stories

1967-71

NEW* Sept 2010. I have something that I must confess that I took part of in 1967. I have carried this for 43 years. In the guard mount picture of the 2nd plt. there is a buck sgt. named Durnell. He was a good guy to work with. Three of you may have heard about it and one of you might have been working that night. It was near the end of the month and I was working main gate at night. About 10 or so a young lady appoached the gate and ask me if I wanted a short time. For reasons that remain lost with the brain cells that died in the "Drunk of Sept. of 69" I don't know why I called in and ask Sgt. Durnell if he wanted any. He said hold on and he started patching people in and askig if they wanted any. Tower_3, Sally Port, Cell Block, Block, everyone. A total of 5 said yes including Sgt. Durnell. As it was months end a price of $1.00 apiece was agreeded upon. The employment office was across from the gate so that where we went. Couse Sgt. went first(RHIP you know) and I was third. Sitting in the hardbacked chair, on the desh, everywhere. All wore comdoms, all placed comdoms in trash can. No one empted the trash can when we finished. Next morning the employment office found the can full of used rubbers. Nothing came of it as we all denied it. But now I have that off my chest I feel better. The two pictures of me show what fine looking M.P.'s we were. Notice the shirt tags. Before we went green. Notice the well placed pen in armband with the crossed pistols used for a fastener. And of course the shiny black web belt with brass. Which I still have. But I think I would trade a left nut for a 249th helment. One of the few regrets I have in this life is that I didn't keep mine. And take more pictures of nakid women. Thanks for listening.

Tim, I was living in Ship Shong Dong (SinChon) when the Dreamboat was raided and all the racial violence went on. I heard the Lemon Tree got hit as well that night but thankfully, I wasn’t down town that night. Funny cause the blacks and whites of the 199^th all seemed to get along very well. I remember a guy named Banks the was popular with everyone.
Great site!

Tim,
Just bumped into your site. Friend of mine sent me some photos of where he was on the DMZ in 76 so I thought I’d search for some photos of where I was 12/13/70 -12/28/71. Your site kinda blew me away. I was stationed at ASCOM with the 369thPSC and shortly after when they merged the 199thPSC. My job was managing the out processing section. My buddies were mostly port of call and records clerks. I moved down to the “Vil” about my 5^th week in country. Never moved back on base. Some of the photos are very familiar to me. Went through the main gate on foot or the back gate by taxi everyday for about 10 months till they sent me TDY to Yongsan for new out processing location…at which time I moved to Iteawon. My favorite club in Sinchon was The Lemon Tree. As I remember near straight across from the main gate was an alley that led to a small foot bridge that crossed a funky stream running down though the Vil. After crossing the bridge the Lemon Tree was down and to the left some. If I turned right there was something of a wider back street that could take you over to Ship Shong Dong (sp) district where my hutch was. I walked that area many nights so dark you could hardly see. I had many friends and acquaintances partly cause of my job and many recollections and fond memories for sure. I found Korea and its people quite agreeable and seeing comparison photos of your trip this year is just great. Second day in country I walked around that corner (in the “main corner photo” )down the street aways and didn’t come out of the Vil for 3 days.

Riot in Sinchon.
The one that happened in the club that night...was a about 30 blacks who came into a club where MP’s were drinking and pretty drunk...and then [they] attacked...[and] they cut everyone up (except me and a few others). It was pretty awful. I quelled three riots at a time one night...and not one serious injury to anyone. One riot [was] going on was in the Ness club (all black) ...still no injuries. Does anyone have pics of the clubs (Dreamboat, Greendoor, etc. across from gate 8. A horrific fight took place between black soldiers and our MP's (728 C A) one night? I put 5 of them in prision for 5 years and one for 10 years respectively. They cut our guys to pieces that night. What a mess. I was present in the horrific fight.

