Korea 1977, about six months after Operation Paul Bunyan so the paranoia level was high. As an excercise they moved the 2nd Infantry Division south of Uijongbu for the day. Pretty much everything except the DMZ guards. Except me. Division demanded that I stay and do a show so the North Koreans wouldn't notice that as being different. So for 3 hours I'm rocking, and so is the quonet hut because there's a steady stream of Mech vehicles driving by and helicopters flying over. The station at Camp Casey was on the main road. When it was over, quiet. Spooky quiet, A handful of guards between me and the commies. I had worked in small markets, closed circuit stations, a high school station. That was the day I did a show for no audience.
Wow. Scary. We were in Korea from 1980-82. Osan.
ReplyDeleteLove the story.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had more fun than me when I was at Munson winter of 84-85. Smaj
ReplyDeleteI'm sure the North Koreans had as much fun forcibly making themselves not listen to you and denying that they'd been listening to you as you did convincing yourself somebody had really been listening. Think of all the debriefings you caused!
ReplyDeleteWhich would probably mean they taped it to not listen to...
ReplyDeleteHow could you not have fun at Munsan. I'd go back there today, if I could.
ReplyDeleteI was station chief at Munson in late 1984-85. The DMZ was just up MSR 1 five miles. I was on hand to witness the aftermath of an international incident when a eastern european man defected to the west at the DMZ which resulted in a running gun battle between north korean security guards and American and South Korean soldiers ready reaction forces. Score 1 dead south korean soldier, wounded 1 American soldier and the guy made good his escapte from North Korea and I was there for it all and had the video tape to provide to the western world. immediately after thanksgiving, 1984. SgtMaj Ian Knight )(ret)
ReplyDeleteim in korea now, im shootin gunnery with my fellow tankers. im 25ID and im not used to this cold wheather. gotta love the friendly korean soldiers though
ReplyDeleteStay safe, tanker
ReplyDelete