed black market vigilante... harassing some women while shopping... she was banned... replaced by another and a MAJ taking pictures of those he suspected... one thing I don't miss about Korea...

Kimberly A Combs Jack Fergusonand she had a camera!!! And would sneak around taking pictures! 🤣🤣🤣

Jack Ferguson there was a woman did that... but there was another woman would stop Korean woman in the commissary she thought were black marketing and harass them... my wife was stopped in the new commissary by this woman... I was to aisles away... the camera woman was different... then there was the Major with the camera... LOL

Yongsan Legacy Jack Fergusonsounds like going grocery shopping was a nightmare! Hahahhaha

Jack Ferguson in so many ways... LOL

Larry Priest I was there from Sept. 71 till Nov. 72. Never saw it, never knew it existed.

Yongsan Legacy You missed that part of the south post!!!!

Karl Sagan Best job one could have

Yongsan Legacy Did you work in there? How was the experience? Were there mostly korean employees?

Karl Sagan Yongsan Legacy ...We were students at SAHS. I sacked the groceries. We worked for tips only. Probably 1980.

Farrah Almazan I remember going to this commissary when we moved there in 84. They filmed an AFKN commercial outside of it too.... where's the beef!?

Jack Ferguson I forgot about that commercial... LOL

Kyle Green I remember it well. Worked as a bag boy there.

Jeff Howard Me too. Coming home with a pocketful of change. Always hoping that when the Marines from the embassy showed up that you got to bag them! 😂

Lester L Remhof Best first job. The biggest tip received was from a Peace Corp worker. I learned not to pre-judge people on appearance from that experience.

Rob Mc I remember going there with my parents 81-83

Doug Ricker I was assigned at Yongsan 79-84, 85-92, and 2005-14. The top three best and worst changes.

Yongsan Legacy Thank you for sharing!

Yongsan Legacy Do you have a photo of the old embassy club?

Maria Jordan OMG! The Commissary! Where they milked the Foremost cows.

Yongsan Legacy ??

Maria Jordan All the dairy products were made/distributed by Foremost Co., which distributed I believe to all the bases in the Pacific. Many years later, my sister married her SAHS boyfriend, now a retired USAF Brig. Gen., whose uncle was CEO of Foremost. He was a nice, patient man who seemed to enjoy our stories about growing up on Foremost products.

Maria Jordan This Commissary was fronted by an MP who very carefully examined all I.D. cards and ration cards. Almost everything was rationed. You could only get a certain number of things every month and that item would be punched out of the ration card.

Karen Nelson Foster Sure do!

Darrell Brown Shopped in this commissary for many years. Lots of Black marketing going on with commissary goods. Bananas was a big Black marketing item, so management put a camera on banana bin to monitor customers. Remember one time seeing a fruit Department employee bringing out a cart full of bananas being pushed out of the way by dependent wives as they grabbed cases of bananas. 😊

Yongsan Legacy Oh my! We wonder if anyone ever photographed those for fun.

Douglas Coval Yes and it was still the when I was stationed there in. 80-82

Karen Holcombe I worked bagging groceries there on Saturdays... IF your name was called !!😁😁

Jim Seay Now its the Korea Battle Simulation Center (KBSC), and will be there till sometime in FY19.

Jim Hudson '72-'76.

Lester L Remhof Kyle did we work together 1971 - first group of student baggers?

Steve Scerbak I remember all those ration plates and MPC!!

Scott Starkey I was there 79-86, when I left in August 86 this commissary was still there and I heard no mention of a replacement. It must’ve been replaced in the late 80’s or maybe 90’s

Some information about Commissaries in american military compounds:

Commissaries constitute one of the top nonpay benefits for today’s military and are an important inducement to recruitment and retention of skilled personnel, while simultaneously holding down taxpayer costs.

The commissary benefit is not a recent innovation. Sales of goods from commissary department storehouses to military personnel began in 1825, when Army officers at specified posts could make purchases for their personal use, paying at-cost prices. By 1841, officers could also purchase items for members of their immediate families.