Tim,
What do you mean, I might had frequented [Sinchon] once or twice....HELL, I lived in the village, it was my home away from home...well, home away from Company B....LMAO...and sin-village puts it mildly...there was one club I remember and it was called, I believe the "Showboat" and it was pretty close to the "Nest"...the Nest was more of a black club but I use to go in it at times...then of course behind the clubs was an area referred to as "BJ Alley"....LOL...and BJ didn't stand for "Buffalo Jerky".....but I loved the fried foods that were being cooked in the little pots along the alley ways...
Later
RW

Tim,
I was stationed at ASCOM with the 369thPSC and shortly after when they merged the 199thPSC. My job was managing the out processing section. My buddies were mostly port of call and records clerks. I moved down to the “Vil” about my 5^th week in country. Never moved back on base. Some of the photos are very familiar to me. Went through the main gate on foot or the back gate by taxi everyday for about 10 months till they sent me TDY to Yongsan for new out processing location…at which time I moved to Iteawon. My favorite club in Sinchon was The Lemon Tree. As I remember near straight across from the main gate was an alley that led to a small foot bridge that crossed a funky stream running down though the Vil. After crossing the bridge the Lemon Tree was down and to the left some. If I turned right there was something of a wider back street that could take you over to Ship Shong Dong (sp) district where my hutch was. I walked that area many nights so dark you could hardly see. I had many friends and acquaintances partly cause of my job and many recollections and fond memories for sure. I found Korea and its people quite agreeable and seeing comparison photos of your trip this year is just great. Second day in country I walked around that corner (in the “main corner photo” )down the street aways and didn’t come out of the Vil for 3 days.
R.W. D.

1966

Orphanage to Bar Fight
The 249th [MP Detachment at the Stockade] helped sponsor an orphanage. Christmas of 66 the CO and several others of us went to the orphanage and showed cartoon movies, handed out gifts and candy and had a great time. One little boy even peed in my lap, but who cared. I'll never forget the smiles and laughs from those kids, and how little it took to make them happy. I reflect on that often. Of course when we got back to the compound we immediatly hit the ville. One of the weirdest bar fights we were ever in, and there were a few, was at the Lotary on Christmas Eve.

AN ALMOST FORGOTTEN STORY
While all of the memories of the time that I had served with the 249^th MP Detachment are very fond ones (referring to the close kinship which we shared with one another and the many friends that I had made while there), the one thing that stands out mostly in my mind is this story: Being a "Rock & Roll" musician & singer (since prior to my military years), I would always tend to gravitate more toward those who had shared the same interests as myself. In the year 1965 while stationed at the 249^th, I was fortunate enough to find a couple of very talented musicians to combine talents with (also stationed there). They were Al Moussot and Bob Livingston. Al was a very fine Guitarist and Bob played a very lively Bass Guitar. Both of them sang excellent backup and would also sing solos very well. We formed a music - vocal group which we modestly called; "THE UGLY BROTHERS". We would practice often at the Ascom, "AT EASE" Service Club, and the 249^th MP EM Club. When we felt we were ready, we entered the USARPAC entertainment contest (which was held at the Ascom Service Club). There, we won the first place trophy. This win, automatically advanced us to compete in the 1966 USARPAC entertainment contest Eascom Finals. For this, with our company commander's (Captain Kelly) permission, we was required to go TDY to the "Yongsan Theatre Workshop" where we would prepare for the final contest. We worked at it very hard but it was a lot of fun and gave us a 30 day break from our usual MP duties. When the day of the contest came to be and it was our turn to perform, we were standing onstage waiting for the curtain to open. When it did, we were in for the greatest surprise and memory that we could ever imagine. The curtain opened and right before our very eyes was the entire 249^th MP Detachment, seated in the very front rows of the theater. An awesome inspiration they were! Somehow, Captain Kelly requisitioned the 728^th MPs to cover the posts at the Stockade and required that the entire 249^th MP Detachment go to the show to cheer us on. We did very well and walked away with the second place trophy. I will always remain thankful to Captain Kelly and the entire 249^th MP Detachment and to a very special lady named MaryKay (who's last name now eludes me). She managed the Ascom Service Club and provided the equipment we needed to do the job. They did more than we to make it all happen for us. Even to this day, these trophies are proudly kept on display in my home and I will always cherish them and all of the memories which made them possible. To Al, Bob and all of the others involved in this experience, I just want to say that I think of you always and wish that we could communicate again (in some way) to talk about those old times. (July 30, 2008 - J J)

Tim,
Sending this to you two cause I think you can under stand it. Joe you just missed seeing the drop bulbs in the barracks replaced by florescence lights. And that was the day of my first time with the odor of kimchee. In Dec. of 66 we were told one morning that after we got off we were to go sleep in the 1st pt.s bunks so the Korean workers could change the lights. So by now I think I might have been off the compound maybe twice and was still trying to get used to the 12 hour all night from 6 till 6. Joe, did you work thoses hour? So I still couldn't sleep pass 12:00. Got up thought I would go get my shaveing kit and hit the showers. My bunk was the second bunk from the door on the end next to the head quarters plt. door. Opened the door and got hit with an odor that bout knocked me down. Someone saw me standing thar with this look and he told me it was lunch time for the Koreans and they were eating Kimchee. I looked in again and saw Hernaez sitting on his bunk with his gas mask on and it worked I guess. So i got him to bring my kit out to me. Never in my young life had I came across anythang like that. Do either of you remember that young Korean girl that worked in one of the clubs but I can't remember which, that had Kimchee breath and was short with black hair. brown slanted eyes and talked with an accent? Later ya'll.

Great service.
Under 1966 someone mentions Hernaez. Served with him and could relate many stories. After serving at the Ft Dix stockade, the last place I wanted to be assigned to was another stockade. Luckily I arrived as a SP4 and I was made CPT Creeden's driver for a while. Served with a great bunch of guys who were mostly from Tennesee or NYC. What a culture clash. First night at the 249th SP4 Galetti indoctrinated me into my new life. We went across the street to the Lotary Club. Several drinks later, when the girls started looking better, Galetti talked me into my first, of many, trysts. I was a Village Rat from that point on. Sinchon and the Dreamboat Club was on the horizon. Mama San at the Lotary called me Beatles Honcho, because I requested her to play a Beatles album. Only one she had was Rubber Soul which she put on everytime I walked in the door. Spent some time playing bingo at the 335 and 55 Trans. Frequented mostly the Dreamboat, and also the Green Door both in Sinchon, and a couple out of the way places in back alleys near out compound. Met great GIs and many great Koreans.
Drippin' in the Dreamboat, B.H.

Many Thanks to Tim Norris for connecting me after so long a time. I recall very clearly that I did take 6 or 8 prisoners at a time from the ASCOM jail out to do cleanup details etc...raking and painting mostly.................I was armed with a short barrelled shotgun and our instructions were to bring them ( the prisoners) all back at the end of the day. For some odd reason I still have the original printed instructions that I was to follow should one them want to escape...I have since then often wondered .."where the hell would they go".

c.1965

When we landed at Kimpo in January of 1966 there were anti-aircraft guns located between the runway and the taxiway that were set up and manned. It was a nice first impression.

There was only one 4 lane road in the entire country. It ran between Seoul and Kimpo.

We did not eat the food or drink the water off post. We could drink the beer. All rural housing was mud huts with thatched roofs. We use to supply water to villagers who came up to the compound fence with buckets to get clean water. Houses were heated with little pressed coal biscuits. They placed the biscuit in a little hole on one side of the house. Then the smoke and heat ran underneath the mud floor and out the chimney on the other side. Chimneys were usually made out of discarded pop and beer cans.

We had no Status Of Forces Agreement so we were required to always be in uniform when we were off post. This told the Korean Police not to stop us as they had no jurisdiction. There was a midnight to 5 AM for Koreans. Americans in uniform were not subject to the curfew. The police or ROK Army would stop you at check points after midnight and then immediately let you go if you were in Uniform and spoke English.