The modern era of sales commissaries actually began in 1867, when enlisted men received the same at-cost purchasing privileges officers had already enjoyed for four decades. No geographic restrictions were placed upon these sales; the commissary warehouse at every Army post could become a sales location, whether they were located on the frontier or near a large city. From the start, commissaries were meant to take on-post retail functions out of the hands of civilian vendors and post traders and allow the Army to “care for its own.” The stores provided wholesome food beyond what was supplied in the official rations, and the savings they provided supplemented military pay. The modern concept of commissary sales stores, which were established to benefit military personnel of all ranks by providing healthful foods “at cost,” reached its 150th anniversary on July 1, 2017.

Note from John Nowell to Rich Kent: I looked at the photograph and have provided my comments about what I believe is indicated by the red numbers. However, I am a bit color-blind and could not see the #9. So, I don't have any idea about that location in the photo. Look at my comments below and see if you agree with what I have listed for those locations:

1. HQs, UNC/USFK/EUSA, bldg 2364;

2. Knight Field;

3. 8th Army Company HQs and mail room.;

4. Possibly your EM Barracks;

5. ??? Possibly a Mess Hall;

6. AAFES Townhouse Cafeteria (now a parking lot);

7. Snack Bar (now a parking lot);

8. Balboni Theater, bldg 2535 (now a parking lot);

9. I could not see #9???;

10. Officer’s Open Mess, bldg 4305 South Post (this bldg has been the HQs, for Yongsan Garrison since 1969 until the present time);

11. Lower Four Club located by Gate #7 (renumber as Gate #3), AKA Crossroads Club, (currently HQs, Marines Forces, Korea);

12. 8th US Army Golf Course (About 80% of this property returned to ROKG and is now used as Korea’s National Museum and Yongsan Family Park). About 20% of the Golf course as well as the Golf club bldg are still used by USFK;

13. Han River - Both the Hangang Mansion and Riverside Village were built on the north side of the Han River where many USFK/8th Army civilian employees lived beginning in October 1970;

14. Entrance to Itaewon or traffic circle where LTG Coulter's Statue was located. The statue was moved in February 1977 to allow for the construction of an underpass for a new road that went directly north to Namsan where tunnels 2 and 3 were constructed making easier travel from downtown Seoul to the new roads beside Yongsan Garrison Main and South Posts southward to Seocho-gu south of the Han River. Or, are you referring to something on South Post? Possibly the Japanese Prison?

Let me know if the above descriptions match what you think these locations are. Especially #s 5, 9 and 14. After you comment on them, I will confer with others who are still here and who may remember what those locations were well known for in the late 60s early 70s. I hope you find the legend for the numbers.

Note from Rich Kent to John Nowell: John I think you hit them pretty close. Here is what I wrote when I printed the photo Index from Rich Kent:

Note from John Nowell to Rich: I think we came to the same designations for the #s you posted. Your #10 for Civilian Dorms in front of your office were located on South Post through Gates 6 & 9. Bldg 4305, 2d floor was used as officer billets and perhaps some civilian billets. Department of Defense Dependent School (DODDS) teachers and some other female civilians lived in smaller bldgs adjacent to bldg 4305 as well. Single women and men civilians were authorized billets at that time and worked in a variety of positions. When I separated from service and became a Dept of the Army civilian as a GS3, GS4 and later a GS5 I was authorized a billet and at first had a bed in a three man hootch located on Main Post near the KMAG HQs Bldg.. Later, when I was promoted to GS7 (equivalent to a 2Lt) I was able to get an officer's billet on South Post just inside Gate #10 on the left hand side. Then in the summer of 1972, the Dept of the Army authorized Living Quarters Allowance (LQA) for all civilian personnel GS7 and above to live off-post. I then could afford to live in any house, apartment I liked. So, for many years I lived in a variety of places around Yongsan-gu and south of the Han River when new apartments were built there. It has been quite a ride, ha,ha. I still can't see the #9 on the photo, but yes the library was located at the corner of Knight Parade Field.