After looking at Google Earth I realize that nothing there is even close to being what it was when I was there. I would probably recognize the Seoul train station and maybe the Yongsan compound. Just about everything else has changed. They were a very poor primarily farming society. Now they are a modern industrialized country. All of this in 40 years. K.B.

1964

I shall never forget the first time I went out into Sinchon I had never before seen or experienced anything like it was. So many prostitutes. I just could not have even imagined any place like that. It was something I shall never forget. But I'm a pretty quite person and Sinchon was not exactly for me. Well, I had to go see more, so the second time I walked through the gate with all the crowd of women and GI's there was this very attractive Korean lady that caught my eye. I will never forget the pretty smile she had. I asked her if she was waiting for someone and I will never forget a GI's remark that over heard me. "She's waiting for you soldier". And so a relationship started with a Korean lady named Kim, that lasted the whole time I was in Korea. She lived in a part of the village that was behind Sinchon. Much quieter and away from the crowds. I can still see it all so clear in my mind. The daily walks to get there and coming back at night before the midnight curfew. And in the back of my mind was the thought that one day I will have to leave. Days went by and that day arrived. But the last night we were together was like all the others. There was no tears and yet I had feelings for this lady, because the whole time I was there she made me feel so special. But I guess that was part of her profession. I guess what made leaving so easy was that she gave me an address where I could write her.
    The day I went to board the plane in Kimpo I had no idea Kim would be at the airport. And as I walked out of the terminal and looked to my left through the cyclone fence, there she was with that same pretty smile, just like the first time we met. And the last memory of her was when I looked back from about half way to the plane to see her still standing there. And as the plane took off, it was like part of me was with Kim back at the terminal watching the plane vanish into the sky. That was when I knew that part of me stayed in Korea.
   Not too many days after I got home I wrote her. A few day later I wrote again. A couple of weeks and no reply. About a month my letters were returned. NOT ABLE TO DELIVER. Then reality begin to hit. Did she give me a fake address to make leaving easy for me? Was this the government that didn't want us to communicate with these women. Guess I'll never know. But one thing is for sure. There has not been one day in my life since I left Korea July 13th,1964 that I don't think about Kim and wonder where she might be or what she might be doing. Is she even alive.

Tim,
I was at ASCOM City in the years of Jan. 1964-Feb. 1965. I was a 19 year old SP/4 Military Policeman assigned to the 55th Trans. We had the security for the entire compound. We had a motorized patrol as well as foot patrols. The 728th MP Bn had the patrol's outside of the compound. As I can recall we had KN houseboys doing our laundry, shining our boots, pressing out OD's and OG's. I do believe out of the $120.00 month pay it costs about $25.00 for his services. The house boy I had was drafted in the ROK Army and stole all of my boot socks, t-shirts, and underwear. Heck he needed them worse than I did.
    "The Vill" I can recall with some clears observations. We had "working girls" come up to our gates wanting "to Catch" a GI and go play bingo and one of the many EM Clubs and Officers Clubs. We would allow some to come on the compound without an escort to play and get away from the "life" for a while. Sinchon, Japanese Village, Inchon and Womydo (sp) Island, and the train rides to Seoul were fun. The one memory I had a hard time getting rid of was the smell of "Kimchy". The 14 months I spent there was fun, and opened my mind to what a great country we Americans lived in.

1962
A Christmas Remembrance
Christmas Eve - 1962
Ascom City, Korea
please read the story below...

“This story is a slice in time, about the events of one evening in the lives of a group of Soldiers. They were all lonely being away from home at Christmas time. There is much humor and laughter, but with a sensitivity that reflect a genuine respect for each other. They find solace and strength in being together with a common purpose and shared burden; and yes, they did a little growing up at the same time”.

Again the shadows of Christmas Eve enfolds us in their spell as our minds recall the memories of Christmas past. The colors of the lights strung around the entrance to the NCO Club at the old 44th. The feeling of warmth when we entered. The smells of food, smoke and drink, waft across our faces. Sounds of Christmas music and laughter ring in our ears. The smiles and cheers from our friends greet us. They are all here: “Lamb, Hood, Hatler, Wilkerson, Reilly, Machefske, Kissinger, Barton, Etheredge, Kabasawa, Moore and Day”.