By the way, the library was moved into the old PX as a new PX was built down the hill from the AFKN Radio/TV station located north of the former PX.

If you have any other photos, please share them and I will try to identify what they are now.

Photo and Index Photo by Rich Kent stationed in Yongsan garrison in the Data Processing Center as a computer programmer in 1969.

Through the stories of the men who landed in South Korea in the late ’50s and early ’60s, readers can get a glimpse of the psychology of the young men facing unimaginable uncertainties in a land that they know nothing about.

We start with three men, George Breen, Paul Black, and John Nowell.

George Breen remembers the day he received the letter from the government, “Never have I become so sick to my stomach, so quickly! I sat down in my chair. My Mother now came into the room. I must have appeared sick because my mother asked, “What is wrong”? I told her that I had been Drafted!  She began to cry.”

George Breen in front of the tents that he pitched during training in 1958. Photo Credit: George Breen

Paul Black remembers his arrival in Incheon, “The next morning, we headed for Incheon. Once in the Incheon area, we were put on smaller tender boats to go ashore. Then we were given our mail from the last 2 weeks. It so happened the mailman was from my hometown too. He was more excited about me getting mail from Indiana than I was.”

Paul Black standing in front of HQ Seoul Area Command Unit 8096, Yongsan Garrison in 1958. Photo: Paul Black

John Nowell remembers missing a Christmas Day on his journey to South Korea, “Then we headed out to cross the rest of the Pacific and came over to the International Dateline, and guess what? This week was the 24th of December, and I woke up on the 26th… I didn't have a Christmas, and this was the only time that I've never had Christmas.”

John Nowell, in a white shirt, posing with his colleagues in Camp Casey. (Photo Credit: John Nowell)

We will add more stories about landings in Yongsan Garrison every week for the entire month of July.

If you want to share your own landing-in-Yongsan Garrison story as a part of this edition, please email your story with images to yongsanlegacy@gmail.com. We are looking for stories from different decades from the 50s all the way up to recent arrivals to South Korea. No matter what year, your stories and memories of Yongsan Garrison are important and valuable.

We look forward to hearing from you. Thank you!

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I can’t remember if the time was late 1957, or if it was Jan. 1958.  My life was Drag Racing.  For the past 4 years, I have been driving Fuel Dragsters, which is N.H.R.A.’S fastest class. I didn’t realize it at that time, but I was as good as I will ever be.

Portrait of George Breen taken when he was drafted in 1958 (Photo Credit: George Breen)

I had been invited to compete in a weeklong event called Speed Week. This found myself and my crew at a drive-in restaurant after work discussing what we should do to prepare for this big race.  We decided that we should build a new, much larger and more modern engine. The engine would be an Ardun Merc.  The reason for this engine was that we already had some of the parts needed, such as the expensive and rare cylinder heads. Soon after we would leave for home. 

Everyone was very excited about the new engine idea and the week of Fun!

Arriving home, at about 11 pm, I entered my mother’s living room and there was a large envelope on the table.  The envelope said that the letter was from the government. I opened the envelope and the letter read that I had been Drafted into the U.S. Army!  I was to report on the 12th of Feb. 1958.

Never have I become so sick to my stomach, so quickly!

I sat down in my chair. My Mother now came into the room.  I must have appeared sick because my mother asked, “What is wrong”? I told her that I had been Drafted!  She began to cry.

My Mother soon returned to her room I sat in my chair, staring at the floor.

I was 23 years old and my only thoughts from age 16 were Drag Racing. I now felt all this, the life that I had built for myself, slowly slipping away. Disappearing.  I was very scared!

I had thoughts about contacting my doctor and trying for a deferment or contacting the Red Cross because my dad was sick. But then I thought, real men just don’t do things like this. So, Wednesday, Feb. 12^th, 1958, the day I was drafted, my life would change forever.

I was sent to Fort Jackson, South Carolina for 8 weeks of basic training. (Learning to live as a soldier) I think we served two weeks taking tests and such. After basic training, two weeks leave, then another 8 weeks of school.  My school was wheel vehicle mechanics.