The Josans are all dressed for the occasion; one wears a gold tooth and shows it proudly. We sit at our usual table and order drinks. Glancing around we take in all the sights of Soldiers and Josans expressing their unbridled happinesss. We lift our glasses in in a toast to good comradeship and appreciation of how friends can make a time of separation and isolation seem, not so lonely after all..

A pretty girl approaches our table and ask one of us to dance. I’m feeling festive so I agree. We converse in a kind of broken Korean-English attempt to discuss politics and world events-( just joking) rather, just ways of improving her economics..I smile and play a little hard to get. I’ll throw this one back in and continue fishing; the evening is still young and who knows what Santa has in store..

Happy hour in the Army is a stroke of genius by the Club Recreation Officer--tonight it doesn’t end. PFC Hood, the only G.I. in the place without a dance partner is striking out.. Sp4 Etheredge, holding up his empty glass, orders another round; to be put on PFC Moore’s bar tab..

The live floor show singers have major problems with their L’s, R’s, and W’s..They struggle with “Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer”. Somehow, on this most special night of nights, it doesn’t matter. We enjoy their oriental verse and rhyme and are caught up in the Spirit of Christmas.. PFC Machefske, the avowed intellectual of our group, sets gazing with that wirly smile of his, muttering words such as: “Indigenous Expostulation”. Meanwhile, PFC Lamb remains bolt upright in his chair, his hands buried deep between his thighs, watching the floor show dancers.

Sgt. Wilkinson, finishing his umpteenth beer, invites the whole room to his place, (in Texas). Meanwhile, PFC Hood, resorting to offering P.X. Privileges, is still striking out. Suddenly, a rather angry looking Josan appears at PFC Moore’s shoulder, holding an I.O.U. signed: “John Wayne”. (This should be interesting) He speaks very slow and soothing to her and replaces her 1st note with one signed: “Roy Rogers”. In Korea, referring to a girl as “Number One or Number Ten”, could get you kissed or slapped.. Who could have known in later years a Female “10” would mean: “Visionary” ?…

The music stops and from the shadows in a dark corner of the room I see her approaching..(Somewhere, far off in the distance, I can swear I hear sleigh bells). Ah yes, my present is here at last: “Josan Extraordinaire”..She was dressed all in green in a form-fitting sweater dress, that tried to follow her every curve.. She walked towards me with an upright graceful swing and a feminine pride that seem to fit her.. Snow white fur trimmed her collar.. She had the scent of Jasmine about her; not even a hint of Kimchee here.. All at once I felt like I was back in the States, asking a beautiful girl to dance.. She smiled with that self-assured look one sees when they have just caught “The Big One”, hook, line, and sinker.. We danced close together, slow and smooth. No words were spoken; no words were necessary.. She recognized me as a player-of-games, with emotional barriers up all around me, less a serious thought might penetrate my façade..(Strange how seemingly naked I appeared). In Korea, love is not real and sex is a way of life. I believe sometimes we can too easily confuse these feelings.. In spite of this knowledge I felt my defenses falling, slipping away.. I held her closer to me and she followed my lead like she knew my every thought and welcomed me into her world…

I became faintly aware the music had stopped. We were still moving to our own rhythm.. Everyone was walking off the platform with the Band. Neither one of us wanted to break the hold each of us had on the other, for fear of losing the moment.. I felt her breath on my face.. We stared for several long moments at each other.. A wave of feelings and emotions swept over me: Love, Hope, Peace and Beauty, in the Land of the Morning Calm…(Lessons without words).. Suddenly another Josan pulled her away and began speaking very fast in their own language.. She turned back to me and stretched out her hand touching mine.. Then she was gone, lost in the crowd… Helplessly I stared after her.. This wasn’t happening, but if it was, why did I feel so alone ?.. Am I to understand Santa’s gift was an emotional reminder of Love and Wonder, too briefly felt, but remembered for a lifetime ?….

Reality and my senses return as I see my friends waving to me.. Sp4 Etheredge is ordering another round.. Sgt. Wilkinson is explaining to a rather intoxicated Josan, “she doesn’t know what BIG is”.. PFC Lamb is agreeing to dance with a girl clearly half his size.. PFC Hood is passed out on the table.. PFC Moore, who must have silently observed all that had happened, (who’s grasp of the understatement brims with wit and humor) looks at me and smiles with a friends’ compassion and understanding and says: “you know what ?, this is unusual”… What was I just saying about emotional barriers protecting us against serious thought ?..Must be contagious…

The evening is winding down and the Band is packing up.. G.I’s and Josans are departing for the village.. The bar stools are still full with those waiting for “last call”.. Some of us are heading back to the barracks, carrying PFC Hood as we go.. The night air reminds us you can’t wear enough clothing to keep out the winds of a Korean winter.. The temperature hovers around zero.. The recent snow swirls around our feet and crunches under our boots.. The curfew sirens sound at midnight and tonight is no exception.. We slowly make our way home. Did I say “Home”? Isn’t that the place many of us were pining for tonight ? Yes that’s true, but for right now, this is where our friends are, this is family, this is “Home”.. I am sure in some future date, some future Christmas, we will look back on these days and events and see the friends we’ve made, the times we’ve had and the joy we’ve felt, with pride and fond remembrance….

-- Merry Christmas --
William J. (Jerry) Day --Hamilton, Ohio
(Formerly: Day, William J. Sp4 E-4 HHC 44th Engineers, Ascom City, Korea

1962
A Christmas Remembrance
Christmas Eve - 1962
Ascom City, Korea
please read the story below...

“This story is a slice in time, about the events of one evening in the lives of a group of Soldiers. They were all lonely being away from home at Christmas time. There is much humor and laughter, but with a sensitivity that reflect a genuine respect for each other. They find solace and strength in being together with a common purpose and shared burden; and yes, they did a little growing up at the same time”.

Again the shadows of Christmas Eve enfolds us in their spell as our minds recall the memories of Christmas past. The colors of the lights strung around the entrance to the NCO Club at the old 44th. The feeling of warmth when we entered. The smells of food, smoke and drink, waft across our faces. Sounds of Christmas music and laughter ring in our ears. The smiles and cheers from our friends greet us. They are all here: “Lamb, Hood, Hatler, Wilkerson, Reilly, Machefske, Kissinger, Barton, Etheredge, Kabasawa, Moore and Day”.

The Josans are all dressed for the occasion; one wears a gold tooth and shows it proudly. We sit at our usual table and order drinks. Glancing around we take in all the sights of Soldiers and Josans expressing their unbridled happinesss. We lift our glasses in in a toast to good comradeship and appreciation of how friends can make a time of separation and isolation seem, not so lonely after all..

A pretty girl approaches our table and ask one of us to dance. I’m feeling festive so I agree. We converse in a kind of broken Korean-English attempt to discuss politics and world events-( just joking) rather, just ways of improving her economics..I smile and play a little hard to get. I’ll throw this one back in and continue fishing; the evening is still young and who knows what Santa has in store..

Happy hour in the Army is a stroke of genius by the Club Recreation Officer--tonight it doesn’t end. PFC Hood, the only G.I. in the place without a dance partner is striking out.. Sp4 Etheredge, holding up his empty glass, orders another round; to be put on PFC Moore’s bar tab..

The live floor show singers have major problems with their L’s, R’s, and W’s..They struggle with “Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer”. Somehow, on this most special night of nights, it doesn’t matter. We enjoy their oriental verse and rhyme and are caught up in the Spirit of Christmas.. PFC Machefske, the avowed intellectual of our group, sets gazing with that wirly smile of his, muttering words such as: “Indigenous Expostulation”. Meanwhile, PFC Lamb remains bolt upright in his chair, his hands buried deep between his thighs, watching the floor show dancers.