There was talk on the ship when we were on our way to Korea that we were going to Vietnam, but that was only a rumor.

George Breen in front of the tents that he pitched during training in 1958 (Photo Credit: George Breen)

The arrival to the land of the morning calm (first impression)

I am not 100 % sure, but I think I embarked from the U.S. in July 1958. I flew to Fort Lewis, located in Seattle Washington. I was there for 2 weeks waiting to board the ship that took me to Korea. It was named Ohara.

The boat ride took 14 days. Anyone that has traveled on a troop ship deserves the Medal of Honor!   There are 10 men and 10 duffel bags in a space not much larger than 10 square feet!  The sleeping “bunks” are hammocks, and they are only 5 feet high! You cannot turn on your side without bumping the man above you!  And of course, there is always someone seasick!

We spent 1 day in Adak, Alaska, and one night in Yokohama, Japan.

I arrived in Incheon in July. I don’t remember the day.

Back in the year 1958, there was a line of troops coming ashore and a line going out to the ship.  We boarded a landing craft getting off the ship and the front gate of the landing craft came down on a long wooden dock that stretched from shore far out into the sea!  We were standing in the landing boat that took us to the shore, but we could not fall over as we slowly moved in the rough sea because we were packed in very tight.  

Right after disembarking, I was taken by truck from Incheon port to the 570^th ORD. CO. D.A.S.  The trip to Seoul seemed like it took forever! The road was rough!

This is a picture of how we were often dressed during the latter part of our basic training. The pack on our backs weighed close to 40 lbs and the rifle we carried was 9 lbs.  We carried all these 14 miles in the last week of training! (Photo Credit: George Breen)

Once there I couldn’t believe how relaxed everything was! I had never experienced military life like that!

For the first few months, I would have thoughts about how far away from home I really was!  Would I ever see home again and the life that I loved so much?  Drag Racing!  

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Well, I came on the USS Jason Breckenridge. It left Oakland Terminal on the 15th of December 1964. We proceeded on a 21-day cruise across the Pacific. Halfway there, we stopped at Pearl Harbor and 200 of the 400 troops on board got off. Surely, I was not one of them. Then we headed out to cross the rest of the Pacific and came over to the International Dateline, and guess what? This week was the 24th of December, and I woke up on the 26th… I didn't have a Christmas, and this was the only time that I'd never had Christmas.

US Army Portrait of John Nowell (Photo Credit: John Nowell)

And when we landed at Incheon on the 5th of January, there were already assembled troops to board the ship to take them back home. And of course, others came by aircraft, and if they came from Fort Dix, New Jersey on a 19-hour flight, mostly officers. Mostly from the East Coast. They didn't come by ship, although I think the mid and sun coming from Texas into the Panama Canal doing it around. That way, but. That's a longer trip, I would think.

This is my chronology. 7th District Division is where I started, and then I talk about Sergeant Ahn Yo Han. The Maria Club, Sister City Program, Buena Park, California with Chong Ju transferred to Yongsan Garrison, ETS in Korea, later became DAC, worked at EASCOM and FASCOM, then went to work for 8^th US Army Civil Affairs. Then, USFK, UNC, and USFK Public Affairs Officer. And then worked in the hospitality field and worked for Naija Hotel downtown. I didn't mention the Ambassador Hotel. I spent two years there before going to the Naija Hotel. And then back to the Public Affairs Office. Actually, I’ve gone back to the States because my father died, and I was rehired from the state, so I came back under a new length of the tour. Then I went to work for the Public Affairs as Public Affairs Officer of the First Support Group. And then at IMCOM Korea. And then, my last assignment was with U.S. Army Engineers in Sacramento.

So where did I get assigned? I said Camp Casey, right? And we had Quonsets over there. That was our home. We shared it with the 11 other guys, and we had a house boy, and we paid the House Boy $2 to $5 a person, depending on how generous you were. So, this kid could maybe come up with a max of $60.00 a month. Well, that was boom! That was the windfall for this guy back in those days.

The audience asks, “Hey, John, how much? Were you making per month just $7?