Sgt. Wilkinson, finishing his umpteenth beer, invites the whole room to his place, (in Texas). Meanwhile, PFC Hood, resorting to offering P.X. Privileges, is still striking out. Suddenly, a rather angry looking Josan appears at PFC Moore’s shoulder, holding an I.O.U. signed: “John Wayne”. (This should be interesting) He speaks very slow and soothing to her and replaces her 1st note with one signed: “Roy Rogers”. In Korea, referring to a girl as “Number One or Number Ten”, could get you kissed or slapped.. Who could have known in later years a Female “10” would mean: “Visionary” ?…

The music stops and from the shadows in a dark corner of the room I see her approaching..(Somewhere, far off in the distance, I can swear I hear sleigh bells). Ah yes, my present is here at last: “Josan Extraordinaire”..She was dressed all in green in a form-fitting sweater dress, that tried to follow her every curve.. She walked towards me with an upright graceful swing and a feminine pride that seem to fit her.. Snow white fur trimmed her collar.. She had the scent of Jasmine about her; not even a hint of Kimchee here.. All at once I felt like I was back in the States, asking a beautiful girl to dance.. She smiled with that self-assured look one sees when they have just caught “The Big One”, hook, line, and sinker.. We danced close together, slow and smooth. No words were spoken; no words were necessary.. She recognized me as a player-of-games, with emotional barriers up all around me, less a serious thought might penetrate my façade..(Strange how seemingly naked I appeared). In Korea, love is not real and sex is a way of life. I believe sometimes we can too easily confuse these feelings.. In spite of this knowledge I felt my defenses falling, slipping away.. I held her closer to me and she followed my lead like she knew my every thought and welcomed me into her world…

I became faintly aware the music had stopped. We were still moving to our own rhythm.. Everyone was walking off the platform with the Band. Neither one of us wanted to break the hold each of us had on the other, for fear of losing the moment.. I felt her breath on my face.. We stared for several long moments at each other.. A wave of feelings and emotions swept over me: Love, Hope, Peace and Beauty, in the Land of the Morning Calm…(Lessons without words).. Suddenly another Josan pulled her away and began speaking very fast in their own language.. She turned back to me and stretched out her hand touching mine.. Then she was gone, lost in the crowd… Helplessly I stared after her.. This wasn’t happening, but if it was, why did I feel so alone ?.. Am I to understand Santa’s gift was an emotional reminder of Love and Wonder, too briefly felt, but remembered for a lifetime ?….

Reality and my senses return as I see my friends waving to me.. Sp4 Etheredge is ordering another round.. Sgt. Wilkinson is explaining to a rather intoxicated Josan, “she doesn’t know what BIG is”.. PFC Lamb is agreeing to dance with a girl clearly half his size.. PFC Hood is passed out on the table.. PFC Moore, who must have silently observed all that had happened, (who’s grasp of the understatement brims with wit and humor) looks at me and smiles with a friends’ compassion and understanding and says: “you know what ?, this is unusual”… What was I just saying about emotional barriers protecting us against serious thought ?..Must be contagious…

The evening is winding down and the Band is packing up.. G.I’s and Josans are departing for the village.. The bar stools are still full with those waiting for “last call”.. Some of us are heading back to the barracks, carrying PFC Hood as we go.. The night air reminds us you can’t wear enough clothing to keep out the winds of a Korean winter.. The temperature hovers around zero.. The recent snow swirls around our feet and crunches under our boots.. The curfew sirens sound at midnight and tonight is no exception.. We slowly make our way home. Did I say “Home”? Isn’t that the place many of us were pining for tonight ? Yes that’s true, but for right now, this is where our friends are, this is family, this is “Home”.. I am sure in some future date, some future Christmas, we will look back on these days and events and see the friends we’ve made, the times we’ve had and the joy we’ve felt, with pride and fond remembrance….

-- Merry Christmas --
William J. (Jerry) Day --Hamilton, Ohio
(Formerly: Day, William J. Sp4 E-4 HHC 44th Engineers, Ascom City, Korea