I did $56 and I owed $57, and my father paid that debt for me so I could use that $56. So, he was making more than you were. Yes, “he was making more than I would. Right.”

This was the kind of money we could use. Dollar, 25, 10 and 5 cents, no coins except for pennies. You could use pennies. And then the Korean won notes.

The audience asks, “What is the exchange rate?”

It was 480. As I recall, won to dollar. I'm thinking now it might have been 265 and then later it went to four and I'd have to check the dates on and. That's the history, but we won't we. Don't have time. To get into it. If somebody wanted to know later.

This is my initial impression outside the gate, and I was not enthused. That was what we call TDC, Ville, or Dong Du Chon. I was told there were a lot of communists out. Well, I didn't need to arouse a lot of communists, so I just stayed on post for a month and 1/2.

John Nowell, in a white shirt, posing with his colleagues in Camp Casey. (Photo Credit: John Nowell)

But I met this KATUSA on my duty, his name was Ahn Johan, and he said, “Have you been down to Dongducheon yet? And I said “Oh, no, not interested in going. Want to go back to America.” And he said “Oh, no, no… Look, I'll take you down where the Koreans live, where they work live, and to play, not to the Ville. And he persuaded me. His English was rather good. In fact, when he first talked to me, he said, in perfect English, “What is your name?” I said, “John.” Then he said, “Me, too!” Another shock. “Your name is John?” He said, “No... my name is Yo Han, the bible name is John.”

Anyway, this guy persuaded me to go downtown with him. He took me to a movie, and he took me to some Bulgogi, rice, and some kimchi and some Makgeolli. I got some in a bowl, and I said, “That looks like Starch.” I took a sip of it, “and it tastes like starch.” I wasn't too enthusiastic about the Makgeolli.

This is the gentleman, and he created in me a 180-degree turn. Here is a video of his autobiography. Now this was 1965. And he got out of the service about a few months later. And he got married to have two daughters. He started a restaurant near Yonsei University. He was doing cracker jobs, making all kinds of money.

Then, in about 1975, he got an opportunity to teach Korean to the Americans at Presidio, Monterey. And in the process of applying for the job, he had to take a physical. And they said, well, you’ve got water in your right eye. You’re going blind in the right eye. And later on, he decided not to take that job. And he went to the doctors, and doctors told him, you know, whatever it was, it was in your right eye, but now it’s in your other eye. And so, he was slowly going blind. Whatever money he had, he was spending on seeing doctors to get better. Then he came to me. “I heard you can you take me to 121 Hospital? And I'd like to have an American doctor check my eyes. Tell me, I am going blind. Is there no shot?” And so, I took him over the 121. The doctor said, “Hey, John, we can't take him. I said look, he's a KATUSA. He did very good things for our military, just take a look. He's you're not going to operate. You just sit in the chair, and just take a look.” and he did. He said zero. Nothing. So that was it. Going to be blind.

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Paul Black just before heading to Korea. Winter of 1958 at the age of 23

I was drafted late in 1957.  At that time I was working in a cabinet shop helping build kitchen cabinets. In fact, to this day I am good friends with the daughter of my then-boss.

I entered the Army on January 15th, 1958, and left from the Federal Building steps. Whenever I see that Federal Building in a picture I think of those steps outside the building. Only about 8 of us guys took the bus to Ft. Knox, Kentucky that cold winter day.

I had been on a similar trip in that direction not long before as our high school basketball team was playing an All-Star game vs Kentucky All-Stars in the Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY. It was also a very cold night when we left to go back to Indiana.

Going to Ft. Knox was a day trip and no snow that day, the 15th of January. All of us guys had been given tests to see what we were best at doing for the Army. I seem to have picked up my mother’s Administrative skills during the testing. I remember I was not good at music. I was fairly good at math, and math is part of music. I was always dismayed at my music numbers that included the math ties.

I headed off to bed just after I left the Federal Building in my Indiana hometown. I think there were about 8-10 of us guys on the bus headed to Ft. Knox, Kentucky on that Cold January day back in 1958.

We were put up in old WW II wood barracks that were supposed to have just a 20-year lifetime. So if they were built in 1943, was time for a new building in 1963. Actually, these barracks were so basic, what could go wrong with them? Maybe the roof might leak or the plumbing might go bad? Anyway, we had 8 weeks of Basic Training ahead of us, then another 8 weeks of schooling. Unfortunately for me, this was the 3rd coldest winter ever recorded in Kentucky. Sleeping outside in a pup tent at 10 degrees above zero isn't good. We were supposed to stay out there for 3 nights, but they let us go back to the barracks after just one night.

Almost every Basic Training Sgt was Korean War Veteran. They were rough on us.

I think each barracks had about 100 men in them for sleeping. Lights out was at 10:00 pm and we woke up at 5:30 am. After going to formation we then went to have breakfast before heading out on a cross-country march up and down hills.

I remember one morning while double-time running a guy slipped ahead of me and my rifle butt send him flying off into the snow and ice on the road. I just kept going.

After the first 8 weeks, I was sent over to the Army Clerk School for another 8 weeks of Army Administrative Training. During this period you were assigned a MOS number. Not sure if they use this job description system anymore. All Administrative numbers began with a 700.00. I graduated with a 716.10 so I was qualified to be a Company Clerk. This involved making out the " morning report " which is sent to Washington, DC every morning to keep track of where people are located. This report does not allow for any typing mistakes whatsoever. GIs are moved around by what they call " General Orders ".

Every trooper had a Serial Number. This number was dyed onto even my underwear, everything I owned. If I had enlisted I would have been a RA or Regular Army with a number. It turned out all the RA guys did a lot of complaining and the US guys took it in stride.

My parents drove down to Ft. Knox to see me for a weekend pass. While driving my dad’s Buick on base a 1st Lt ran into the back of my dad’s car. No damage, but an issue. My dad and the 1st Lt. were concerned, but not mad at each other since no damage was made to the car. Then another weekend my girlfriend came down to Ft. Knox and we went to Louisville to eat lunch and dinner. She went back that evening.

After 16 weeks of Training and having Orders for Korea my parents, girlfriend and aunt, and uncle all came to Ft. Knox to wish me off to Korea.

Of course, during the 16 weeks, I made a number of Army friends along the way. We were taken to the Louisville, KY airport and took a flight to the Chicago Midway Airport where we boarded a Northwest Orient DC-7C aircraft and made an overnight flight to Portland, Oregon, and then on into the Seattle, WA airport and then we were taken to Ft. Lewis, WA near Tacoma, WA. I stayed there a week as more troopers arrived from across America.

We were then taken to the Seattle Port where we boarded a Troop Ship headed to Inchon, South Korea.  We took a rather great circle route coming close to Alaska before stopping overnight in Yokohama, Japan. The ship was met about 1 day out from Yokohama by a Japanese ship that had painters on board. By the time we docked in Yokohama, the ship was freshly painted and looked like new. Many of the Japanese painters were women.

The next morning we headed for Inchon. Once in the Inchon area, we were put on smaller tender boats to go ashore. Then we were given our mail from the last 2 weeks. It so happened the mailman was from my home town too. He was more excited about me getting Mail from Indiana than I was.

I remember Inchon looked much smaller than I had expected, even though it was over 100,000 residents at that time in 1958. Luckily I was able to ride in the cab of an Army 2 1/2 ton truck on the way to Seoul and the Yongsan base. Along the way, the Army driver forced a Korean man with an Oxen off the road and into the ditch.

The next day I reported to the SAC Hq Det 8096 unit.

Paul Black standing in front of HQ Seoul Area Command Unit 8096. Yongsan Garrison_1958

I never worried about being in Korea at all. I began my work assignment in the Personnel Office. I was charged with 4 units with about 100 men in each unit. Most of my administrative work had to do with the men rotating back to the US. This was very unlike working in a Personnel Office on a State Side Army Base.

That's my story of how I got to Korea.

(OP: Aug. 30, 2018)